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Pettitte finds God can handle anticipated ‘disaster’ of drug controversy Saturday, Oct 31, 2009 By James A. Smith Sr. |
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“For something that I thought was going to be like a disaster and the worst thing that ever could have happened to me in my life,” Pettitte realized he needed to surrender the matter to God. Pettitte, in an Oct. 3 interview with Florida Baptist Witness, said he had told God, “You know where my heart was, what my intentions were and I can’t take care of this.” The controversy about his use of human growth hormone “revealed more than ever” that “if you just turn something over to God that He can take care of it when you don’t think there’s any way that He can,” Pettitte said. And God has, bringing greater affirmation of Pettitte’s Christian testimony because of the way he addressed the matter. Pettitte sat down with the Witness at the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg hours before he pitched his final regular season start against the Tampa Bay Rays. Pettitte lost the game, with three earned runs in what he told news media after was an “ugly” effort. During the 30 minute interview, Pettitte — one of the most well-known Christians in Major League Baseball — spoke frankly about the HGH use. Pettitte was named in the Mitchell Report in December 2007 as one of the players accused of using HGH. After the report was released, Pettitte issued a statement confirming use of the drug for two days in 2002. Two months later, in an affidavit for a congressional committee, Pettitte admitted to one other use of HGH in 2004. HGH was banned by MLB in 2005. When Pettitte reported for spring training in February 2008, he held a 55-minute news conference fully answering reporters’ questions, according to an Associated Press report. AP noted, “Other athletes have ducked tough questions about allegations of drug use, using evasions and nonspecific replies. Pettitte admitted his mistakes and several times patiently asked reporters, ‘Did I answer your question?’” Pettitte told the Witness he only used HGH in an attempt to recover more quickly from injury, feeling an obligation to play since he is earning such a large salary. “I thought, in my mind, I’m making $10-11 million, I ought to do whatever I can to get on the field,” he explained. “I got to the point where I was so desperate, I think, that I really didn’t think it out or didn’t think out clearly what I wanted to do, I guess. And sometimes in desperate times you make wrong decisions, you know.” While he was not attempting to enhance his performance, Pettitte felt “uncomfortable” with the HGH use and recognized it was wrong. Pettitte said his HGH use has not created an opportunity to talk with other players about performance enhancing drugs because most are not willing to talk about the taboo topic. However, the controversy has given Pettitte more opportunities to talk to players about the Lord. “I think what it has created for me is just the opportunity to talk to people and to see the way that when you’re going through the fire in something … or how you carry yourself through it and how you walk through it,” he said. “God’s the only way that I was able to get through that, you know. So it just gives me another opportunity to share with guys how great the Lord is,” he said. Pettitte said almost every manager of MLB teams he has faced since his February 2008 news conference has thanked him for facing up to his actions. “They respect me now more now than they ever have,” he said. Pettitte, who became a Christian at the age of 11 after attending a revival service at a Baptist church in his hometown of Deer Park, Texas, is an active member of Central Baptist Church in the same city. In the past, Pettitte has taught Sunday School to teenage boys during the off-season at the independent Baptist congregation. Today, he and his wife, Laura, whose brother is the pastor of the church, are actively involved in their own Sunday School class. The Pettittes have four children, ages almost 15 to 4. Pettitte told the Witness he believes God has blessed him financially so that he can be a blessing to others, including his church. God also has blessed him with the ability to compete and “make big pitches when I need to do so,” he said. Known as a big game performer, Pettitte holds the MLB record for most postseason starts and innings pitched, and is tied for second for most World Series game starts. Pettitte has played in eight World Series — seven with the Yankees and one with the Houston Astros — the most for active pitchers. He has won four championships, all with the Yankees. The Yankees posted the best record in MLB this year and are playing the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Pettitte likes the Yankees’ chances. Pitching in his 15th season, Pettitte told the Witness, “We’ve got everything that you need to win a World Series. Now, obviously, the tough part is to go out and do it.” The Yankees easily hold the MLB record for World Series titles, 26, with the last in 2000. Having signed a one-year deal for 2009, Pettitte said the outcome of the postseason may play a role in his decision concerning retirement, but the biggest factors will be his family’s desires and wanting to be sure he no longer wants to play. “I just want to totally exhaust myself of this sport and of the game, because I don’t want to retire and wish that I would have played one more year or even consider coming back or anything like that. I want to get it out of my system,” he said. Pettitte added, “I know I’m close. I’m real close.” Asked about a Brett Favre-like comeback, Pettitte said with a laugh, “No, I definitely don’t want to do that. I think my wife would divorce me if I did that.” Pettitte expressed gratitude to God for his opportunity to play baseball in the major leagues and the desire to serve God as a witness to players and fans. “I realize God’s got me here. He’s kept me healthy, and He’s got me here for a reason. And I hope that I’m doing a good job for Him, that’s for sure.” --30-- James A. Smith Sr. is executive editor of the Florida Baptist Witness. Story reprinted with permission.
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