2008 Woodie Awards
Time For MLB to Step Up to the Plate
Major League Baseball Must Enforce Anti-Steroid Policy
Karl de Vries
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Opinion
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With the "revelation" last week of Jason Giambi's steroid use, professional athletes of all circles, baseball players in particular, should take a step back and re-evaluate the price of fame and competitive edge in regards to their perspective careers.
Last week, baseball fans across the world watched a former league MVP humiliated and disgraced on national television, admitting that he had personally injected steroids, a concession made only to avoid possible prosecution by the federal government. What had been suspected for some time was authenticated immediately, only adding more fuel to the ongoing debate about steroids in baseball.
Former stars Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti have previously admitted to using steroids over the course of their playing careers, certainly tainting their accomplishments and stature as "star" players (Caminiti died of a heart attack this past year, at the age of 41).
And when you compare the home-run statistics of the last 10 years in regards to the previous 90-or-so year history of modern professional baseball, the numbers are incomprehensible: according to espn.com, Brady Anderson, a player accused of using steroids who had never hit more than 26 home runs in a single season over the course of his career, suddenly exploded by hitting 50 in 1995. The previous year he had hit 16, and only 18 in 1996.
Then there is, of course, the Barry Bonds' side to this case, the magnitude of which threatens the game to its very foundation; very shortly, Bonds will be on the brink of passing Hank Aaron for first place on the all-time home run list (755).
This accomplishment has not been approached even by some of the game's most legendary hitters, from Mark McGwire to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson. But while Bonds was always a hall-of-fame caliber player, his numbers in the past four seasons are mind-boggling: 71 home runs in 2001 (new record) and averaged 52 homeruns in the last five years, according to espn.com. All this was accomplished after the age of 36, a time when most athletes have become designated bench players.
Recently, under mounting heavy pressure, Bonds admitted to using steroids, but feigned ignorance in regards to the cream that was being spread under his knees. After spending the last five years denying he used steroids, Bonds eventually sidestepped the question, saying that he didn't know what he was taking, leaving me to conclude the following: Bonds will never, ever admit to having used steroids.
Last week, baseball fans across the world watched a former league MVP humiliated and disgraced on national television, admitting that he had personally injected steroids, a concession made only to avoid possible prosecution by the federal government. What had been suspected for some time was authenticated immediately, only adding more fuel to the ongoing debate about steroids in baseball.
Former stars Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti have previously admitted to using steroids over the course of their playing careers, certainly tainting their accomplishments and stature as "star" players (Caminiti died of a heart attack this past year, at the age of 41).
And when you compare the home-run statistics of the last 10 years in regards to the previous 90-or-so year history of modern professional baseball, the numbers are incomprehensible: according to espn.com, Brady Anderson, a player accused of using steroids who had never hit more than 26 home runs in a single season over the course of his career, suddenly exploded by hitting 50 in 1995. The previous year he had hit 16, and only 18 in 1996.
Then there is, of course, the Barry Bonds' side to this case, the magnitude of which threatens the game to its very foundation; very shortly, Bonds will be on the brink of passing Hank Aaron for first place on the all-time home run list (755).
This accomplishment has not been approached even by some of the game's most legendary hitters, from Mark McGwire to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson. But while Bonds was always a hall-of-fame caliber player, his numbers in the past four seasons are mind-boggling: 71 home runs in 2001 (new record) and averaged 52 homeruns in the last five years, according to espn.com. All this was accomplished after the age of 36, a time when most athletes have become designated bench players.
Recently, under mounting heavy pressure, Bonds admitted to using steroids, but feigned ignorance in regards to the cream that was being spread under his knees. After spending the last five years denying he used steroids, Bonds eventually sidestepped the question, saying that he didn't know what he was taking, leaving me to conclude the following: Bonds will never, ever admit to having used steroids.