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Sunday, July 05, 2009

washingtonpost.com: The Jerk Who Saved Baseball

Mike Gimbel, director of Powered by Me, a Towson-based nonprofit that teaches about the dangers of steroids, says Canseco did a great service not only to baseball but to everyone who loves sports.

“I’m a recovering addict, and I’ve been in the substance-abuse field for 30 years,” Gimbel said, “and I’m a big proponent of being honest and telling the people around you who and what you are. That’s what Canseco did.”

Still, Canseco is “a jerk,” Gimbel said. And it’s hard to argue. He didn’t set out to reform the game. He set out to make a buck and to punish the baseball establishment for perceived slights. But sometimes it takes a jerk to change the world.

Guapo Posted: July 05, 2009 at 01:59 PM | 11 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: books, media, steroids

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1. Jeff K. Posted: July 05, 2009 at 04:43 PM (#3242548)

Wait, is this the Mike Gimbel or is that just an enormous coincidence?

2. Baseball-Birthdays.com Posted: July 05, 2009 at 04:47 PM (#3242550)

Wait, is this the Mike Gimbel or is that just an enormous coincidence?

the one referenced in the article has a website here... no mention of any statty stuff in his background.

3. Jeff K. Posted: July 05, 2009 at 04:59 PM (#3242554)

I just read through his resume linked there. On the one hand, you're right, zero mention of baseball. On the other, he sure sounds like the other Gimbel. Who, especially a middle-aged professional, lists that many "Awards" on a resume? Who lists "Listed in Who's Who in the World"? That's an argument against you, man, because you were stupid enough to fall for that. Parents of high schoolers, I can somewhat excuse. Not this guy.

On top of that, it's from 1994, and he lists it twice. If I were back reviewing resumes for the students in the required 1-hour freshman course that all McCombs students have to take, this would get a C at best. If I were back doing hiring, this guy would probably be in the back half of those who met whatever qualifications. I've never worked in medical though, maybe that sort of thing is common.

4. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 05, 2009 at 04:59 PM (#3242555)

It's a different Mike Gimbel. This Gimbel doesn't look like the other Mike Gimbel and the baseball Gimbel is a NYC resident and has been for a long time.

5. Jeff K. Posted: July 05, 2009 at 05:17 PM (#3242564)

Right. I was pretty sure from jump, as it would have been mentioned in the intro most likely. I do find it curious that the author of the article didn't say something to note that he wasn't the same guy in the article. I see them note "not related" or whatever for things much less notable/confusing.

6. PreservedFish Posted: July 05, 2009 at 06:50 PM (#3242641)

Mike Gimbel. That brings me back to the day when statheads said things like, "give me one week and I could turn the Pirates into a .500 club."

7. Darren

Posted: July 05, 2009 at 08:29 PM (#3242752)

Really, #6--for me, his name brings back memories of a time when having a stat guy on the payroll was so embarrassing that they had to immediately fire him when he was discovered.

8. Jeff K. Posted: July 05, 2009 at 08:55 PM (#3242784)

Well, when you're discovered the way Mike was.

9. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 05, 2009 at 09:03 PM (#3242792)

Really, #6--for me, his name brings back memories of a time when having a stat guy on the payroll was so embarrassing that they had to immediately fire him when he was discovered.

Gimbel (a guy not afraid of touting his brilliance and the idiocy of everyone else) doesn't even describe his exit that way. He was "discovered" before the 1997 season and his contract wasn't renewed at the end of the season.

10. Brandon in MO (Yunitility Infielder) Posted: July 05, 2009 at 10:59 PM (#3242880)

Jose Canseco just found the name for his next book

11. Social media assassin (Templeusox) Posted: July 05, 2009 at 11:01 PM (#3242885)

This should have been about Bonds.

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