I have read and heard many debates on whether the owners or players are most to blame for this debacle. The truth of the mater is if you are looking for where the real issue arose and why, look no further than the one and only Bud Selig. I was disgusted when I heard him shrug off responsibility when question on his thoughts of the reports implicating his neglegence to the issue. If you go back to 1993, baseball was at an almost all time low due to the strike. That strike really turned alot of fans off and it was showing i the game attendance of all ball clubs. Baseball needed something, anything to bring it back and regain the hearts of the fans. Low and behold it came in the form of a juiced up Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in a race to break what most considered the most hallowed record in all of sports-the single season home run record. People started watching in droves. Everyone wanted to see who would break it first. We were captivated and we were in love with baseball once again, probably at a level never seen by baseball. But the deafening truth of those times was the underlying culture that was evolving. Players were seeing firsthand how steroids and HGH could help them improve their stats and fatten their wallets. But the true culprit of it was the commissioner who no doubt weighed the benefits and consequences of hat was becoming the "juicing era" and decided to shake hand with the devil for the monetary betterment of the game. Mr. Selig did nothing-NOTHING-to address the issue that was unfolding right before our eyes in a time where there was no pressure to do so. Prior to Jose Canseco's book, everybody had assumptions of players using steroids but nobody actually adressed it. Make no mistake, commissioner Selig KNEW that a large group of players were cheating. To deny that would be nothing short of gross negligence to a level unacceptable for a man of his stature. He did nothing to stop it. Not until Canseco's book came out and it became a public shame that garnered the attention of congress did Mr. Selig begin to try and take action. Mr. Selig now stands today shrugging off his prominent responsibility, yet from the other side of his mouth he demands change and conformity from players, the players association, and owners. How and why should they even think to agree with anything he puts forth when he continually shoulders no responsibility. Rest assured, Mr. Selig is not sad that baseball players used steroids. He is not sad about the fact that records are tainted by steroids. He is sad that it became public knowledge. People now surmise how baseball can get through this nearly unsurmountable black eye. Personally speaking, I don't feel it will ever really overcome it. There is now so much speculation and so many tainted records that it is conceivable that upwards of a dozen or more players will not be in the HOF even though their numbers dictate they should be. That will always be an awkward situation that will resonate for many many years to come. But I do believe there is one major occurance that must take place to allow the possibility of baseball overcoming this. Bud Selig must publicly accept his responsibility and step down from his position. If he does not do so this game will not recover. If he refuses I hope the players that are clean step forward and demand he be removed. Their accomplishments will always be questioned thanks to a commissioner who turned a blind eye to the cheaters. He made a deal with the devil, and the devil's here for payment.
Is there any truth to the rumor that at next year's MLB All-Star game the home run derby will be replaced by a 20 man over the top rope lumberjack match featuring the biggest substance abusers from each league and refereed by the immortal Captain Lou Albano? Special Guest Referee
Oh where are you Joe Dimaggio....? For that matter how about Stan "The Man"....? Roberto? Mr. Banks? Any others? I'm sure you guys can list 'em.
OK, I'll play the contrarian. Who's to blame most for this whole mess. The players union, no doubt about it. First and foremost, they are responsible for the health of their memebers. Until such time as it's shown that there is no long term health dangers due to steroids, they should be avoided at all costs. Here are the members of the union who negotiate their contracts based on their performance. Those that do no use performance enhancing drugs are judged by how they performed compared to those that do. The system, in effect forces them to join the users or get less in payment. What did the union do to protect those members who chose not to take the health risk connected with steroids.... NOTHING! Sure it's easy to blame Selig and the owners but in the end but who is responsible for the safety and well being of the players? It's their own union. But as it always has been, the union is out only to preserve high salaries no matter what the basis of those salaries is. They fight ownership every chance that they can. They did what they could to protect that high priced cheaters. They did nothing to protect those that didn't want to risk their health. It was the union that force the strike and crippled baseball in the first place. And it was the union that did nothing to prevent the abuses that led to the fraudulent home run record chase. Sure the owners profited by it but they learned long ago when they attempted to bring some sanity to the salary escallation and got hit with collusion penalties that the union had their number and would place all interests including their own members health behind ever increasing contracts. Selig is an easy target but he draws fire that should be aimed elsewhere.
