Think about the Children

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

As most of us know, there is more to life then sports. Kids grow up watching their favorite athletes, and view them as role models. Baseball is America’s pastime, and arguably its most popular sport. Unfortunately, baseball has been sending a bad message to children.

When Alex Rodriquez got accused of steroids, the baseball world was shocked. Arguably the biggest baseball icon was accused of cheating. When he admitted to using steroids, the media attacked him with questions for a week and eventually the news dwindled down.

Baseball’s “saviors” in 1998, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, have been accused of using steroids. McGuire even admitted to using steroids. Now that he is trying to get in the Hall Of Fame, he is getting denied. However, the integrity of baseball is going to get challenged when other steroid users go on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Something else that shocks me, is how lenient baseball is to these steroid users. Alex Rodriquez took NO punishment what so ever. All that he lost was creditability. He probably doesn’t really care about his creditability. He still has his millions of dollars, he has bought America sympathy by admitting, and he will probably still get elected to the Hall of Fame.

Now, how is this affecting the children. When Major League baseball does not give a harsh punishment to steroid users, it is sending the wrong message. Its saying, “just don’t do it again”, and will learn that doing something once is not that bad.

If the steroid users are elected into the hall, it is sending a worse message to kids. It is teaching kids that they can still reach the summit by cheating. Kids will use this mentality not only in sports, but life itself.

I think that Major League Baseball should give a harsher punishment to steroid users, and all records by users should be erased. Even more importantly, the athletes should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame.

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