Jeff Schultz

By keoder

January 24, 2009 6:14 PM | Link to this

Bad company corrupts good character.

If Jordan is telling the truth then, doesn’t it make you question the legitimacy of the other ball players that have been suspended since they began testing? He says he never took it, but was around the wrong people. That warrants a suspension? Or does it beg the question, is Jordan lying?

I dunno, but we’ll see him patrolling CF come 2010…..that is if his arrogance doesn’t cause him to implode.

By Tomas

January 24, 2009 6:21 PM | Link to this

If he didn’t take any steroids, why the hell was he suspended? It just doesn’t make sense. He was suspended because he knew some guys were taking steroids, and he didn’t report it.

By some sense

January 24, 2009 6:33 PM | Link to this

As a long time public school teacher I have seen first hand that booze and drugs don’t get ya nearly like “hangin’ around wrong people”.

I asked my daughter, a recovering addict, once what happens to the ones who don’t make it in rehab. Her answer was simple, “Stewart Avenue”, so bad it’s now called Metropolitan Parkway. But she qualified that by explaining it’s not the substances that take you there nearly as much as it is the people.

BTW, when you’re runnin’ w/ the bad crowd, u r the bad crowd.

By Eric

January 24, 2009 6:44 PM | Link to this

Am I the only one that thinks this story just sounds fishy? If you are innocent OR if you want to put it behind you, just come clean and tell exactly what happened. Why all the vague talk about hanging around the wrong people???? What is the evidence that MLB had? What went on? The athletes that get forgiven are the ones that are completely transparent.

By Hank Williams Sr.

January 24, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this

He’s lying through his teeth. If he didn’t do it, why would he wait until now to say this? He apologized for screwing up right after the incident initially occurred. If what he’s saying now was true, why would he have apologized in the first place? Idiot

By Hank Williams Sr.

January 24, 2009 6:56 PM | Link to this

Tomas He didn’t use steroids, he used Human Growth Hormone (HGH). There is no punishment in place for not reporting performance enhancing drug use, none whatsoever. There was no test, but there was an investigation carried out by the MLB. There would never have been a punishment for a “top prospect” who was only “suspected” of using these substances. To punish the kid the evidence had to have been concrete.

By Sideline

January 24, 2009 7:00 PM | Link to this

Hank, I believe he was forbidden to say anything about the details. I read articles where others said it was eating him up because he couldn’t tell his side of the story. Lots of stuff goes on in the background that we aren’t privy to. The new baseball Investigative group was out to establish itself and prove its authority.

Was it wrong to punish him when he did not use drugs? Yes. Politics are in everything.

By Fred

January 24, 2009 7:06 PM | Link to this

Uh, Jeff - Kotsay wasn’t signed, we traded Oakland’s new closer (Devine) for him. Yet another great move.

By Poorbrave

January 24, 2009 7:20 PM | Link to this

Sounds like the kid has his head on right. Forget and forgive…Now Play Ball!!

By Hank Williams Sr.

January 24, 2009 7:34 PM | Link to this

Sideline

When Jordan files a defamation lawsuit against the MLB and their Drug Testing Team, I will begin ever so slightly, to maybe give him the benefit of the doubt. What politics could possibly have caused the MLB to charge him with something he didn’t do?

By Antonio

January 24, 2009 7:35 PM | Link to this

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? If the kid is telling the truth then Braves punished him for nothing. What does this say about the entire organization? Something is definitely fishy and the smell isn’t coming from Jordan Schafer.

By Tami

January 24, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this

I’ve softened my position on Jordan, while at the same time I remain in my very hard & strong position on others in athletics who take performance enhancing drugs. Since Jordan continues to so passionately deny that he took HGH, I’ll believe him….THIS time. If he continues to mature as an individual and as a player thus distancing himself further & further from all of this, then we can remain confident that all this was was simply youth and inexperience and being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. But, a young man in Jordan’s position can only use this once. After that, it’s pretty much downhill from there. A very lonely trip, I might add.

By BravesFanInRockies

January 24, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this

Antonio,

The punishment came from MLB and not the Braves. If you have a beef, it’s with Selig, et al, and not the team.

By ugacpa02

January 24, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this

Well we’ll obviously know if there’s any lie in this. No way he’ll be allowed to make such a statement, publically, if it’s not true.

By Go Braves

January 24, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this

I could care less if he took steroids. If he hits 30 HR, Scores 100 RBI and can cover center field, who cares? We all know most major league players take them but most of them have not be caught yet. Let drop it and tell fat boy to stay a free agent and bring this kid up.

By baloneysandwich

January 24, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this

I feel like I”m at Goldberg’s deli…lots of boloney being spread around.

By Go Braves

January 24, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this

I could care less if he took steroids. If he hits 30 HR, Scores 100 RBI and can cover center field, who cares? We all know most major league players take them but most of them have not been caught yet. Lets drop it and tell fat boy to stay a free agent and bring this kid up.

