Oh, Steroids

I had to comment on A-Rod, and the whole MLB/steroid shenanigan-era.

So the dude came clean and apologized for what he did. Great.

But, when did he apologize?

After he got caught.

Of course, this is usually the only time people apologize for their wrong-doing, but that's not what I'm getting at.

Yeah, kudos to A-Rod and the Yankee's PR people for paying attention to history and realizing that trying to "not talk about the past" and/or continually deny steroid-use is NOT the way to go when the accusations are flying.

However, NONE of this takes away from the fact that A-Rod DID use steroids, and on purpose. Yeah, it was part of the culture, blah, blah, blah. But, that doesn't make it right for A-Rod, or for how he happens to be handling it in February 2009. 

As a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan, and having been at old Busch Stadium two days before Mark McGwire hit the home run that arguably pulled baseball out of its strike-ridden downturn, I simply hope that Mr. Rodriguez (and the whole Yankee-culture) is held to the same fire that McGwire, Bonds, Clemens and anyone else that's fallen into this category have been, and continue to be.

Also, I personally feel that all of these guys should be (now, or in the future) in the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

I do not support steroid-use, but come on, we all have very likely been entertained by someone that was hopped up on something that helped improve their performance (sports, films, music, whatever).   

These guys have made some silly decisions, yes, but they're competing on a level that most of us will never come close to understanding. And, as much as we want to keep it all pure, and bring their salaries down to non-astronomic levels, it's not going to happen. It's turned into a money-making extravaganza, just like the music industry I work in. It's rarely about the pure art-form; it's about the cash. We can just try and enjoy it where it is.

Anyway, I do think strict, and harsh, punishment for steroid-use should always be a part of all professional and college sports, but I certainly do not think we should try to go back and rewrite the record books. That is essentially impossible. And, keep your asterisks.

McGwire broke Maris's record in 1998.

Bonds broke McGwire's record in 2001.

AND, Bonds broke Aaron's record in 2007.

Clemens is, and will always be, one of the best pitchers of all time. 

And, although nothing to do with steroids, Pete Rose should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.