The Corruption of America's Pastime

The Corruption of America's Pastime

When I think of baseball as America's past time one other word comes to mind, controversy. The steroid scandal in baseball has been repeatedly regurgitated and sculpted by the mainstream media. Whether it is the players fault for breaking the rules, or the leagues fault for not having strict testing, there is one thing I can guarantee. It's never someone's own fault. Finger pointing and excuses have become arguably more popular than watching a home run. When I play name association, the easy ones come to mind. Bonds, Canseco, Giambi, McGwire and whoever else the media has painted as the bad guy's of baseball. Then I catch myself and ask, is it just them? I think not. On another note, during the course of the last few years baseball has taken the main stage for Congress. Some believe that we should save congress for more serious and needed issues. I agree with that notion, and believe that if the testing was at all as strict as that of the U.S. Olympics, it wouldn't even have been a problem. Before I dwell too much into my opinion, let's talk about where steroids began to be noticed in baseball.

Players have been noticeably stronger later in their careers, and that can sometime be a normal occurrence. But if you look at pictures of Barry Bonds as a rookie, compared to his current state, one has to question what type of bench press he has been using. I am not going to question that the man has a grueling workout program and an impeccable diet, but to see the muscle growth he has experienced leaves one perplexed. It is a reoccuring theme in major league baseball. One year a player barely hits 10 homeruns, then the very next season hits 40 home runs. There have been accusations of players that were exceedingly outstanding in the 80's like Bo Jackson and others, but no one knows for sure. One would argue that the reason media has portrayed this event a great deal is to bring down the "rich and successful."

My personal opinion is that is complete rubbish. Anyone with any sort of conscious has to be able to question the legality of some of these so called "supplements" athletes take. Steroids have been used since the early 1950's when the Soviets were exceptionally faster at the Olympics than they had ever been before. Personally, I believe we need to start reconstructing the league to where it was 30-40 years ago. Back when someone hit a grand slam, you wouldn't have to ask yourself, I wondered if he was juiced? It truly has become a sad state of affairs. With all this talk about steroids and how to clean up the players, is there anyway the media could use a bath? The job of the media is to report the facts, and to ask investigative questions and to get answers. Have they done the public a justice for their coverage of steroids in baseball, I think otherwise.

Some have said that companies like those of ESPN, have downplayed the scandal in order to save massive amounts of money in ad revenues, due to the fact they televise a great deal of the major league games. In response to those allegations ESPN had a short statement and it ended saying "When the national pastime is infected, so are we all." Reading the entirety of that sentence made me sick to my stomach. What kind of role model is that for children aspiring to become just like their favorite professional player? This is a very serious situation in today's world and to take a standpoint like that is very childish and unacceptable. You can't just come up with side-splitting segments on how Canseco is a monster, but yet not even begin to look at your own selves. But with companies of this magnitude giving stories about the steroid controversy, it is only right that the media spot light would attract the best of the best.

That is also known as congress. The name of the hearing was called "Restoring Faith in America's Pastime." There were baseball stars their by the likes of Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmiero and many others. With pre-written statements and smart choices of words, the players danced around the subject like a ballerina in the nutcracker. Besides the infamous Canseco, McGwire didn't answer yes or no, and Palmiero looked firmly at congress with a pointed finger and denied the accusations to the fullest extent. Only to be later found positive for steroids on a random drug test.

One remark that the media fed on like vultures was by McGwire when he said "I am not here to talk about the past." Throughout the week the media referred to McGwire as "evasive, whiny, petty and a coward." One thing the media left out, and I believe is a key mistake, is why not one manager or owner was called upon to represent their side of the story. Canseco has repeatedly been reprimanded as a snitch and tattle-tale,