By Salty

January 24, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this

Hank Stick to singing. The kid hasn’t wavered one iota since the whole scene went down. Fine that you don’t believe him…but he’s served his sentence now, and yet he’s resolute in his position. If there was another side to the story, he could express it without repercussion, as he referenced with Petitte. Sadly, regrettably, whatever, sometimes taking medicine you don’t really deserve, beats hell out of what you’re be dealt by the ‘court of public opinion’…of which you’re apparently one of the bench!

By Free Jordan Shafer

January 24, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this

Welcome to the party morons …

Jordan was going to deny it this summer - but was told he couldn’t.

It’s HGH - you CANT TEST FOR IT! It was a he said she said situation and as a minor leaguer he has almost no rights with his employer.

THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED TO A MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER - THE MBPLA WOULD NEVER ALLOW IT.

This guy was 20, living on a bus in the minors, making no money and so he hung out with people on his team who were using HGH - a product that science can’t prove makes anyone stronger. Big difference between steroids and HGH.

I am glad to hear he can finally speak his side of the story.

By Go Braves

January 24, 2009 8:47 PM | Link to this

I could care less if he took steroids or HGH. If he hits 30 HR, Scores 100 RBI and can cover center field, who cares? We all know most major league players take them but most of them have not been caught yet. Lets drop it and tell fat boy to stay a free agent and bring this kid up.

By renegade

January 24, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this

play ball jordon. screw all those people who have never done anything embarsssing in there whole guilt free lives.all these stone throwers should toss some strait up and then run like their hair was on fire. You just play like your hair is on fire and they will forgive you soon enough,and stay away from self destructive people and you wont have to make excuses for you or them.Good luck kid knock em out

By guy

January 24, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this

Remember this,the truth will eventually come out.No one ever admits guilt so be patient and the truth will be exposed!

By guy

January 24, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this

Remember this,the truth will eventually come out.No one ever admits guilt so be patient and the truth will be exposed!

By guy

January 24, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this

Remember this,the truth will eventually come out.No one ever admits guilt so be patient and the truth will be exposed!

By Ryan

January 24, 2009 9:45 PM | Link to this

HEY JORDAN

God, I hope you read this. Know this, as true as anything you will ever read. 99 percent of the people that will come out and support you in your career in Atlanta do not post to message blogs and boards like this. And for 99 percent of us, we dont give a flip what you did, did not do or who you hung around. You took it like a man, and thats all you can do . i hope you read this (I know others in the org that do and know being young you are more likely to still care about public opinion). Here is all the large majority of us care about. Give 100 percent, every day, and have fun. Have the fun we can’t and be proud of your performance. Best of luck and we are rooting for you.

By Ryan

January 24, 2009 9:47 PM | Link to this

HEY JORDAN

God, I hope you read this. Know this, as true as anything you will ever read. 99 percent of the people that will come out and support you in your career in Atlanta do not post to message blogs and boards like this. And for 99 percent of us, we dont give a flip what you did, did not do or who you hung around. You took it like a man, and thats all you can do . i hope you read this (I know others in the org that do and know being young you are more likely to still care about public opinion). Here is all the large majority of us care about. Give 100 percent, every day, and have fun. Have the fun we can’t and be proud of your performance. Best of luck and we are rooting for you.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 24, 2009 10:05 PM | Link to this

Who cares? Baseball is dead!

By Brian22

January 24, 2009 10:14 PM | Link to this

I’ve been mixed up in some mixed company myself. I completely understand. I figured there was more to the story knowing what I did about JS. It just didn’t add up.

I’m glad he’s clearing his name. I look forward to him in CF in ‘09. (Andruw won’t have it.)

By Brian22

January 24, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this

AJC, your mom is dead. Take that.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 24, 2009 11:00 PM | Link to this

22, that’s a heck of a retort! Baseball is the most boring spectator sport ever and it’s losing popularity. One of the reasons it’s becoming less enjoyable is because of cheaters like this young man. You obviously have no idea what anecdotal means. Schafer wasn’t just hanging around guys who were using HGH, he was using it! the guys he hung around, who were using, said he did too. You’re a moron if you think he didn’t. He did! Otherwise, he would have protested the suspension and would never have accepted it. After the fact, he’s professing his innocence. Michael Jackson issued denials of having molested young boys after he paid hundreds of millions in secret settlements. i didn’t believe his professions of innocence and I don’t belive Schafer’s either!

By Tomas

January 24, 2009 11:29 PM | Link to this

Hank,

What I meant was if he didn’t take HGH or other illegal substances, why was he suspended? Because he didn’t name “the bad people” he hung out with?

I know HGH isn’t a steroid, I’ve just come to the habbit to name all illegal substances(in sports) steroids.

