Considering how much St. Louis hates Pujols for bailing on them, it probably isn’t too mad at Jack Clark.
Credit: Getty Images
If you are going to publicly claim the greatest hitter of this era was on performance-enhancing drugs, you better be really sure it’s true. Otherwise, you risk getting fired … and sued.
Former Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark’s radio career came to a very quick halt this weekend after being fired for claiming former Cardinals first baseman (and current Angels liability) Albert Pujols was using PEDs on his show on WGNU (Music and talk with a purpose!).
Clark lasted exactly one week as a radio host. Nothing like coming in and going out — at the same time— with guns blazing.
“I know for a fact he was [a juicer],” Clark said on air last Friday. “The trainer that worked with him, threw him batting practice from Kansas City, that worked him out every day, basically told me that’s what he did.”
That trainer was Chris Mihlfeld, who was also Pujols’s coach in junior college at Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, Mo. ESPN went to him for comment and, lo and behold, he strenuously denied giving Pujols steroids.
“I haven’t even talked to Jack Clark in close to 10 years,” Mihlfeld told ESPN.com. “His statements are simply not true. I have known Albert Pujols since he was 18 years old, and he would never use illegal drugs in any way.”
So this is awkward, Mr. Clark.
Pujols immediately released a statement saying he would sue WGNU and Clark, which is about the best you can do to deny PED claims. Though Lance Armstrong consistently batted drug claims in court only to finally admit he was a cheater.
“I am currently in the process of taking legal action against Jack Clark and his employers at WGNU 920 AM,” Pujols said in a statement Friday. “I am going to send a message that you cannot act in a reckless manner, like they have, and get away with it.”
I have no idea if Pujols was a juicer at St. Louis, but certainly I hope he wasn’t. Mostly I hope he sues Clark and WGNU into bankruptcy. Radio clowns need to be punished for stupid comments.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports. Clark should’ve picked on Alex Rodriguez. That is always safe.
