Is anyone else slightly disturbed that the man who holds one of baseball's most prestigious records was charged with 14 counts of perjury and one count of obstructing justice yesterday?
What kind of image is being portrayed to the younger generations?
I grew up idolizing the likes of Sammy Sosa and the other elite baseball players of the late 90's. It disturbs me to think that they were cheaters. My heart broke when the corked bat was found in 2003. No kid wants to think of thier idols as cheaters.
That's what tomorrow's generations are being faced with if the trend continues without any punishment. A slap on the wrist is basically what they're getting for using steroids right now.
Sure baseball has started to crack down more in recent years, but is it enough?
No. More needs to be done and not only in baseball. However, I think baseball is at the forefront in the eyes of sports fans in this nation. I mean no offense to the NBA, NHL, or NFL, but baseball was the thing that brought this nation together after September 11.
Tennis players that test positive have a harsher punishment for the positive test than baseball players right now around the world (1 year ban for second positive test).
The NFL suspends players for four games without pay for one positive test, eight games for a second positive test, and 12 months for a third. The NFL also holds the longest standing substance abuse policy, as theirs began in 1987.
Current MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's term will likely be remembered for two things. The 2001 All Star Game debacle in Miller Park, and how he handles the steroid era.
Selig would be well advised to follow suit on some of the other professional sports and take a firmer stand on this issue. It's a travesty that the federal government had to come in and investigate this because baseball's head honchos hadn't properly investigated this issue.
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2 months ago
I agree. Something needs to be done and fast. Bonds isn't a hero. Bonds is a bum and all the kids who looked up to him need to know that this kind of behavior isn't going to be tolerated. Major League Baseball is letting children think that cheaters can get away with it right now. It's time to send a message
2 months ago
Baseball has swept the steroid era under the rug... but we tried...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWvv-3UwT8c
Good article...
2 months ago
Harsher penalties need to be given out to first time abusers and repeat abusers for sure. Think about it: The NFL suspends their players for 4 games without pay. That is a quarter of the season. Imagine a baseball player with that suspension: 40 game suspension! That would get the point across.
It has gotten WAY better though. Steve Phillips on ESPN was just talking about how we are on pace to have over 1000 fewer home runs than just 2 yrs ago, and 500 fewer than last year. That proves players are off the juice and terrified to be associated with it. There is a reason why so much parody is around this year: Teams that rely on small ball can now compete with all the meat head homerun power teams.
2 months ago
Baseball can't and want punish those that saved the game from the mistake that was the strike the homerun chase to be the 1st to break 61 and hit number 62 then a year or so later Bonds breaking that record and then later the most hallow record in baseball the Homerun record all these help MLB regain fans or bring in new fans to a dying sport.
2 months ago
I think there is another problem that needs to be addressed. This society holds entertainment and sports figures in too high of a regard as idols for younger generations in the first place. Also, even if you can find a sports figure that seems to have a clean slate, it is only a matter of time before the media picks them apart and they're thrown from their pedestal.
In past generations you could find that there were some majorities that considered certain people as idols (including some sports figures). Now, it is so fractured and divided that it is impossible to find a consensus on who young generations look up to. I agree though that the steroid's era will never fully dissipate because it will echo throughout baseball lure.
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