Report: Giambi regrets doing "that stuff"

May 18, 2007

The Yankees' Jason Giambi discussed taking steroids and thinks that Major League Baseball should apologize for drug use by its players according to a report in Friday's USA Today.

In the report, Giambi says he "was wrong to do that stuff" and that the players should have taken a stand years ago. "We made a mistake," Giambi says in the article.

In February 2005, while making his first public comments since it was revealed that he told a federal grand jury he had used performance-enhancing steroids for at least three seasons, the Yankees first baseman/designated hitter opened his news conference by apologizing to fans, teammates and the organization.

"I feel I let down the fans. I feel I let down the media. I feel I let down the Yankees, not only the Yankees, but my teammates ... Most of all, to the fans, I'm sorry."

When pressed to explain what he was sorry for at the time, Giambi -- citing "ongoing legal matters" -- repeatedly said he had been advised not to go into further detail. At no time did he use the word "steroids."

Giambi, who signed a seven-year, $120-million deal in December 2001, watched as the Yankees tried to void his contract after a report in the San Francisco Chronicle contained revelations about his testimony.

According to today's USA Today, Giambi, who has five homers and is batting .273 this season, said, "that stuff didn't help me hit home runs."

Giambi refused to comment on why he took steroids. "Maybe one day I'll talk about it, but not now."