by: Joel Quick
An article Edwin Moses wrote for Newsweek last February brought up an interesting topic that has been debated now for several years, that is the topics of sports and steroids. Moses mentions that while some punishment is given out, rarely does the sentence fit the crime. There are far too many players that are getting caught using performance enhancement drugs. Also, Moses mentions about the salary of these players. He suggests that the owners have far too much to lose if the players are suspended from the game. Moses also suggests that the league is just trying to “manage the issue” instead of bringing to an end. Moses sums it up by asking “how far authorities and fans want to go to know that athletes are clean—or will they always accept performance over integrity?” (“Why Baseball Is in Denial”).
I am an avid baseball fan and have love and enjoyed the sport for years. Recently I have been appalled at how so many athletes have been tested positive for drugs. I agree with Moses in the fact that there is way too much money spent from fans for them to receive this kind of behavior. To pay top dollar is in return to expect top quality. I also wonder how long Major League Baseball will let this go on. It already seems to be spinning out of control. While some athletes may say that they are not role models of heroes, the fact remains that there are millions of young kids who want to be just like them. Has Baseball turned their back on a problem that seems to be getting worse.
Maybe Moses is right when he implies that “Baseball is in a period of denial” (“Why Baseball Is in Denial”). Denial is such a strong word to use, yet Moses points out several reasons that suggest this could be true. Are there really ove a hundred players that no one ever hears about that were tested positive. Something has to be done, but where do we start, or better yet, with whom do we start with. Maybe as a fan we should get the ball rolling and demand true and pure athletes for our American past time. I agree with Moses and feel the fans and the league itself deserve more than what we are getting.
Moses, Edwin. “Why Baseball Is in Denial.” Newsweek. Newsweek, Inc. 21 Feb. 2009. Web. 2 Feb. 2010.
www.newsweek.com/id/185818
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