Mariano Rivera admires teammate Andy Pettitte’s recent admission that he took H.G.H. in 2003 for an injury. Frankly, we don’t even know why there’s such an uproar. It was two days. A four year old’s asthma inhaler probably contains more steroids than the hormones Pettitte received. And last we checked, a four year old on steroids is way more dangerous on a dodgeball court against other four year olds. We’re just pointing it out. Yet, just in case, the PR peeps at Yankee stadium forced probably mentioned to their team that they should say what they can to help stifle an eruption. Cue Mariano:

Rivera praised Pettitte for issuing a statement Saturday in which he admitted to using human growth hormone for two days in the 2002 season to accelerate his recovery from an elbow injury.

“To me, it’s important, because that shows his character,” Rivera said.“It was the wrong thing at the time, definitely was the wrong thing to do, but you know what? I support Andy. I know the way he works. I know how hard he works. I’m glad he came out and said that, and I would think that he would be received like normal.”

That Steinbrenner runs a tight camp. With a secure job and 45 Million new bucks in his account, Rivera tap danced like we all would. But admitting to having the naivety of an adolescent boy is a bit much.

“To tell you the truth, I haven’t read anything,” Rivera said Monday on a conference call, when the Yankees announced his three-year, $45 million contract. “All I try to do is rest and stay away from all those things.”

That attitude is consistent with the way Rivera has conducted himself through 13 years in the majors. He will counsel teammates and speak up in meetings, but he prepares on his own and keeps things simple.

That is why Rivera — who said he does not even know what human growth hormone is — was floored by the secondhand accounts he had heard from the Mitchell investigation. The report detailed a widespread culture of drug abuse in baseball and identified several of his former teammates, including Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, as users.

Is he also unaware the Yankees post season hasn’t progressed beyond the first week of October? Someone should ask him.

Rivera praises Pettitte for admitting drug use [NYTimes]
Image [NYTimes]