Roberts comes clean: He used 'roids ONCE

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts admitted last night that he used steroids "once," in 2003, but said he hasn't used them or any other performance-enhancing drugs since.

He was silent for four days after his name appeared in former Sen. George J. Mitchell's scathing report on steroid use in major league baseball. But last night Roberts issued a statement, which was provided to The Sun, that read:

"I would like to address the allegations that were made against me in the Mitchell Report. I will begin by saying that I have worked very hard to develop a good reputation both on and off the field. I have always taken pride in being a man of integrity and values. I know that by being a professional athlete, I am held to a very high standard. I never have and never will take that for granted. However, I am also human and I have made mistakes.

Roberts was given the opportunity to speak with investigators, but he declined. He said last night that he harbors no ill will toward Bigbie, whom he said he hasn't spoken to since the report was released.

"I'm not mad at Larry. I don't hate Larry. Larry is one of my good friends," said Roberts, who acknowledged that he spoke yesterday to Orioles owner Peter Angelos about his intentions, but declined to elaborate on the conversation.

"Obviously from the report, what I gathered was Larry was in a situation where he was asked a question and he had to tell the truth. Larry and I must have had a conversation about it at some point and he thought he remembered. I don't resent Larry, I'm not mad at Larry. It boils down to me, not Larry. I have no problems there."