With the Yankees enduring an epic losing streak, with Boston of all teams in the Bronx, we'd like to take mental refuge in the good fortunes of the first-place Mets. Unfortunately, we are reading about the Amazins' batboy dealing speed and 'roids in the Shea clubhouse? It's a poorly kept secret that the World Series Champions '86 Mets were partakers of recreational drugs. That was more than 20 years ago and it was 1986, not that poor behavior is completely excusable. But all that alleged drug consumption was supposed to be performance inhibiting, not enhancing. Now we read that a former Mets batboy plead guilty to distributing anabolic steroids and amphetamines after ending his tenure as a clubhouse employee.
Kirk Radomski, 37, who worked as a bat boy, equipment manager and clubhouse assistant for the Mets from 1985-95, admitted to selling banned drugs, including anabolic steroids, amphetamines and human growth hormone, from 1995 through 2005, according to a plea agreement filed in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California. Mr. Radomski, who listed himself as a personal trainer on recent tax returns, also pleaded guilty to laundering the money from the drug transactions. The two felony charges carry sentences of up to 25 years in prison and a maximum of $500,000 in fines.
If Radomski is 37 now, then he would've been sixteen years old when the Mets won their last World Championship in 1986. Barely to his or the team's credit, he wouldn't start dealing drugs to players for another nine years. Radomski has plead guilty to drug-dealing charges and is cooperating with the league's investigation into the use of steroids by its players.
(NYC - Times Square: Modells - David Wright, by wallyg at flickr)