By Ken Stallings

January 24, 2009 11:44 PM | Link to this

OK, so we are supposed to believe that a professional athlete was suspended for an entire season just because he “associated” with people who distributed and/or used performance enhancing drugs?

Well, here is the reality to that claim: put up the facts or remain silent!

Because I’m not believing it. Been lied to too often and won’t go down that road again. It’s too convenient an excuse. Essentially it tries to say one was caught but not really guilty of anything. Not buying it.

If Schafer is really interested in how the fans regard him, then has but one choice — put up publicly all the facts and in convincing enough evidenciary terms to remove all reasonable doubt. Short of that, all these “denials” really do is paint the portrait of another out of touch athlete who thinks sports fans are idiots. That’s not a good way to earn fan regard.

By Timbo

January 25, 2009 12:17 AM | Link to this

I don’t care if he used HgH. I care if he is telling the truth or not.

By Steve

January 25, 2009 12:40 AM | Link to this

Actually, Jordan has talked about this in depth before: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-q-and-a/2008/266722.html

By Steve

January 25, 2009 2:25 AM | Link to this

Have to agree with Ken here.

I will never believe a word of what Schafer says until he tells the whole story with corroborating testimonies. Sorry to say it, but this show me a failed test thing doesn’t prove anything to me. For one, Bonds, McGwire, and Clemens never tested positive and anyone with a brain knows they used steroids. Just because no positive have been made ‘public’, doesn’t mean squat to me.

There is no way a player would get a 50-game suspension for jsut hanging aroudn the wrong people or guilt by association. Sorry Jordan .. that story is just too hard to swallow with a metric ton of proof. Until then, I see you as another user in denial mode. Until you come clean, you cannot be trusted, and it really makes me question what character, if any, you have.

By Ted Striker

January 25, 2009 3:38 AM | Link to this

Dear Jordan Schafer:

Your story doesn’t pass the smell test. That said, just fess up. Here’s my suggestions.

Say — “Yes, I shot HGH. I was in a slump, I struck out after hitting 3 home runs and I was afraid I couldn’t hit 4 HR’s in a row come clutch time. Also, I snorted cocaine. I had an affair with Angelina Jolie, although she and Brad were having trouble. What’s more, that Ferrari you saw going down Peachtree at 115 mph at 4 am the other night? Me. I was late for a threesome with Bud Selig’s granddaughter and Roger Goodell’s wife. It was a fit of madness. Yes, yes, yes, I did those things. BUT I’M SORRY AND I PROMISE NOT TO DO THEM EVER AGAIN.”

Just a suggestion.

By LivininAL

January 25, 2009 5:35 AM | Link to this

The kid was and is still young, trying to make it to the bigs and made a mistake. He paid the penalty. Yet some still choose to crucify him with 0 facts. Let the young man play baseball- hit, run, catch, and throw. Time to get positive about the spring and the future and not wallow in the recent skinking past.

By MARK

January 25, 2009 6:18 AM | Link to this

seems to me at this point he should just have no comments about it let it past because I guess you dont get suppended for 50 games for no reason…

By Jeff

January 25, 2009 6:22 AM | Link to this

I agree with Timbo on this one. I could care less if he used HGH (of course the Braves want to be perceived as a first class, respectable franchise so they obviously frown on this). As long as Jordan comes clean with the truth and gives 100% day-in and day-out, most fans will let bygones be bygones.

By Dr. Roid

January 25, 2009 6:30 AM | Link to this

Anyone consider steroid abuse by the following Braves:

Javy Lopez. Andruw Jones. Marcus Giles. ?

These guys power numbers took a dump after the steroid scandal broke.

A coincidence ?

By BarryBonds

January 25, 2009 7:03 AM | Link to this

Me and Jordy are both getting a bad rap. Neither one of us dun nothing. It’s all whiteys fault. If you can’t prove it then move it. Put me in coach I’m ready to play.

By TampaGator

January 25, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this

I am sorry, Jordan, this interview has cost you BIG TIME with credibilty. Gosh, you should have let it stand with the statement that “it is in the past and I am just moving on.” You let this journalist “create” a story that was no longer there, and it is going to cost you with the public “BIG TIME” becasue no one believes anything you say anymore. The Braves might as well move on the another CF now because this is going to follow you everywhere now. Not a smart thing to say, young man.

By Carz

January 25, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this

I would have respected him if he’d have been a man and not blamed others. Trade him.

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this

There’s really only one question…DID HE OR DID HE NOT FAIL A TEST?

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 8:18 AM | Link to this

There’s really only one question at this point…DID HE OR DID HE NOT FAIL ANY TEST?

