Steroids Are Our Fault?
By lefty
A regular visitor to our blog, 'YankeeSonshine' posted a link to the article by Phil Pepe regarding the Giambi scandal. Some of what Pepe writes is right on. However, upon rereading the article he looses me on some key points. He attempts to create a convoluted justification for cheating. He says Giambi’s critical mistake is that he got caught. Now that sounds like a Yankee attitude. He says we’re ALL to blame: the owners, MLB, sportswriters and the yes, even the fans. He mysteriously left commentators off his guilt list.
Pepe blames the fans for cheeting? Give me a break. What were Yankee fans supposed to do, administer their own urine tests on Giambi and A-Rod and the gang? The truth is this: The only ones involved in this mess that have a right to be outraged are the fans.
MLB and the owners share in the disgrace as much as Giambi. They not only allow this to go on, they passively encourage it. They do little to stop it because they benefit even more than the players do. Millions are made when these juiced players raise the excitement level for America's favorite pasttime by shattering long-standing records. And where does this money come from? The fans. We fans fund baseball and we have a right to be outraged.
It’s obvious to every objective observer that steroids have been a problem for years. Look at the numbers. In 1927 Babe Ruth set the all time season home run record with 60, breaking his own record of 59 set six years earlier in 1921. It took another 34 years for Roger Maris to break that record with 61. Then look what happens. Thirty-seven years later, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa shatter Maris’ record by clubbing 70 and 66 homers respectively in 1998. Then in the next 3 years Bonds hits 73, McGwire hits 65, and Sosa hits 64 and 63. Six times in four years the same three players post unprecedented power numbers. No wonder Giambi wanted in on this action.
Anyone that is not outraged is just not paying attention. Not just Yankee fans — ALL fans deserve better. Fans of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, and Roger Maris should be outraged. We were the victims of a known fraud perpetrated by a knowing and willing MLB. And now they act as though they’re shocked. But, let the players' inflated records stand they say. Asteriks next to records just clutter up the Hall of Fame plaques. No punishments will be doled out. As far as I’m concerned, every power record set in the last few years is now questionable.
This next season should not begin without every player passing a full test on any steroid use. I don’t care how they’re administered, creams needles, enemas, whatever — ban it. It’s only fair to the players who go by the rules and value their lives more than a record or a contract. And, yes, keep their medical records confidential. All the public needs to know is that the ones who are doping are no longer wearing the uniform of their team. And as for the federal government — let's not have to waste our congresspeoples' time on this bad behavior. The USA has some other more pressing business right now, don't you think? MLB should be able to straighten this out without another law against illegal drug use. After all, are we going to need a new customized federal law for every sport?
Back to Pepe's article: His final question is way off the mark. He asks, "which GM wouldn’t take a chance on Giambi with his potential to hit .300, knock in 120 runs and hit 40 home runs?" The problem with his premise is that Giambi apparently does not have that potential unless he is juiced. Admitting to using steroids is admitting that disability to himself.
