Mike Golic Really Admits To Using Steroids, But Again Greenberg Changes The Topic

Friday, November 09, 2007

This "Golic Steroids" issue is getting even weirder now. Yesterday, I passed along a quote from Mike and Mike in which Golic nonchalantly admitted to using steroids in his career (thanks to DL). Well today the issue was broached again, and brushed aside again.

Via ProFootballTalk comes the following from this morning's show.....

Golic and Greenberg hardly ever take callers, and it will probably be a long time before they do it again, given that the first caller initially talked about Williamson but then switched topics and asked Golic, point blank, if he used steroids.

Today Golic left no doubt, calmly and clearly acknowledging that he used steroids briefly during his playing career in an attempt to recuperate from an injury. Greenberg wanted nothing to do with the subject and quickly cut the caller off to turn back to the Williamson story.
I'm almost enraged that Greenberg doesn't even flinch when this is said. This is sports reporting at its worst. Your longtime partner is admitting to using steroids on National airwaves, and the topic is completely glossed over. How does this happen?

For as much time and effort that ESPN puts into reporting on Steroids how would they not tap into a resource that's admitting on-air that he did them.....WHILE STILL PLAYING!!! ESPN has had stories on the issue from acquiring performance enhancing drugs all the way to how they react with your body (and everything in between). I'll try to get the audio up later today, but am I that off-base on this one? Doesn't this seem the height of hypocrisy? I mean both of the Mikes completely bashed Barry Bonds for 3 months straight, but this isn't even talked about?!?!? Ridiculous.

UPDATE: This comment is from what I perceive to be the actual caller to the show. Kudos to him for making the effort........
"I'm the guy who made the call to ESPN ... hello all. I called in because I read on this very blog about Golic's admission earlier in the week and the refusal of Greenberg or Golic or anyone else to follow-up on it.

Corbin is correct that Golic may have been prescribed steroids by a physician. I have no idea. The reason that I do not know the context of his steroid use/abuse is because Golic and ESPN refuse to discuss it. Considering that the Mike & Mike Show discusses steroid abuse quite regularly, it is absurd that they do not address Golic's own history head-on.

One minor quibble with the ProFootballTalk post; I was not cut off by anyone. They rarely take calls, and the screener (who had no idea that I would mention Golic's steroid use) was clear to me that I would only have 10-15 seconds to speak. I was allowed to ask my question, and they put it on air. They certainly could have dumped it. For that, I give them credit. For their refusal to acknowledge this elephant in the room, I give them no credit.

I made the call to try to keep the topc alive, in the hope that Golic will eventually discuss this in further detail. If you agree that this is newsworthy and interesting, please continue to raise the question online, in print, and by calling in to radio shows. I doubt Mike & Mike will be taking many calls soon, so you may not have a chance to ask the question directly. Ask other ESPN hosts. Eventually, we can probably force this topic to the foreground. "- Jeff in Chicago

Posted by Awful Announcing- at 10:00 AM

27 Comments:

It's not a big deal if your brother knows AC Slater.

GMoney said...
Nov 9, 2007, 10:32:00 AM  

You actually think Greenberg would consciously do anything the least bit controversial?

He's the epitome of a Disney Corporate suckhole.

E Buzz said...
Nov 9, 2007, 11:14:00 AM  

Isn't this the general issue the media has with steroids. They act as though it will destroy the sport in baseball and if a player comes up on some list as having purchased HGH six years ago for something he is considered tainted. When an NFL player such as Merriman is suspended for using it is a blurb off the AP wire in the sidebar on ESPN.com. Greenberg is simply following ESPN editorial policy. Ignore steroids except when it happens in baseball.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 11:28:00 AM  

Anon has it right. ESPN is in the NFL's pocket. If there are steroids in baseball, even when it's ancient history, Pedro Gomez is immediately helicoptered to the player's house so he can hide in the bushes and look for clues. Steroid use in the NFL is rampant by everyone's estimations, and ESPN refuses to even report on it. There's a reason why Playmakers was pulled so quickly: it was too close to the truth.

Hawkeye State said...
Nov 9, 2007, 11:40:00 AM  

Yeah, because you know that if Michael Vick or Terrell Owens said that they used steroids, ESPN wouldn't cancel primetime programming to run "special reports" and "town hall meetings" on the topic, right?

Hell, those two guys don't even have to do or say anything to be the top story on SportsCenter.

Sort of like how ESPN thought "Roger Clemens MIGHT retire" was a big news story a couple of days ago.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 11:57:00 AM  

I was listening to the show when the caller asked his question. Greenie tried to cut off the caller while he was asking the question; Golic went ahead and still answered. Still seems kind of hazy with his "I used it for a couple of weeks" response.

No way that Greenie is going to put Golic on the spot, unannounced, in the middle of the show. Golic would probably beat his skull in.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:00:00 PM  

Golic also uses pot roast.

