David Ortiz at his press conference:

I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements and vitamins over the counter, legal supplements and vitamins over the counter, but I never [bought] steroids, I never used steroids.

Says union confirmed he was on the 2003 list but NOT that that meant he took steroids.

MLBPA statement.

Reaction from some local bloggers about the news about Ortiz (Ortiz's statement):

Noternie, who was at game 5 of the 2004 ALCS - which Ortiz won - is disgusted if the news is true:

... All the good feelings he generated and good will he enjoyed were based on lies. He cheated. He lied. He marketed himself and allowed himself to be marketed as the "good guy," the big lovable hero. All the time he knew it all to be lies? ... He is a liar and a cheater. I will not forgive him for the shame this brings to the franchise and the World Series wins in 2004 and 2007. ...

Jimmy isn't buying the outrage:

The New York Times reports David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez "were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results."

David Ortiz is opening a steak place in Framingham, called, big surprise, Big Papi's. Will also serve seafood and burgers, so they've gotta get Dennis Eckersley out there to analyze the serving of the first burger:

That thing's got some serious cheese on it! Hairy cheese! With paint!

OK, maybe not.

Tells WEEI he really is 33.

Bill Simmons reluctantly gives up on Big Papi:

... I still watch every Ortiz at-bat thinking, This is the one. When he belted his first bomb of the season, I clapped like everyone else and pumped my fist. Yes! He's back! The Fenway crowd cheered as if it were Game 7, demanded a curtain call and showered him with love. This was the single strangest sports moment I've ever seen: Fans going absolutely bonkers for something that once was a routine act. Turned out, it was Papi's only homer of the first eight weeks. So it really was a curtain call. By May's end, Francona had dropped him to sixth in the order. Barring a miraculous return of bat speed, he'll be benched or released soon. It'll hurt, and I'm going to feel bad. I already do.

Onion: Manny Ramirez To David Ortiz: 'Road Trip'.

MLB Adjusts Drug Policy To Allow David Ortiz To Take Steroids.

Sadly, the story is now out of date, which anybody who follows batting averages will notice.

It's clicking again, a Sons of Sam Horn contributor posts.

Via Joy of Sox.