“But what about the ones who HAVEN’T?”

On one of the baseball message boards I frequent, the argument came up the other day about steroids, yet again.  One person was arguing that he didn’t care if players used steroids, because they were entertaining him and ‘most everyone’ uses something to enhance their game and the more players that did it, the more entertaining the game is.

One of the regulars came back with, what I think, is the best and least sanctimonious argument I’ve heard yet:

What about the ones who haven’t used steroids or other enhancers?  Or, as she went on to say, what about the players who don’t want to use drugs that could harm or kill them all in he name of playing a game?  Why should these players be put in a position where, in order to compete, they’d have to take these harmful drugs?

Now, more specifically, this came in response to the suggestion that performance-enhancers should be allowed in MLB since ‘most’ or ‘many’ players were using them anyway.  This argument also happened before the Jason Grimsley story broke.  I think it’s a valid argument. 

I also think MLB, the Players Union and ALL of the baseball-covering media should be ashamed that it has come so far as 1) MLB has to conduct, YEARS after the damage was done, an investigation that essentially is designed to go after ONE player and 2) the Feds are raiding an active player’s home – and finding evidence of long-term use and distribution of these drugs.

At the very least, Barry Bonds must be smiling today.  Unless, of course, he’s one of the names Grimsley listed.  Which, I doubt he is.

I find this all so very sad.  But part of me is eager for it to all break.  For it to all come out in the open and finally clear the air, so to speak.  I know there is a very good chance of players I like being ‘named’, but I think, in the end, cleaning up the game – and especially taking the pressure off the players who choose NOT to cheat, is the most important thing.

I put the majority of the blame here, for letting this get so out of control, on the media.  None of them mind writing articles about what jerks the players are, or how they pitched a fit in the dugout.  Even with Barry Bonds, there were stories aplenty about his personality (or lack thereof) and attitude.  These people have access to the players that the rest of us don’t.  They know secrets they don’t share (for example, regarding the rampant infidelities of the married players) and shouldn’t share.  But this one is different.  Why is it that not ONE ‘reporter’ out there felt it important enough to write about this drug use and to PUSH it on everyone?  Well, now it’s too late.  Now, none of them have a choice.

This all puts a whole new light on my "HGHiambi:  Mystique.  Aura.  Steroids." shirt.

I’ll be on the road the next couple of days and hopefully will get a chance to ‘check in’ here.  In case I don’t, here’s hoping the Sox and Yanks get at least one more game in – and that you all have a great rest of the week.

Peace out, baby!

(photo of Craig Hansen, taken by me, to mark his being ‘called up’!)