The David Ortiz Case: Time To Stop Blaming Everyone Else

The time has long since passed to point a finger of guilt at the one person who is truly to blame for the steroid mess that has gripped Major League Baseball.

You. Me, every single loyal fan of the game.

As the story settles in that David Ortiz, one of the most likable and genial players of the game, tested positive for the use of performance enhancing drugs, (or more to the point in this acronym and initialized sensationalist news world we have become drones to, PED’s), blame is running more rampant than the drugs themselves.

And it’s fascinating to watch this theater of trickle down effect as it plays out....again.

Bud Selig is to blame for being a spineless and complicit Commissioner, allowing such a travesty to happen on his watch. After all, he was and remains one of "them", the guys who at the end of the day are living in several mansions and choking down illegal Cuban cigars.

"Them", of course, are the owners. Every single one bears a lion’s share of blame for keeping their mouths shut and wallets open at a time when fans and money were pouring into the pockets like so much manna from baseball heaven.

The media was too busy sucking up to the players and those very owners for their daily game stories and often useless pieces of drivel. All they were doing was filling air time and killing trees with nothing of substance.

I will give you all these points as givens. Inarguable and cast in stone.

But they are all merely matters of convenience. It’s time we as fans shut our mouths and took the heat we so richly deserve and have earned.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s we all knew players were popping those little diet pills to stay awake on long road trips. It was no secret that they were slamming back a few, before the games themselves to put a little extra jack in their step. Former major leaguer John Milner even spoke of getting his "greenies" from Willie Mays and Willie Stargell.

We complained, but we kept buying tickets.

In the 80’s it was as if someone opened the flood gates on nose candy. Players were stuffing anything and everything up their noses, as salaries skyrocketed and arrogance prevailed. Dave Parker, Lee Mazzilli, Keith Hernandez, and Tim Raines just a few of the notable names hauled in front of a Grand Jury investigating rampant drug use.

We screamed about how these role models were ruining our children with visions of being famous and getting away with illegal drug use.

But...we kept buying tickets.

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