I was watching the Red Sox/Yankee game on Tuesday night with my fiance. It's always an adventure when we watch this type of series; with her being part of the evil empire and I representing all that is good about professional sports. It was a great game. The Sox were winning, Gruntmaster Flex (Giambi) himself was stepping to the plate, and then the world of baseball, as represented in the words of the great Rick Sutcliffe (ESPN announcer), quickly went town the pooper. Because I lost my mind, I am not able to directly quote Mr. Sutcliffe but let me paraphrase.
I have to give Giambi credit (pause for drama) he is the only player that has come remotely close to admitting steroid use in baseball.
My reaction...you have got be @#!$!@#% kidding me right now. We are at a point in baseball where highly paid commentary men will give credit to a man who cheated the game because he ALMOST admitted that he used an illegal substance. At this point the outcome of the game didnt matter to me...well maybe it did...but to think that this stuff is being spewed out to the public during a prime time event baffles my mind. Well sir, I almost cleared the high jump...can I have credit anyway. I nearly finished writing my doctoral thesis...can you give me credit regardless kind sir. Amazingly, the other announcer seemed to agree.
This conversation of course sparked the dialogue about the comments made by David Ortiz. Ortiz and others have insisted that you cannot blame steroids for increased home run production. This is like saying that reading glasses don't help you read or that old people drive best at night. It just flies in the face of all that is known to man. Ever heard of "warning track power"? I have...hell...i've had it (not any more thankfully). It refers to a players ability to NEARLY hit a home run but, unfortunately, said player lacks the power to do so. Interestingly, steroids give you POWER. But wait, you can't teach someone how to hit a baseball on the money like Bonds, Giambi, etc. I'll give you an inch on that one but I'm taking the mile. While there is a distinctly natural ability that players have to hit a ball on the sweet spot of the bat...steroids, specifically Human Growth Hormone, have been linked to improved eyesight. Ever see a blind man hit a baseball? Me neither. Thats because you have to see it to hit it. And while players may have the ability to put their bodies in the optimal position to hit the baseball...just like blind men...no see....no hit.
Lastly, I understand that people are trying to protect each other and the game from such evil cheaters and therefore the truth. But face it, MLB's steroid policy is a joke. What's that you say? They are catching guys as we speak. Yeah...but they still don't test for Human Growth Hormone. To me, a steroid policy that doesn't test for HGH leaves two things to be desired....truth and purity. Those two things make baseball the greatest game of all time. It's tough to cheat, its tougher to win, and in the end; truth and purity rule the day. Unless of course, you are a fraud...dont test for HGH... and let the cheaters continue for the betterment of your business.
4 comments:
And there you have it sports fans. To quote the greatest baseball coach of all-time Durham Bulls Skip, ""This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains. Don't hear anything in there about putting a needle in your A>#. I know the game is hard, but the hard is what makes it great. What those cowards are afraid of is failure. I don't care that they get paid millions of dollars a year. Does anyone really want to see Bonds break Aaron's record. I have seem him play about 7 times, and he is definitely a man playing against boys. His hand speed is incredible, but is almost twice the size he was when he was in the 40/40 club. I can get not letting go, but look at Ken Griffey, Jr. He has battled tons of injuries, and still hustles after all time. His bat speed has not slowed down, and there is no way he is taking anything. Enough from the peanut gallery. Just work hard, play hard, and everyone will respect you more for being average. Go Marty Barrett.
Disregard my lack of proof reading.
To help finish a thought to which I thought Joe was driving - Warning Track Power. Steroids change someone with Warning Track Power to a Home Run Hitter. They change a 21 HR hitter to a 45 HR hitter. They also benefit singles hitters allowing their screamer to get through the hole. Steroids change a .268 hitter to a .307 hitter. Then obviously they change a $650,000 player to a 4-year $36M player. But that's a big duh.
Since MLB has never had the balls (no pun) to be strict enough for even a first time offense, (i.e. "Take your juicing ass to Japan) I don't want to hear one more whiny ass complaint about Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire or any of the other juiced up freaks playing a freggin' game.
Yes, it's more than 'a game' and it deserves to be revered, respected and will forever be imprinted on the DNA of kids for whom nothing is better than a catch with dad.
Is Bonds gonna break the record? You betcha. Is that a travesty? You better believe it, Jack. But at the same time, our instant, microwave society wants entertainment 'now,' and damn it, that sure fits the bill. T-shirts will sell, digital pictures will be printed and commercials will be made. Dollars will change hands faster than you can say "Jack Robinson" and that's all professional sports is; it's been that way for a long time. You know it. I know it. So let's stop fooling ourselves by pretending that it's (pro sports) anything more than business and entertainment the moment you get past the collegiate level.
Considering the number of kids who don't grow up to be professional athletes who get paid more than most teachers combined, let's focus on teaching them the pure game and the principles contained therein so they can fight the good fight on the field where they will most likely find themselves: their own backyard and in the world at large.
God knows there are larger issues on the table than home runs.
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