The following is an editorial.
While baseball is not the only sport that has had steroid/human growth hormone/drug problems over the years, it is the one that is most in the news of late.
With Congressional investigations, potential perjury charges for former witnesses, and who knows what else on the horizon, the steroid issue is once again casting a dark shadow upon what is supposed to be America's favorite past time.
Major League Baseball has had enough public relations problems with this issue. It is my humble opinion that it is time to get a lot tougher than they have been on the subject.
After Mark McGwire admitted to taking steroids during his pursuit of breaking Roger Maris' single season home run record, MLB authorities did nothing because the ones McGwire took were not "officially illegal" at the time. TOUGH! McGwire should have been stripped of the title!
Alex Rodriguez recently admitted to taking human growth hormone during his 2001-2003 seasons with the Texas Rangers. While this does not necessarily mean that he is still taking anything he shouldn't be, any titles/awards Rodriguez "earned" between 2001-2003 should be removed for the dishonor he has done them!
And do I really need to start on Barry Bonds? Given all the court issues sounding him at the moment, why didn't any MLB official administer a drug test while he was in pursuit of breaking Hank Aaron's all time career home run record? Were they afraid of the results?
Although it is not just baseball with image problems, sports figures are more in the public eye than one might first think. What kind of example is this for any potential student athlete thinking about a career in sports?
Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE BASEBALL!
I watch as much as I can from the first pitch of preseason to the last out of the World Series.
But this sport cannot afford any more dents in its already tarnished armor.
_________________________________________________________
And on a totally unrelated note, this was our 100th post at our new home on Blogger .com!
No comments:
Post a Comment