Hey Gipper, I agree that the players union shoulders the blame as well, as do the players that used. The only truly innocent are the players that chose not to use. I would say the fans are innocent, but then again it was the fans who packed the stadiums in droves while speculating amongst each other in the stands which players were on Roids. Most fans had a pretty good idea why players were getting bigger and hitting the ball hafrder and further than ever before, yet we all still continued to watch. As to the players union, I agree they bear the majority of the blame once the commish was prodded by government to do something about it, after Canseco's book. The union's reluctance to agree to steroid tests, and their threats to strike over it was just plain despicable. But remember, prior to that steroids were actually not listed on the banned substance list for baseball. Neither was HGH. The commish KNEW that their was a large influx of players that were beginning to use it after seeing McGwire and Sosa'a success, and the love and support baseball and the fans gave them. The commish saw thi going on and could have done the right thing then and there by acknowledging there is a problem before Canseco ratted them all out. If the commish took strides to stop the problem before it really spiraled out of control we wouldn't be where we are today. While it's easy for you and I to point at the players, put yourself in their position for a moment. You'[re a good ballplayer, but you notice that the majority of the "greats" are using roids and making millions more. You can sttle for being average next to the roided player and make average money, or you can go ahead and use what the league hadn't even banned in the first place and make millions more and be a star. I like to sit where I am in my average american house and say I'd do the moral thing, but when you put the opportunity of millions in front of my face at the risk of being slightly immoral I can't promise you I wouldn't budge. Can you?
We all want to make as much as we can. But, some of us want to make it solely on our work ethic or talent. When others cheat, when others use substances that may be harmful and dare us to take the same stupid risk that they did, I might draw the line. I'd resent being put in the position that I have to pump potentially lethal substances into my body just to be competitive just because those that are supposed to be looking out for my best interest are looking the other way. Most likely the majority of MLBB players didn't use drugs to cheat. The users stole from them and their union let them. The union protected the cheats. Watch what happens now, the union will continue to shield the cheats from punishment. Meanwhile many will be pointing the finger at the owners and Selig as though the cheating players and their union are innocent pawns. Today Clemens went from being a cheat to a liar and cheat. After Marian Jones and Palmero, you'd think he'd keep his mouth shut.
the blame game <t>I am going to say that the blame in all of this is about 70% on Fehr about 20% on the owners/Selig who could have pushed this issue but didn't..about 6% on the players.. they still took the stuff although its a decision that most all of us would make and 4% media... a good many of them either turned a blind eye to their local heroes while the balls were flying and the stories were hot.</t>
btw <t>Gipper is so right on in this subject, its not even funny.<br/> <br/> There's one thing I don't agree with though.. I think if we were to flash back to 1998 and institute a mandatory, league wide drug testing campaign. I'd bet the numbers were between 45% to 55%...if you were to do it in 2001 or 2002, I'd bet the #s are closer to 60%.<br/> <br/> <br/> The drug culture starts in the minor leagues. Everyone knows its there.<br/> <br/> A lot like college... in those ages from 17 to 22, kids are forced to make a decision about drugs, except in this case... the user could make millions and have all his dreams come true instead of throwing it all away..</t>
Bud Selig Quote: July 1995-"If baseball has a problem, I must candidly say we're not aware of it......it certainly hasn't been talked about much." He mentioned that in a meeting about steroids 18 months prior "no one had any evidence that steroid use should be a concern" This was well after the obvious usage of steroids by Canseco (fans were chanting steroids in every away game he played). It was also well after the reports that speculated Dykstra may be using when he showed up 30 lbs heavier in 1993 and credited "really good vitamins" for the growth. In 1992, Pittsburgh columnist Gene Collier wrote a lengthy report warning of potential steroid use in baseball. He also quoted extensive research by Penn State professor, Charles Yesalis, who said steroids were a "natural fit" for baseball players. Collier concluded that report that baseball should instill mandatory testing if only to "make a point that baseball demands a level field of play". 1992, Peter Gammons reported that steroid use may be far greater than anyone suspects. He reported that it is likely the cause of a large rash of strange leg and back injuries to players who had recently gained alot of muscle quickly. LA Times reporter Bob Nightengale reported in 1995's article "baseball just doesn't get it" anonymous quotes of nemerous baseball players about a high level of steroid use in locker rooms. He wrote "Come on, you know there's no steroid use in baseball. Those bodies and dramatic increases in bat speed are simply the byproduct to players dedicating themselves to the gym in the offseason. That's what baseball would have you believe". Players were estimating that at least 20-30% were using heavy doses of steroids. And even higher numbers were using in a less frequent manner. There is a ton more evidence and reports leading up to the 1998 season when it was ridiculously obvious there was an issue. I recommend anyone interested to read page 60-85 of the Mitchell report for a full picture of what I consider a mountain of evidence that Selig was offered during that timeframe. I don't know where I read this, but someone mentioned that "Bud Seig will undoubtedly be inducted into the HOF one day. However, he will always be known as the commissioner whose name will be linked with the steroid era by first ignoring it, then profiting from it, and finally blaming others for it." This is by far the best description of Selig's legacy that I have ever seen. Blame certainly does also lie with the players association, but the commissioner could have done something years before records were desecrated and baseball as a whole became a joke. He chose not to do anything but profit from it until he could no longer do so without obvious embarrassment. What really burns my ass is Fay Vincent actually said he could and should have done something about steroids during his tenure. He apologized for not having done so and said it was a catastrophic mistake on his behalf. There wasn't even 1/100th of the evidence during his tenure yet he still apologized. Selig continues to shift the blame elsewhere and accept no responsibility whatsoever. He is a snake in my opinion and baseball will never recover until he is out of office.
