I submitted a column a few months back that never was published after Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers. In it, I half defended A-Rod, and half-said how I don't care much about this "steroid era."
Without getting too much into it now, let me just say that I do not condone steroid use -- especially in the bodies of young athletes, but I also do not care if a professional athlete does it. Would I have done it if I had the chance to make it in baseball? Back when I was playing -- no. Looking back on it, maybe I should have.
Regardless, any and all types of drugs should be lumped together in this "steroids era." Greenies (or amphetamines, which date back to deep into the 1950s and earlier), steroids, human growth hormone, Red Bull and Ibuprofen come to mind, and they are all the same. If it helps you, it's an enhancer. Red Bull may not give you wings, but it gives you a kick. Ibuprofen takes away pain that, if untreated, would force you to play differently or not at all. Major League Baseball only bans some drugs, however.
Now ESPN's favorite player, Manny Ramirez, has been busted for alleged use of something that is on the MLB banned list. ManRam will start a 50-game suspension that will keep him out of baseball until July.
Here's the irony in it -- I don't care about him getting suspended this season.
What I wonder is about the Hall of Fame. To me, the HOF is not based on reputation or straight up fame, but more than less on numbers. I am a numbers guy, especially when it comes to baseball.
If the baseball writers allow Manny to get into Cooperstown, then Barry Bonds better be unanimously selected long before ManRam is even getting 25 percent of the vote.
You can keep out McGwire, that's fine. You can keep out Rafael Palmeiro. Don't keep out Bonds. Sosa, Bonds, and Manny all deserve to be in the HOF because of how they dominated the game. I never liked Sosa, I despised Manny when he left the Indians a long time ago for the almighty dollar bill in Boston, and I never liked Barry until I grew to respect him for his bat and former fielding skills.
What Manny getting busted means is that a veteran who just signed a giant contract is just as susceptible as some young minor leaguer. Being dumb with what drugs you take or are prescribed (or get from your cousin like A-Rod), doesn't warrant a free pass, regardless of superstar status.
It's time to start talking about Manny being Manny as more of a joke than a baseball player. He never could play the field and his mind rarely was completely focused on the game. However, the dude could rake.
Now let's see if the ESPN nation sympathizes with him when he makes his return around Independence Day.
Without getting too much into it now, let me just say that I do not condone steroid use -- especially in the bodies of young athletes, but I also do not care if a professional athlete does it. Would I have done it if I had the chance to make it in baseball? Back when I was playing -- no. Looking back on it, maybe I should have.
Regardless, any and all types of drugs should be lumped together in this "steroids era." Greenies (or amphetamines, which date back to deep into the 1950s and earlier), steroids, human growth hormone, Red Bull and Ibuprofen come to mind, and they are all the same. If it helps you, it's an enhancer. Red Bull may not give you wings, but it gives you a kick. Ibuprofen takes away pain that, if untreated, would force you to play differently or not at all. Major League Baseball only bans some drugs, however.
Now ESPN's favorite player, Manny Ramirez, has been busted for alleged use of something that is on the MLB banned list. ManRam will start a 50-game suspension that will keep him out of baseball until July.
Here's the irony in it -- I don't care about him getting suspended this season.
What I wonder is about the Hall of Fame. To me, the HOF is not based on reputation or straight up fame, but more than less on numbers. I am a numbers guy, especially when it comes to baseball.
If the baseball writers allow Manny to get into Cooperstown, then Barry Bonds better be unanimously selected long before ManRam is even getting 25 percent of the vote.
You can keep out McGwire, that's fine. You can keep out Rafael Palmeiro. Don't keep out Bonds. Sosa, Bonds, and Manny all deserve to be in the HOF because of how they dominated the game. I never liked Sosa, I despised Manny when he left the Indians a long time ago for the almighty dollar bill in Boston, and I never liked Barry until I grew to respect him for his bat and former fielding skills.
What Manny getting busted means is that a veteran who just signed a giant contract is just as susceptible as some young minor leaguer. Being dumb with what drugs you take or are prescribed (or get from your cousin like A-Rod), doesn't warrant a free pass, regardless of superstar status.
It's time to start talking about Manny being Manny as more of a joke than a baseball player. He never could play the field and his mind rarely was completely focused on the game. However, the dude could rake.
Now let's see if the ESPN nation sympathizes with him when he makes his return around Independence Day.