He's an addict.

E Buzz said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:01:00 PM  

brian,

i agree, this is shameful. even a statement from greeny that said, "i am against players using steroids and do not condone what my partner mike golic did years ago. That having been said, we will not discuss this on the show." would be better than completely ignoring it.

reason #197 that i prefer steve czaban and the FOX morning show to these guys.

prayersforblowouts.com

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:19:00 PM  

It's really, really odd at best, especially because Golic hasn't really hemmed on the admissions as far as I can tell -- Greenberg then just cuts it off. I don't know whether he's doing it to protect Golic or at his paymasters' bidding not to harm the NFL.

Signal to Noise said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:25:00 PM  

ESPN's policy:

-Make MLB look like a bunch like a bunch of greedy cheaters with terrible ownership and commissioner.

-Make NBA look like greedy thugs with corrupt officials everywhere.

-Ignore the NHL except when something bad happens.

-Make NFL players look great except for a few bad seeds that the great commissioner, Roger Goodell, will weed out of this great sport.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:30:00 PM  

Steroids are common to take to rebuild muscle after surgery, and to aid in recuperation after illness or injury. We don't know if the steroids Golic took were for these reasons, or for the reasons that you're trying to jump at. Give it a rest until

Unknown said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:31:00 PM  

...until more is found out, if it's even pursued.

Unknown said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:33:00 PM  

I wonder if Greenie idolizes Bill O'Reilly...

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:34:00 PM  

Yeah, Corbin. ESPN never blows anything out of proportion.

Or maybe Kobe's trade demands are this important.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 12:46:00 PM  

Greenie or Greenzo?

GMoney said...
Nov 9, 2007, 1:08:00 PM  

Maybe Greenie is on Greenies.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 1:11:00 PM  

I never said anything about them blowing it out of proportion. I'm saying that Golic could have taken them for very different and normal reasons than we are seeing today.

Unknown said...
Nov 9, 2007, 2:24:00 PM  

You mean the Rodney Harrison defense: "I did it to recover from injury not to gain an unfair advantage."

How is that not an unfair advantage?

twoeightnine said...
Nov 9, 2007, 3:03:00 PM  

I'm the guy who made the call to ESPN ... hello all. I called in because I read on this very blog about Golic's admission earlier in the week and the refusal of Greenberg or Golic or anyone else to follow-up on it.

corbin is correct that Golic may have been prescribed steroids by a physician. I have no idea. The reason that I do not know the context of his steroid use/abuse is because Golic and ESPN refuse to discuss it. Considering that the Mike & Mike Show discusses steroid abuse quite regularly, it is absurd that they do not address Golic's own history head-on.

One minor quibble with the ProFootballTalk post; I was not cut off by anyone. They rarely take calls, and the screener (who had no idea that I would mention Golic's steroid use) was clear to me that I would only have 10-15 seconds to speak. I was allowed to ask my question, and they put it on air. They certainly could have dumped it. For that, I give them credit. For their refusal to acknowledge this elephant in the room, I give them no credit.

I made the call to try to keep the topc alive, in the hope that Golic will eventually discuss this in further detail. If you agree that this is newsworthy and interesting, please continue to raise the question online, in print, and by calling in to radio shows. I doubt Mike & Mike will be taking many calls soon, so you may not have a chance to ask the question directly. Ask other ESPN hosts. Eventually, we can probably force this topic to the foreground.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 3:26:00 PM  

All I can suggest is to bombard them with e-mails asking about it. Kudos for having the guts to call in about it.

Greenberg is a shill, and he would never do anything to damage the M&M brand.

PS - The reason they mock hockey is because ESPN doesn't have an NHL deal anymore.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 3:56:00 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nov 9, 2007, 4:16:00 PM  

Greeny completely side stepped the question like the caller flung poo at him. Lame. But seriously, if you go to M&M for hard hitting journalism, you're about as dumb as Sean Salisbury.

Nov 9, 2007, 4:50:00 PM  

greenberg is so horrible.

Whenever I see his book in Borders, I make sure to hid it behind another title.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 7:33:00 PM  

I think we can safely say, Mike Greenberg, "JUST SHUT UP!!"

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 9:24:00 PM  

hawkeye state, I agree 100% In fact, one of the sports talk hosts in Detroit had a rant about this very topic a few months ago.

Anonymous said...
Nov 9, 2007, 9:25:00 PM  

who cares? get a life people. i don't care if golic or anybody else uses steroids or hgh. every athlete tries to enhance their performance anyway they can, from grade school to the pros. find something else to whine about.

Anonymous said...
Nov 10, 2007, 12:24:00 PM  

Ignorance doesn't make things that are illegal right or go away, anon.

Nov 10, 2007, 4:09:00 PM  

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