By TampaGator

January 25, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this

Javey Lopez (51 homers out of nowhere) and Giles were obvious performance enhancer users, and there performance when to crap after the testing began. Andruw…his problem was more likely relate5d to eating too much sour cream and butter on all those mash potatos he eats three times a day…along with the whole apple pie and gallon of ice cream. But Shefield might have had a bad influence on him…maybe. He did start to have problems with his knees like Bonds and McGuire. I have a question for the Andy Petitte lover out there…is acknowleging you robbed a bank make robbing the bank OK? It is OK now that you admitted robbing the bank? What kind of society are we now living in? I would not want to be a kid growing up in this “no values” society. I had a student tell me the other day that it is OK to use a cell phone to cheat on a test, as long as you do not get caught doing it. Thank you, the Andy Petittes of the world. By the way, didn’t Andy Petitte going around preaching “Jesus” while he was using those enhancers. That makes him worse than Bonds or McGuire in my opinion.

By richbrave

January 25, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this

JEFF-JORDAN:

Lots on non-believers here. Suggest you let a sleeping dog lie and get on with what apprears to be a brilliant future, hopefully with the BRAVES. Good luck young man. Life’s a gift. Enjoy it.

By Gene

January 25, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this

The kid apologized for whatever he did and took his punishment without the usual whining. Now, let’s play ball.

By Greg

January 25, 2009 9:35 AM | Link to this

Chime in Jeff. What’s your take. His comments sound like BS.

By Joey Porter

January 25, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this

Folks. Barry Bonds never used steroids.

Go to yahoo.com and you will find an article that clearly states that the clear was not a steroid.

You cannot be guilty of taking steroids if the subtsance you are taking does not meet the definition of a steroid.

This guy is not going to make it. He lacks confidence and sounds like a typical hs star who cannot adjust to a higher level of competition and resorts to cheating as a way to survive.

He has been branded a cheat and that is what he will be known for.

Based on his account all his teammates should avoid him like the plague.

By BE#3

January 25, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this

Give the kid a break.

By I Remain Skeptical

January 25, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this

“…Pettitte came out and took responsibility for his actions and the fans are giving him a second chance.”

Did you ever notice how Pettitte and the other handful of players who admitted PED use and “apologized” for it never said they did it to get an edge, or to keep pace with the other users, or to make more money? No, it was always “I only took it/them to rehab from an injury so I could get recover quicker and help my team.” At least Schafer tried to put a different spin on his case. Sadly, his “apology” rings just as hollow as all the others.

By Matty Brave

January 25, 2009 10:17 AM | Link to this

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you wanted to “move on”, why are you talking about it? Don’t buy it-Sorry Jordan!

By Matty Brave

January 25, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you wanted to “move on”, why are you talking about it? Don’t buy it-Sorry Jordan!

By JackP

January 25, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this

The only thing worse than using HGH is his lying denial. Time to be a man you punk and admit you made a mistake. The public is not as stupid as you are and we can see right through your lies.

By tlj

January 25, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this

Ted Striker

Next time go down with the plane

By Horner's Corner

January 25, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this

Do you think Schafer, as was the case last year, will report to Spring training driving his Hummer and shagging flies with his hat on backwards or do you think he’ll be a bit more reserved in his approach? It will be interesting to see if he’s lost his swagger.

By MarionWright

January 25, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

At least he wasn’t smoking crack.

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this

DID HE OR DID HE NOT FAIL ANY TEST???

By Paddy

January 25, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this

Fred… Jeff is correct if only by terminology and proceedure. Kotsay was traded to the Braves. Technically, he had to sign a National League (Braves) contract in order to play in the National League.

By TD

January 25, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this

It was his brother, which tells you all you need to know about the NFL’s testing. And of course he didn’t fail a test — there is no test for HGH.

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

No test for HGH? Then how can he be suspended for it?

PS. This is not a thread about Barry, the NFL or anything else other than Jordan. Focus people…focus.

By ugacpa02

January 25, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this

jaybob, Your question is of course exactly what the AJC reporters should be finding out. Instead all they do is rake the muck and try to turn everyone against a kid that’s probably our CF sometime this year.

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this

Thank you, ugacpa02…I’m really unimpressed by the ‘journalism’ by the Atlanta ‘Journal’ Constitution…and I’m from Montana where journalism is aboot livestock. ;~) GO BRAVES!

By Hank WIlliams Sr.

January 25, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this

Wow. I can’t believe that some people on here can’t differentiate between the fact that you can forgive someone for something, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do it. Sure, I’d love to think that Jordan is a man, and has moved on from his mistakes. Yes, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he won’t use these substances ever again. This doesn’t mean that he wasn’t guilty in the first place. He served his suspension, great for him. That doesn’t give him credibility at all, and frankly it doesn’t matter. I’m all for the success of Jordan Schafer and his career, but why would the Braves allow for this smear to occur on one of their future stars? He will forever be known as a cheater, and you expect me to believe that for no reason, he was suspended? You expect anyone with an IQ higher than 10 to believe that the Braves allowed a “future star of the Atlanta Braves” to have his name forever inscribed in the books as a HGH user? Give me a break Jordan.

