Let me start by saying that I'm not a Yankees fan so this is in no way in defense of Clemens' steroid use. There is no conceivable reason that the federal government or any government for that matter should be involved in major league baseball's issues regarding performance enhancing drugs. This includes the ridiculous senate hearing that happen a few years ago with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Clemens and Mark McGwire. Not only did it waste tax payer dollars (granted that's wasted tax dollars not going to something else to screw the people) but it served no actual purpose in fixing the issue of performance enhancing drugs in major league baseball. Some can argue that since many stadiums are built with public money (which I'm against) that the government does have a right to intervene with major league baseball's internal issues. That argument really can go as far as to local and state government as most of the sports welfare money is generated from local taxes not federal ones. The other argument I've seen is that in some twisted reasoning that is apart of the fascist drug war fight. Which is insane since steroids are a legal drug, it's found in over the counter drugs such as benadryl.
If major league baseball really wanted to rid the sport of performance enhancing drugs than it would have install much hard penalties for players who get caught testing positive. The problem however is that major league baseball would actually to enforce the rules and live up to it's own standard. As we saw with the issue with Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers that wasn't the case.
Showing posts with label major league baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label major league baseball. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Government, Baseball and Steroids
With the Barry Bonds trial over and done with, the questhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifion has to be asked; Why should the government be involved in Major League Baseball's internal affairs?
Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of steroids, HGH and other performance enhancing drugs in baseball or any of the major leagues for that matter. What upsets me is that government is sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong. Some may say that with the drug war (which is nothing but a waste of tax payer money) still being waged that this gives the government a loophole to get it's foot in the door. The government's involvement with the Mitchell Report and the various testimonies in front of congress were nothing different than MLB doing the same things themselves by setting up independent panels. Bonds' trial resolved nothing but just to give a feel good feeling to people who hate Barry Bonds. I don't like Bonds myself but he shouldn't have gone to trial. It was just a waste of tax payer money.
Their is a reason that MLB is ranked third among the four major sports leagues. If MBL is actually serious about cleaning up it's image they have to get extremely tough on cheaters. They can't continue to deliver slaps on the wrist for players who test positive, they need to hand out tough suspensions and punishments and stick by it. A big star player should face the same tough punishment as a backup player it should be no different. One positive trend that I see personally is that writers are taking stands against the juicers and refusing to vote them into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. However this can be taken in two different ways;
1. Writers actually making a stand
2. Writers just looking to make names for themselves
With number one, others in the sports media regard this is as the so-called "old guard" refusing to change. I fully support excluding juicers from Cooperstown, Cooperstown is reserved for the Best of the Best not those who cheat. It's a slap in the face to the legends who got their on their own merit.
Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of steroids, HGH and other performance enhancing drugs in baseball or any of the major leagues for that matter. What upsets me is that government is sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong. Some may say that with the drug war (which is nothing but a waste of tax payer money) still being waged that this gives the government a loophole to get it's foot in the door. The government's involvement with the Mitchell Report and the various testimonies in front of congress were nothing different than MLB doing the same things themselves by setting up independent panels. Bonds' trial resolved nothing but just to give a feel good feeling to people who hate Barry Bonds. I don't like Bonds myself but he shouldn't have gone to trial. It was just a waste of tax payer money.
Their is a reason that MLB is ranked third among the four major sports leagues. If MBL is actually serious about cleaning up it's image they have to get extremely tough on cheaters. They can't continue to deliver slaps on the wrist for players who test positive, they need to hand out tough suspensions and punishments and stick by it. A big star player should face the same tough punishment as a backup player it should be no different. One positive trend that I see personally is that writers are taking stands against the juicers and refusing to vote them into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. However this can be taken in two different ways;
1. Writers actually making a stand
2. Writers just looking to make names for themselves
With number one, others in the sports media regard this is as the so-called "old guard" refusing to change. I fully support excluding juicers from Cooperstown, Cooperstown is reserved for the Best of the Best not those who cheat. It's a slap in the face to the legends who got their on their own merit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)