Without Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, Baseball Focuses On the Races

As a huge baseball fan, I was always depressed when major league players would test positive for steroids.  As a young fan, I wasn't completely positive of the way baseball was tainted.  But as a student, I knew steroids were bad and didn't belong to the game.

After I had matured, I watched as player after player testified in 2005 at the congressional hearings.  I saw Rafael Palmeiro point his finger in anger.  I witnessed Mark McGwire avoid answering any of the questions asked in his direction.  And I saw Sammy Sosa and his apparent disorder of remembering the English language.

Then Palmeiro tested positive.  A member of both the 500 HR and 3,000 hit clubs, he was by far the biggest name to bite the dust.

Then Barry Bonds began approaching the all-time home run record.  Of course, this record was held by Hank Aaron, an American hero.  So people were obviously looking for something to pull this man down.

And there was something that was very easy to pick on him for: he had his own steroid rumors.  It didn't help that he grew very large in size in a short period of time.  And it was all muscle.  You could imagine that people were very curious at how this skinny MVP with the Pirates grew to be a muscular Giant, so to speak.

And then the records began to fall.  73 home runs in a season in 2001.  Won a total of seven MVPs.  And was still approaching that magical number of 756.

As he was scrutinized, he fired back.  He told reporters that they were out of their minds.  He wouldn't welcome any members of the media into his personal life.  And would love getting booed by every fan other than his own.

Then came the infamous Mitchell Report.  It listed all of the possible steroid users from the "steroid era" and Bonds, of course, was mentioned.  But there was a similar iconic figure listed as well: Roger Clemens.

There was nothing but shock and surprise when the public caught word of this.  And as you would guess, Clemens was the first to defend himself.  Him and former trainer Brian McNamee would then take part in a Cold War of sorts as Clemens begged McNamee to clear his name.  This saga would last for weeks.

But as the season would start, these two figures would fade, teamless.  One of them willing to retire, the other still wanting to play.  These two were legends of the game in a time where talent appeared to be at an all-time high.  But since they were no longer in the spotlight and as a new generation begins to show they are prepared to carry the league, the media appears to be ready to move on as well.

Without these two large shadows tainting the image of the legitimacy of the game, baseball has moved on.  And with that in mind, we are all prepared to take in one of the more competitive and enjoyable pennant races in recent memory.

If I had a message to send to the Rocket and Barry, I would say "thanks."  Why?  They have showed all future baseball stars what can happen when you decide to get a leg up.

I'm happy to be enjoying this steroid-free season, and I would hope you guys are, too.