In the public eye, baseball has officially been tarnished now that sweet-swingers Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez allegedly performance-enhanced their way to years of gaudy statistics. And though I love the game of baseball (played it for 10 years), Manny and A-Rod, I ain't mad atcha.
Before we point the finger, consider how many of us habitually drink coffee or smoke cigarettes just so we can make it through the day or increase our productivity and earn our modest salary. Now imagine if the stakes were higher, much higher...to the tune of $25 million per year. These players have an obligation to perform at the highest level. Is it that unbelievable that they would take a drug to enable that level of play? I think not. Everybody "juices" on some level.
"consider how many of us habitually drink coffee or smoke cigarettes just so we can make it through the day or increase our productivity and earn our modest salary. Now imagine if the stakes were higher, much higher...to the tune of $25 million per year. These players have an obligation to perform at the highest level."
Thats not the point, that is not why people are mad. Its called integrity. Steroids destroy the integrity of the game because it is all based on lies. According to Kant, it is ethically wrong for them to deceive the public in any sense. People hate baseball players who take steroids because these players are lying to everyone.
"Is it that unbelievable that they would take a drug to enable that level of play?"
No, but there are drugs allotted by the MLB that help players increase their level of play. You can even request to take a banned substance if the MLB deems it necessary for the recovery of an injured player. Because Ramirez did not go to the MLB for assistance, thats why they didnt believe his claim that it was for rehab.
Posted by: Rod | 2009.05.08 at 08:41 AM
To the above comment, the public doesn't have the right to be mad because they're responsible for evolving (or de-evolving) baseball from a "game" to a big business in which players need to validate multi-million dollar contracts and deliver the fireworks that keeps fans in seats. The steroids era brought baseball out of a serious lull due to the strike and declining fan interest.
A lot of us do things that we don't disclose just to get an "edge". Let's not be so quick to point our fingers in judgment especially for something as trivial to the cosmos as baseball.
Posted by: Free Speech | 2009.05.09 at 01:26 AM
I think if they need Steroids to perform, they should just quit baseball. It's not fair to those players who work hard and actually play the game without the use of steroids.
now some cats probably cork bats and all that (Sammy Sosa) they should just quit. Why are they getting paid so much money to cheat?
So is that what they teach new incoming players it's ok to use steroids to get paid the big bucks and make baseball not a dull sport?
to quote Homer J. Simpson
"Without beer I never realized how boring this game really was"
Posted by: Rokwell111 | 2009.05.09 at 02:15 AM
Fairness to the players that didn't roid will kick in 20 years from now when they don't have heart problems, kidney failure, or cancer. And sadly, I'm sure MLB was conscious of this issue a long time ago, but milked the gaudy stats as longas they could until someone got publicly ratted out. But most importantly, Rokwell, you should link up with the kid in the "He's Got Next" video. I think your production would be a perfect fit.
Posted by: Free Speech | 2009.05.09 at 09:05 AM
looks like free speech is gettin all pissy cuz people hatin on his pro-steroid stance.... seems to me only a steroid user would justify steroid use.... i mean,just look at free speech... he likes the way steroids make him look in his wifebeaters
Posted by: x | 2009.05.16 at 04:22 PM
Exactly, genius!
Posted by: Free Speech | 2009.05.16 at 04:30 PM
I'd take Free's training methods over Tony Little or Chuck Norris' Total Gym workout anyday!
Posted by: James Y | 2009.05.19 at 09:24 PM