Okay, I'm finally getting an article written because Cheyne and I have figured out a system since my computer isn't being friendly to me.
Anyway, I'm going to explain my opinion on the whole MLB steroid situation. First off, what should be done about the baseball players who previously used steroids? Since there were no rules in baseball about steroid use use while most of them were using them, it's a difficult situation. I don't think they should penalize any player who used steroids before the rule was instated. Although the players were technically cheating by using steroids to enhance their play, they weren't breaking the rules at the time.
Second, there was a hearing in the Supreme Court with Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and the comissioner of [Major League] Baseball, Bud Selig.The Supreme Court took no mercy on anybody at the trial. Now, one can speculate as to which of the players actually did use steroids. Barry Bonds admitted to it, although he said he never knew it was steroids. Jose Canseco admitted in his book that he used steroids. Now, Mark McGwire was the only person that refused to comment on most of the questions asked by the Supreme Court. This brings up questions. Is he guilty of taking steroids? Is he worried that he might say something stupid? I believe that McGwire answered this question by stating that his lawyer advised him "not to comment on such questions". So, I believe he is just trying to keep his mouth shut for his own well-being. You could blame Jose Canseco for bringing up this whole problem by writing hsi book. But, is it actually a problem, or a betterment of baseball? I say it's for the better. After this whole thing settles down, baseball will be better off than it has been in the past few years. As most people know, baseball hasn't exactly been "America's Pastime" lately.
Finally, there is the question of asterisks. Should the record books have asterisks by the players' names that were accused of using steroids? This is a very delicate question. I believe that if they do, in fact, decide to use asterisks by their names, they need to word what is written under the asterisk very carefully. I agree with one ESPN analyst (whom I can't recall) when he said that the fine print by the asterisk should read something like this: "Before BALCO Investigation" or "Before Steroid Rule Was Instituted".
Baseball is going to have a difficult time regaining its once great appeal to the American people. But, I believe that once the steroid stituation is past, people will start watching baseball again because they know the sport is clean. Although the records that have been made in the past ten or so years may never be broken, at least the sport of baseball will have its dignity back.
--Derek
Right on. However, I'd like to add that not only do these steroids and performance enhancing substances do harm to the game, they do even more threatening harm to the players, and this is the more serious issue here, I believe. It's not only games and championships on the line, but lives and families, and no matter what the outcome of any game or season, nothing compares to the big picture: life itself. These players need to abide by the new steroid legislation for their own safety. Nice write, Derek.
--Cheyne
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