With the news that broke yesterday of Big Papi and Manny Ramirez testing positive for PEDs (performing enhancing drugs) in 2003, baseball is, once again, up in arms over cheating. Apparently there is a list of just over 100 players that ended up testing positive for PEDs in 03, and it seems that every couple of months, a couple more stars are being outted, even after the courts where sworn to keep the results secret. When will baseball learn that keeping these cheaters safe is the wrong way to go?
Everyone knows that baseball is basically tainted for a solid ten year period in the late 90's to 2000's. Lets take David Ortiz for example. He was an average, platoon hitter for the Twins before he came over to Boston, then all of a sudden, jumps to 40+ homers a year, and helps Boston win their dramatic World Series title in 04. Kinda fishy how this success happened at the same time he failed a drug test...
The steroids issue in baseball is a bit tricky when considering how fans feel about it. Some people (like yours truly) think that is a complete smack in the face to a great game and its fans, not to mention the players that have come before and done such great things. Some people see it a different way, claiming that it enhances the game, makes it more interesting and exciting. Some just don't care at all at this point, being let down so many times as their heroes are revealed as cheats year after year. Can we all remember how fun it was to watch Roger Clemens dominate hitters in the late 90's? He was bound for the Hall of Fame, first ballot all the way. Now, I don't see him getting it at all.
Baseball needs to smarten up and purge itself of this. Its time to come clean and let the public know what its national pastime has done in the past and what it plans to do in the future. There is too much history linked to this game to risk its integrity for a bunch of juiced up hacks. I think letting the fans know who was on that infamous list that was created in 03 is a start. I say this, however, with a bit of apprehension, because I'm worried to find out who else is on that list. Imagine if we come to learn that guys like Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, or, god forbid, Ken Griffey, Jr. were revealed on that list. Personally, it would be crushing to learn that some of my childhood heroes cheated. Some people would probably scoff at the mention that Jr. might show up on any of these lists, because he's never been one to work out or get so huge where he doesn't have a neck, and they're probably right. However, I just think about all the people who watch Roger Clemens and didn't see it coming. I know I didn't.
If baseball wants to quit being the laughing stock of pro sports, I think it needs to face this issue head on, because people are beginning to shake their heads now instead of being outraged. In my opinion, its apathy that can kill the credibility of a sport with its fans, and baseball is toeing that line.
What do you guys think?
Garbs
PS. TRADE WASHBURN!!!
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I'm against just throwing the names out there for the media to feast upon. Ultimately I think this could make the situation worse. The reason we have drug testing in the first place was because these tests were to remain confidential.
ReplyDeleteThe fault here lies at the hands of the MLB Player's Union. They need to take a good look at their organization and question the integrity of all their employees. The fact that at least one of their workers is "leaking" names on this list anonymously is both cowardly and unethical. No matter how you put it.
If the list would just stay sealed as intended, we wouldn't have to hear about this garbage every two weeks.
Regardless of whether someone used or didn't. Steroids were not banned until after the 2003 season. As shitty as it is to say, it's true. So, the moment names stop getting leaked the sooner we can move past this whole steroids era in baseball.
The fact that there was a list made is the reason why its getting leaked. There is too much money to be made be someone who wants to profit from leaking the information in the first place to even try and keep it secret. This infamous list isn't going away, and to expect someone to actually not leak anything is a bit naive. This whole issue is cowardly and unethical, and now that Pandora's box is open, lets get it all out there, because it obivous the Union can't be trusted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Garbs. Get all the info out in the open. Let the press feast on it for a few weeks and be done with it. Or, destroy the list. Then state where the sport of baseball is headed and what measures are being taken so that this big debacle doesn't happen again. Bring some credibility back to the game.
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