Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, authors of Game of Shadows, drop some disconcerting news today: Paul Byrd bought $25,000 worth of HGH between August 2002 and January 2005. That's 1,000 vials, in case you're wondering, which is apparently plenty of HGH to re-establish an 84 mph fastball. The records reviewed by The Chronicle included Byrd's purchase and shipping orders, payment data and other information, including his birth date and Social Security number. The records were provided by a confidential news source, who said the orders were consistent with an athlete's personal use of growth hormone.Byrd's agent, Bo McKinnis, did not respond to phone calls and e-mails from The Chronicle on Friday requesting comment for this story. An Indians spokesman said Friday that he had relayed The Chronicle's queries to both Byrd and his agent. On Saturday, the spokesman said Byrd would have no comment. The team made no comment.
Of course this looks bad for Byrd, but it is, as with Rick Ankiel and other players accused of using HGH before 2005, important to remember that HGH wasn't yet illegal. Byrd will suffer his fair share of embarrassment, which is probably warranted. Still, punishing Byrd now, even just in spirit, is like writing someone a retroactive jaywalking ticket for crossing a road that didn't yet exist.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-27-2007 @ 3:35AM
jon said...
It's funny how you white jouralist and bloggers want to give this guy a pass for using HGH but try to crucify Barry Bonds on a daily basis for ALLEGED use of the cream and the clear. But that's right,you're not racist and I'm just using the race card right? lol
Reply
12-15-2007 @ 4:19PM
cooper said...
Just my thoughts about jon's previous comment: I'm not saying that Byrd should or shouldn't be defended. But, by no means is this "white journalist's" defense of Byrd related to race. I mean come on!!, you can't pick out 2 examples from the many players that will be punished for using steroids and blame this guy's opinion of Byrd's excuse for the steroids on race. I'm sick and tired of everything being blamed on racism in this country!
Reply