It seems the subject of steroids in professional baseball has popped up again. This most recent flurry of activity came about when Mark McGwire admitted to having used steroids in his career, after initially implying that he did not use them, in front of Congress, several years ago.
There are so many things so say regarding this topic, that I really don't even know where to begin.
First, I will state my opinion on the matter. I feel that anyone who has admitted to having used steroids, or who can be shown to have used steroids in their careers, should automatically be banned from ever being able to get into the Hall Of Fame, and all of their records of note (Home Runs, RBIs, etc...) should be expunged from the professional record. Yes, that means that Bonds', McGwire's, and Sosa's numbers should be removed from any and every book that also has the name Roger Maris in it. Should their numbers be permanently removed from every record? No. I am not saying that we should delete them from history. Their numbers should be kept as a matter of record, but they should certainly be removed from any "All-Time" lists. In other words, Roger Maris is still the single-season, home-run record holder.
Second, I can not believe how some of the media is covering this. I am a regular watcher of a TV program on SNY called Loud Mouths. Some time ago I remember the hosts talking about steroids in baseball, and they took a phone call from a viewer. The caller cracked a joke about steroid use, and the hosts really yelled at him. They made it clear that this was deadly-serious subject-matter, not to be dealt with, in any way other than seriously.
I remember thinking that I agreed with the hosts' general point, but that they needed to lighten up a little bit. Humour is a good thing.
Fast forward to yesterday, and I am watching Loud Mouths, and steroids is the topic-du-jour, as one would expect. Hosts Adam Schein and Chris Carlin are saying that they think that guys like McGwire and Bonds should get into the Hall Of Fame, despite their steroid abuse.
Huh? What did I just hear??
We should treat the subject of steroid abuse in sports with the kind of deadly seriousness that doesn't include actual consequences for this bad behaviour?
What planet are these guys from? They are quick to assign blame for the steroid-era, and its subsequent cover-up by Commissioner Selig, but apparently want no consequences for the actual offenders.
How exactly will this kind of performance-enhancing drug-abuse stop, if there aren't real consequences?
Baseball did not handle this properly when it all came to light over the last decade or so, but they have the opportunity now, to do so. Let's hope they do.
There are so many things so say regarding this topic, that I really don't even know where to begin.
First, I will state my opinion on the matter. I feel that anyone who has admitted to having used steroids, or who can be shown to have used steroids in their careers, should automatically be banned from ever being able to get into the Hall Of Fame, and all of their records of note (Home Runs, RBIs, etc...) should be expunged from the professional record. Yes, that means that Bonds', McGwire's, and Sosa's numbers should be removed from any and every book that also has the name Roger Maris in it. Should their numbers be permanently removed from every record? No. I am not saying that we should delete them from history. Their numbers should be kept as a matter of record, but they should certainly be removed from any "All-Time" lists. In other words, Roger Maris is still the single-season, home-run record holder.
Second, I can not believe how some of the media is covering this. I am a regular watcher of a TV program on SNY called Loud Mouths. Some time ago I remember the hosts talking about steroids in baseball, and they took a phone call from a viewer. The caller cracked a joke about steroid use, and the hosts really yelled at him. They made it clear that this was deadly-serious subject-matter, not to be dealt with, in any way other than seriously.
I remember thinking that I agreed with the hosts' general point, but that they needed to lighten up a little bit. Humour is a good thing.
Fast forward to yesterday, and I am watching Loud Mouths, and steroids is the topic-du-jour, as one would expect. Hosts Adam Schein and Chris Carlin are saying that they think that guys like McGwire and Bonds should get into the Hall Of Fame, despite their steroid abuse.
Huh? What did I just hear??
We should treat the subject of steroid abuse in sports with the kind of deadly seriousness that doesn't include actual consequences for this bad behaviour?
What planet are these guys from? They are quick to assign blame for the steroid-era, and its subsequent cover-up by Commissioner Selig, but apparently want no consequences for the actual offenders.
How exactly will this kind of performance-enhancing drug-abuse stop, if there aren't real consequences?
Baseball did not handle this properly when it all came to light over the last decade or so, but they have the opportunity now, to do so. Let's hope they do.
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