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

Hey Sr. It’s not about forgive and forget at this point. DID HE OR DID HE NOT FAIL A TEST…THAT is the question. Forgiveness will come after the answer if warranted.

By Hank Williams Sr.

January 25, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

He was never tested for the use of HGH, but there was obviously overwhelming evidence to support his usage of ban substances. I would guarantee that it was proven that he was in possession of the substance (I’m assuming by financial records as well as witnesses). The true story will never come out unless Jordan decides (for some idiotic reason), to keep pushing the buttons of the wrong people, and this interview/article is the first step in doing so.

By mike

January 25, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

the MLB is the biggest bunch of bozos. I believe the guy.. and there was no physical test.. it is based on analytical evidence.. if this was any other organization besides baseball jordan could have sued the sh*t outta them.. and he hope he does. F Frank Wren by the way.

By jaybob

January 25, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

That’s cute. Circumstantial…but cute.

By wildbird

January 25, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this

Ken it wasnt for the enitre season dude just 50 games gezz you cant even read the facts and you want to pass judgement on this 22 year old kid> Go dump for empty 40,s and hide your pot and get of this kids back

By Oh My God!!!

January 25, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

Some of you are acting like this guys a child molestor or something. “I’ll always be suspicous!” “I dont know if I’ll ever believe him!”

Get a F’ing grip! Even if he did take HGH, who cares anymore? He already PAYED THE PENALTY!!! Move on! Bunch of losers…

By bravesfanbob

January 25, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this

How can we believe him, or disbelieve him? The players union won’t let MLB do a blood test for HGH, and so there is no proof. How conveinent! Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds denied too, and yet we convict them. Why? We know better. We know this kid did something wrong. It’s easy to deny when you can’t prove. He’s very young, and is probably making another mistake trying to cover up a previous one. I have a hard time believing, but I hope I’m wrong. He needs to just shut up, and not have some other upset party come out later with a different story. We forgive those who tell the truth, and ask for forgiveness. But if you get caught lying a second time, it can be very ugly from the public’s point of view. Good luck to this kid.

By Meanwhile...HGH testing

January 25, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this

At the time of the suspension, Schafer’s father said that his son was willing to undergo HGH testing, but that MLB wouldn’t do it, because they don’t recognize any legitimate test for it.

However, it raises an interesting question. Why not have your attorneys let you take one anyway? The World Anti-Doping Agency says there is a test for it.

You might not have beat MLB in court with a negative result, but you would have made gains the court of public opinion, and as McGwire and Clemens are finding out, that counts for something.

By Ted Striker

January 25, 2009 2:07 PM | Link to this

@10:30 — I’d have just gone down with the plane like you said but there were passengers on board.

Kissey smooches and love cuddles,

Ted

By GT

January 25, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this

This is so much like our whole society. We just spent 8 years listening to a president that never did anything wrong. We watch executives expect bonuses as they lead their businesses to the brink of going under and none of that is their fault. A coach collects a million dollar paycheck and cannot win a game, but don’t trust what you see I am a great coach just misunderstood. While the rest of us poor losers have to live with what the good Lord gave us, our short comings, our mistakes, the successful want a bes ones have excuses. There is on in every gym or tennis court in America In this kids case maybe the other guys were the ones running with the bad guy and the bad guy is this kid. Time will tell it always seems to catch up with BS. This kid is BSing you can hear it in his story, but we will give him another chance and we have several dozen ballplayers that didn’t need a second change go their whole career not needing it. Let’s see how much trouble this kid is to keep on the roster. Trouble hasn’t played well with Atlanta, that is why they have been so successful.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

Move on! Bunch of losers…

We have moved on and you are the loser! Learn to spell PAID! No one, of any intelligence, cares about baseball any longer. It’s dull, boring and played by chemically-enhanced clods. it’s time for this inane game for children to be consigned to the dustbin of history!

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 3:21 PM | Link to this

By this time next year, there will have been a contraction of teams in both leagues. It will involve three teams. Those teams will be the Pirates and the Marlins in the National League and the Twins in the American League. Baseball is on its way out!

By Robbie T

January 25, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this

What the hell is wrong with all you idiots.The kid said he was hanging with the wrong crowd and got the punishment he deserved.He served the suspension.Leave it alone now.He is young with his career ahead of him.You all made him out to be the Messiah and now you bash him like Saddam.The kid is just like all his us were at some point in our life.He made some bad decisons and he paid for it.There is no need to keep bashing him.The kid may turn into a great ballplayer or he might be another bust.But he is human and humans make mistakes.What he does from now on is what matters in his life.But no matter what a bunch of self appointed do gooders on this blog say,its his life.Scheesh you people are real creeps.