Every baseball player who took performance inhancing drugs knew\ a. That it sas cheating b. That it was illegal 3. That it could possibly cause serious long term health problems. Rumor has it that in 1992 when Lyle Alzado was on his death bed dying of a brain tumor that he linked to his steroid abuse his last words were "it's all Bud Selig's fault."
The commissioner's responsibility is to monitor the entire game, owners, players, coaches, everyone involved in baseball. The commissioner is to enforce existing rules to protect the sanctity of the game AND implement new rules that evolve as the threats to the game evolve. He is the police officer of baseball. While the sport and sanctity of baseball was being raped by players who were cheating, changing the game dramatically, and encroaching and surpassing hallowed records Selig was deliberately looking the other way and only monitoring the merchandise sales, stadium attendance, and tv ratings. It's no different than a police station that ignores the fact that their town is riddled with drug dealers and users since the dealers are paying the police off.
To repeat something I said earlier, you both are right. There is enough blame to go around. IMO, the order is as follows: 1) the players who used, who created the problem in the first place, 2) the owners and commissioner who are one and the same, for turning their backs when they knew there was a problem - and don't try to convince me they didn't know; and 3) the players union for also turning their backs when they knew there was a problem, probably long before the owners/commissioner knew. To segregate any one element of the above three-headed monster is to lose sight of the depth of the problem.
I agree when you look at it the players are ultimately the ones who chose to use the illegal means to get ahead. But I think we all tend to kid ourselves when we expect nothing but honestly and integrity from all human beings. When confronted with such an easy means of cheating to get ahead, unfortunately human nature dictates that at least 20-30% of us will use those means. If society was lawless you could bet that there would be alot more crime. Baseball was lawless, therefor they had a ton of crime. It was lawless simply for the fact that the law (Selig) wanted to profit on the criminals. I guess it just bothers me that Selig does not seem to bear any of the blame and didn't even have the decency to take some of the responsibility.
i agree <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> <br/> but when dealing with stakes as high as these, and appealing particularly with one's 'dream job', I think the numbers are a lot higher than 20-30%.<br/> <br/> I also believe that, when faced with a similar decision in their own lives, those doing the bulk of the judging in this case would make the same choice that the players who 'cheated' made.</r>
Re: i agree <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> Exactly. When figuring steroids might make you an extra 10-20k a year when you are already making 75k, it's not worth it. You're risking your life for a minimal benefit. When you are talking millions, it changes things. Quite frankly, if shortening my life meant my kids and entire family will be very well taken care of, I don't really think there's much of a decision. That is why the commissioner bears the responsibility. When the problem was becoming apparent in 1995-1998 he had the power to at least attempt to enact harsh penalties to try and offset the bnefit. He did not do so. He turned a blind eye and decided that not only should the players capitalize on the benefits of steroids, but ALL of baseball should. For that he should be criticized. Harshly in my opinion.</r>
Brian roberts is the latest to come clean...... I don't have a problem with guys like Roberts and Pettitte coming clean about an isolated use of HGH or steroids. Keep in mind that these are young men in their lates 20s/early 30s making bad deisions but correcting them or at least not repeating them. That is a far cry from willingly engaging in continued usage to achieve an unfair advantage over an extended period of time. Who among us at that age range did not make at least one isolated decision that we wish we hadn't made or that we later regretted for whatever reason? I believe that over time there will be in the public eye separation of these types from the real cheaters and that the Roberts and the Pettittes will not suffer derision for their isolated bad decisions.
I'm not even sure why a guy who only took 1 shot of HGH should even be in the conversation. I seriously doubt that 1 shot or even 2 shots gives anybody a competitive advantage. I assume you'd have to be on some sort of program with the timing of the shots and your workouts to give you any true advantage.