ESPN recently did an E:60 investigative piece about steroids, with someone named Gregg Valentino as its centerpiece. For the uneducated, Valentino is the guy who has long touted himself as the man with the largest biceps in the world.
(Case you’re wondering, that’s an arm. I think.)
Yeah right.
The bodybuilding community has forever mocked Valentino for his freakish, lopsided limbs. Arms that were almost certainly created with the injection of the oil-based compound Synthol. Along with possible additional help from implants.
But apparently Valentino hoodwinked ESPN editorial into believing that his biceps were merely the result of steroid use. So the feature ends up being 15 minutes of priceless publicity for a pair of vein-less, upper-arm tumors adjoined to the forearms of preteen Honduran girl.
Of course, Valentino denies that his biceps are fake. Check out this exchange from his recent ESPN.com chat:
Valentino: “There’s no oil in my arms, because ESPN checked me.“
Really? Then why wasn’t that noted in the E:60 piece? And if Valentino indeed has real biceps, why does he have to use ESPN as a crutch in the denial?
Now, if you’re ESPN and you’re airing an investigative piece on the danger of steroids, would you air a piece celebrating someone with monster (fake) arms, or focus on a deflated burnout whose health has been ruined?
With ESPN, we get the former. The first 80% of the feature has Valentino extolling the virtues of steroids, including claiming that the drug has no side effects.
The end of the piece then shows him deciding to give up steroids because of the damage his public claims about the drug has done to his relationship with his kids.
That’s right, Valentino gave up years of steroids support because his kids didn’t like him anymore. Not because of health or behavioral issues.
Now for the best part: Valentino claimed his epiphany came because of ESPN’s piece on him.
I know ESPN’s biz is all about grabbing viewers, but this was truly the lowest of the low. The piece did nothing to show the true ravages of the drug, and instead presented Valentino as a hero.
Anybody in Bristol heard of an X-Ray Machine?
12:34 am on April 30th, 2009
It's obvious you know nothing either. You refer to steroids as "the drug." There are hundreds of different steroid products, most of which have a wildly different function in the body.
You should research a bit more before spewing hate and making speculation. I noticed that you have only one citation in the article, meant to defame Greg Valentino. Where are you citations disproving his statement that steroids do no harm to the body? How about the effects of synthol or its half-life? Perhaps a list of steroids he supposedly took and what they should have done?
Your writing is unresearched and sophomoric. Please do more reading and less typing.
9:45 am on April 30th, 2009
Looks like we hit a sore subject with Nick here… put the needles down my friend.
10:26 am on April 30th, 2009
Gross. My money's on fake. Whatever it is, it just…looks…stupid. If someone needs attention that bad, they have issues.
11:30 am on April 30th, 2009
Why is it that these steroided freaks always reply back the same way and always take offense and try to defend steroids?
2:01 pm on April 30th, 2009
Nick-
juicer…..ehhhem
3:13 pm on April 30th, 2009
ESPN is out of control with this E60 stuff. They're acting like a drunken elephant.
- The Random Guy
3:32 pm on April 30th, 2009
Nick=Valentino.
His *arm* needs a bra.
Somebody in Miami Beach is missing his Bocce Balls.
3:41 pm on April 30th, 2009
Synthol is not a steroid. It doesn't make something grow, it makes something appear bigger…think breast implants. The girl doesn't get bigger breasts, but they look bigger. The "evil effects" of steroids are overdramatized by the American media. They are just like anything else in the world, too much equals problems. But if you know what you are doing, steroids make you healthier. That's a fact.
12:57 am on May 1st, 2009
"But if you know what you are doing, steroids make you healthier. That's a fact."
Must be true, he said it's a fact. How can you argue with that?
6:24 am on May 1st, 2009
Look it up, do some research. Don't just take what the media says as dogma. I am not talking long-term, WWF style abuse. That's exactly what it is, ABUSE. I am talking about USE. Tell me A-Rod or Barry Bonds aren't healthy. Read reports that aren't slanted.
12:05 pm on May 1st, 2009
Scott is absolutely right. The medical field uses steroids for healing.However, this Gregg Valentino is still drain bamaged.