By Jeff Schultz

January 25, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

Several of you are skeptical of Schafer’s claims and that’s understandable. All I can tell you is the kid seemed earnest. I also have reason to believe this is the same story he told the Braves when he was first suspended. For those wondering how he could be suspended, that’s not that unusual. Baseball doesn’t test for HGH, and he Schafer was suspended for suspected use of HGH. So how can they justify it? Simple. Circumstantial evidence. For example: Witness(es) claim or have proof that HGH was deliver to his home, he was seen buying it, etc. I suppose it’s possible he bought it and never took it. Or maybe he took it once and stopped. Really, I don’t know, and we’ll never know. But Schafer has been consistent in not commenting on this, and his father in the past was quoted as saying that there was a lot Jordan “wants to say but can’t.” He clearly had been biting his tongue and he clearly was angry about the whole thing. Baseball does have a appeals process. But you basically have to prove your innocent – the reserve of the norm – which is not an easy thing to do. Or, perhaps, he didn’t want to go forward with the appeal because that would mean naming names of other players who actually were juicing. All I can tell you is after speaking with him yesterday, he seemed like a good kid. If he was taking HGH, there’s no question that he is remorseful. I hope that answers you questions. Post anything else and I’ll be happy to respond. … JS

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this

Blobbie, blaming a fifty game suspension on acquaintances is about as disingenuous as it gets! This cockroach hasn’t taken any responsibility for his doping, and dope he did! By the way, a kid is five years old. This maggot is twenty-two. He’s a lying liar, just like all the rest of your zero heroes. This bumpkin bought and used HGH and that’s a fact. Baseball doesn’t suspend for having uncouth friends. The guy is guilty and he’s a young man who continues to seek to deceive. There’s not an honest bone in his body. He’ll fade from view now as his talent was chemically induced. Enjoyed your poorly written harangue though.

By Mr. Calhoun...

January 25, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this

Good catch on the spelling error!!! You da man!

PS- You claim to have moved on, yet you read through 75 posts on the baseball blog? YOU are the loser that I’m talking about…

Good day, sir.

By Dude-

January 25, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this

“his talent was chemically induced?” That doesn’t make sense. Chemically “enhanced” might be more appropriate there.

But since you brought it up- HGH does not induce or enhance anything, except for maybe recovery time from training/working out. It doesn’t increase one’s ability to hit a baseball, catch a baseball, or run faster.

Keep using big words though. It makes you seem really smart I promise…

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this

Jeff, one is not remorseful when one denies culpability. Remorse comes when you’ve done something you know to be wrong and you want to make amends for it. An expression of remorse carries with it a n expression of guilt and sorrow for that transgression you are apologizing for. This guy has apologized for having loathsome friends and that’s not a crime. It’s not even an infraction of some imagined baseball guideline. This young man is not telling the truth and his apology is as bogus as his statistics. If he didn’t do anything, why submit to punishment? Why no appeal if you aren’t guilty? The reason he didn’t appeal is that baseball would have produced irrefutable proof and this liar would have lost the only thing he has left-plausible deniability! When you look at it though it’s really stretching the bounds of plausibility. The guy isn’t telling the truth and that will become glaringly apparent as he fades, just as another notable Brave has faded.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this

100% incorrect moron! Induced is entirely appropriate when it comes to HGH. One of the concomitant effects of HGH is increased acuity of vision. Players who take it improve dramatically in performance but when they’re off it they are done!As for the vocabulary, it’s the way I speak. Get an education idiot!

By Jeff Schultz

January 25, 2009 5:56 PM | Link to this

Algonquin: Schafer hasn’t denied culpability. Just the opposite. He has said that while he didn’t take drugs, it was his fault for being around the situation (whatever that is) and accepts his punishment. Now, you only believe he hasn’t fully accepted responsibility if, in fact, you think he’s lying about the drug part. But the fact is, we’re never going to know that.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this

Jeff, nobody was suspended from the Giants for being around Barry Bonds. Not one of the A’s was suspended for being in close proximity to Jose Canseco. So forth and so on. There were people on the Giants and A’s that knew exactly what was going on and they weren’t suspended for not coming forward. This young man’s story does not have the ring of authenticity to it. He would have been better served to have remained totally silent about it, rather than float this mess out. I agree we will never know as long as the truth is withheld and, plainly, it is not being given. Barry bonds used a similar mantra when he said he’d never flunked a drug test. We know now that he was using but it was true he had never failed a test. A revealing test will be how he performs from this point forward.

By THE BEAR

January 25, 2009 6:40 PM | Link to this

Why don’t you idiots who think you are perfect, just back the hell off this young man and let him prove himself on the field. I think he has paid a price already for what happened whether or not he was guilty and I am not interested in him serving any more tine.

