Many would like to believe that the steroid era in professional baseball is coming to a close, yet we keep testing and receiving positive results. The Ryan Braun’s of the game tell us that the steroid era is still alive.
Performance-enhancing drugs have gained so much popularity that Stephanie Meyer is releasing a fourth “Twilight” book entitled, “The Blood [Doping] Vampire.” This is just a rumor, of course.
As the steroid era lingers on, so does the debate as to whether it has helped, or hurt baseball and its place in the public eye.
Many would argue that Barry Bonds tainted a record so precious that baseball has lost its appeal completely. Others maintain that baseball, which was slipping drastically in popularity in the 90s, was saved by the steroid-riddled home run race of Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, the first of its kind since the M&M Boys.
But has it really made the game unfair?
In the early years when hitters’ blood tests were coming back filled with more chemicals than a biology lab, it was easy to feel for pitchers who looked like fourth graders compared to the monsters at the plate.
Then came Roger Clemens. When The Rocket was flagged, the debate changed and the “poor pitchers” mentality transformed into a “let’s get it on” mentality.
The root of the problem is trust. Who can trust a record-breaking performance during the steroid era when it is impossible to know if that player accomplished those feats through hard work or hard drugs?
Some will give baseball the benefit of the doubt. Some sympathize with Bonds when he says he never abused the steroid policy. Those same people also believe OJ was innocent and that Jay-Z and Beyonce married for true love.
Duly noted.
Others take the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin approach and say, “Who cares?” to all of the PED allegations. Home runs are further, top plays are prettier, fastballs are more explosive and the game is more enjoyable.
Duly noted.
Still others tell tales of Minor League baseball, providing example after example of guys who were “that close” to breaking into the League and could justify steroid use in the quest for their dream, their job and their way of life.
Duly noted.
Then there are the believers; those who say that America’s Pastime should be a clean sport, even though lies, cheating, scandal and cocky guys on TV sounds a lot more like the America I see today.
Duly noted.
But who will speak for Henry Aaron, who had his coveted record stolen from him in the public eye?
Who will speak for Ricky Henderson, whose steals record stands about as much of a chance of surviving the steroid era as Lindsay Lohan has of staying sober?
Who will speak for the hard workers who earned their contracts through blood, sweat and tears?
As for me, I will continue writing stories about the dishonest – baseball’s equivalent to America’s Glenn Beck, I suppose.
In a country laced with deceit, lawlessness, inflation, cheating and dark corners, baseball should really be called America’s Present.
0
0
Be First to Comment