Jordan, a hell of a lot of us are willing to forgive and wish you the best. I hope you are telling the truth but it is not pertinent at this time. You have served your fifty game suspension. Now go out there and play ball. You will continue to run into some of these “perfect” fools. Remember this, none of them are perfect; they are liars and fakes, trying to buy a thrill at your expense. This kind of person always bugs the hell out of me. Let them get a life.

By Meanwhile...what about this Jeff?

January 25, 2009 7:12 PM | Link to this

Are there not tests that test for HGH, even if MLB doesn’t accept them? Seems his advisors would have had him take one, if only to win in the court of public opinion. Did you discuss that with him?

The one thing I could see where that might not have helped is if MLB said that the HGH evidence was from several months earlier.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 7:16 PM | Link to this

You need to get a life Teddy. The truth is always pertinent because it’s the truth. It’s the wrong message to give when you say you’ve served your sentence and the truth is no longer relevant. It is! It always is and there’s plenty of reason to question the veracity of the statements Schafer has made. He says he’s guilty but of what? Having friends who are unworthy of polite society? Sounds like the junk Mike Vick tried to fly before the indictment came down. As to what you’re interested in, I don’t care. A confession is valid when a person owns up to having done something. This guy says he’s done nothing, yet he wants to make amends but for what? People don’t have to apologize for the company they keep. Rehabilitating his image is not possible until he acknowledges what it is he’s done. So far, he says he hasn’t done anything but served a suspension for it without complaint. Perhaps baseball, in light of his obnoxious denials, will now release evidence it has. It goes beyond not being selective in the forming of friendships. You can bet on that!

By Ted Striker

January 25, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

JS — You say Schafer seems remorseful about his choices. Count me in for accepting he’s sincere. I’d be surprised if the baseball powers find cause to associate him with juicing in the future — whether he actually juiced before or not.

I don’t get the folks who show up in a thread calling him a ‘cockroach’, a ‘maggot’, a ‘loser’, etc. Classless. Or, folks who’ve chanted ‘HGH’, ‘HGHSchaf’, and ‘WANT SOME NEEDLES?’ to him at the ballparks. People tend to show their character by how they treat other people. Just an observation.

By falcon21

January 25, 2009 7:56 PM | Link to this

If you want him to move on and not speak of it then stop asking him questions. Jordan keep playing baseball and have fun. We all wish we could.

By algonquin J. Calhoun

January 25, 2009 8:11 PM | Link to this

JS — You say Schafer seems remorseful about his choices. What were they? People aren’t punished for poor choice of friends.

I don’t get the folks who show up in a thread calling him a ‘cockroach’, a ‘maggot’, a ‘loser’, etc

The young man continues with his arrogance. He is condescending in his belief that the public is stupid enough to accept his lame assertions of innocence, despite his punishment and his acceptance of it.

If you want him to move on and not speak of it then stop asking him questions.

I don’t care if he moves on but I don’t think he will be able to until he divulges honest answers about this affair. so far, he has not!

By falcon21

January 25, 2009 8:31 PM | Link to this

Everyone on this blog wish they could be where you are now. Jordan play baseball man and enjoy it. I wish you the best.

By Ted Striker

January 25, 2009 11:31 PM | Link to this

@ 8:11 Folks who arbitrarily call other people ‘maggots’, ‘cockroaches’, and ‘losers’ are not permitted to quote me.

Sincerely,

Ted Striker’s Legal Department

By Shane

January 25, 2009 11:55 PM | Link to this

I personally think that people (not so much here but on the AJC) are taking the “hanging with the wrong crowd” statement entirely the wrong way. Most of the people think that what he meant by that was that he wouldn’t rat out the people who were doing it so they suspended him. I just don’t believe this.

A couple of years ago my cousin, who had never smoked any weed hell he didn’t even drink, was taking a friend home from wrestling practice in Cobb County, Ga. Well the kid he was taking home left his athletic bag in the back seat of his car. Instead of turning around and taking the bag back home he just decided well Ill just bring it to him tomorrow, a response most of us would have. Well on the way home my cousin was pulled over by a cop for speeding (definitely guilty of this lol). The bag was then searched and inside contained 6.3 oz of marijuana. In the state of GA it is a felony to have in your possession more than one oz. He was subsequently carried off to jail and charged with possession with the intent to distribute, because it was such a large amount. When questioned he stated that the bag was not his but being the stand up guy he is, would not give up the name of the person it belonged to. My cousin spent 8 months in jail and would’ve spent 4 years (which was his sentence) had the real owner of the bag not been a loyal friend and came forward. My cousin passed every drug test they gave him, but had his license suspended for a year and had to pay a $2,500 dollar fine. He was guilty of nothing but taking the “wrong kind of friend” home yet he paid the price.

I truly believe this is what Schafer is going through. I don’t think he was suspended for not giving up names but just getting involved with the wrong crowd. I could be wrong but having lived through it I can see how something like this could happen and I applaud him for acting so maturely throughout the entire process.

By Boo Boo

January 26, 2009 12:10 AM | Link to this

Instead of a scoreboard hanging over centerfield, they should have a roster board. They should list every active player, from each team - home and away, and beside each name have a green light, a yellow light, and a red light. Each player is then tested before each game (at noon for a 7:00 PM game), with each player peeing into a cup in front of a league official, and that pee tested for every form of performance enhancing drug, including marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, and all genres of anibolic steroids, including HGH, with even cortisone injections administered to lame-joint players being seen as a drug to enhance performance, through it giving one the strength to play through pain. If ANYTHING comes up positive the yellow light gets turned on by that player’s name. That then results in a call for yellow light players to report back for a second pee test. If the same positive results occur, then the red light gets turned on by their name. Red light means NO PLAY. No play means no pay. Only green light players get to play. Green light means clean to play. Only players testing green get the green of dollar bills. Yellow would be for players taking drugs to heal, which keeps them from playing, but keeps them able to come back again to be tested. Three reds and you are out for the year.

That is something like the Olympics’ system. It is something like the Tour de France’s system. It is like an league AND organization taking a firm stance, saying, “We will not voluntarily allow this sport to be overrun by cheaters.”

In America, this concept could help sell some seats, simply due to the early arrivers coming to hear the PA announcer say, “May I have your attention please. The teams tonight are four players short to start the game, with four additional relief pitchers and substitute positions also needing to be filled. All who brought cleats and a glove please report to aisle 119 for pre-game testing now.”

Look at all the money teams could save. Baseball could not only have integrity again, it could be affordable too.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 26, 2009 7:11 AM | Link to this

The guy was, and remains, guilty. He was suspended, didn’t appeal it and served a fifty gamer. Any mitigating comments now are ridiculous and much too late. Schafer used HGH and now he’s blaming nameless, faceless people who probably don’t exist. All this support for a druggie will evaporate once its plain he can’t play without stuff he says he never took.

By Haha

January 26, 2009 8:19 AM | Link to this

Algonquin was probably stuffed in trashcans by athletes when he was in school…

By Algonquin J Douchebag...

January 26, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this

Induce is still not the correct term. Dork.

PS- get off the computer, your boss wants his coffee…

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 26, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this

Shame, that sounds like a large helping of baloney. That’s a true friend, to come forward after your nephew had already been incarcerated eight months. The whole story, like Schafer’s, has the essence of male bovine feces about it.

Haha, you’re a funny guy and so very articulate. go back to your porn site invertebrate!

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 26, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this

Induce, in this case, fits perfectly. You have insufficient knowledge to tell me anything. You are a nattering pest with no education and you love making that abundantly clear. Go back to your porn site and leave the informed opinion sites to those capable of informing. You are of low intelligence and we find your scribblings amusing but only in small doses. Get lost idiot!

By W.

January 26, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

He belongs at Gitmo. For the safety of all Major League organizations, we cannot have a known substance abuser playing in any organization.

By Algonquin J Douchebag...

January 26, 2009 3:15 PM | Link to this

Did you just call me an “invertabrate?” Oh wow- this is worse than I thought.
I am way too cool for you.

Shame on me for talking to someone as uncool as you. I’ll never forgive myself…

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 26, 2009 5:14 PM | Link to this

Yes, Mollusk, I called you an invertebrate. You’re so cool you won’t even use the nom de plume you signed up with. look it up maggot.

By JSS

January 26, 2009 6:09 PM | Link to this

I can less about Jordan and HGH, but if he is not going to prison like certain other athletes for skirting federal narcotics laws, then please stop bringing the subject up…

I’m more excited about counting the days until the Cox sisters go belly up and the AJC folds like a cheap suit!!! Hey Schultz, need the address for your Georgia Dept of Labor Career Counseling Center?

You NO TALENT HACK!!!

By noneofyour business

January 27, 2009 10:25 AM | Link to this

He blamed the suspension on “being caught hanging around a bad group of people,” and not speaking up when he was aware that doping was going on around him. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yeah right! Please how dumb does he think Braves fans are?

By noneofyour business

January 27, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this

By Tami

January 24, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this

I’ve softened my position on Jordan, while at the same time I remain in my very hard & strong position on others in athletics who take performance enhancing drugs. Since Jordan continues to so passionately deny that he took HGH, I’ll believe him….THIS time. If he continues to mature as an individual and as a player thus distancing himself further & further from all of this, then we can remain confident that all this was was simply youth and inexperience and being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. But, a young man in Jordan’s position can only use this once. After that, it’s pretty much downhill from there. A very lonely trip, I might add.

Sucker