Manny Being Manny or are Sports Just Plain Stupid?
Manny Being Manny or are Sports Just Plain Stupid?
I am sick of talking about steroids, but we can’t. With each attempt at cleaning up sports, another idiot gets caught.
I truly think that you can debate intelligently on both sides about whether or not performance-enhancing drugs (PED) should be legal or not. There is not debate that it is against the rules of professional leagues that run their own businesses. That debate is a waste of time. It is the RULES.
The players know what the rules are and when they cheat, the penalty has to be a deterrent that is of such a high cost that the culprits are willing to think twice. I speed. I admit it. So do millions of Americans. Why? Because frankly the cost is not so severe that most people are willing to not do it. To be very frank I would love to see them actually make the drunk driving laws actually severe enough to make those idiots think about it, but that is another blog.
In sports the cost doesn’t outweigh the perceived gain and that is why it is still on the table. Forget being a role model. Forget that every pitcher that has given up a homer to ManRam will have that against his stats. Forget the fact that they are cheating a game that has been good to them. It is about integrity. It is about playing on the same plane.
ManRam’s antics had already have proven in my opinion that they don’t care about anything other than themselves. I got this email after ManRam was caught from a SpartanNation.com reader from California. “Hondo, I am so disgusted about Manny. How could he do this to my Dodgers? We started so strong. At least we have a big enough lead that maybe we can survive until he can return and lead us to the title.†–Dennis
Now I am not trying to attack Dennis. I talked with him about using that email and I will tell you what I told him. “Dennis, shame on the Dodgers for paying a KNOWN head case that no one else wanted and putting themselves in this position. I think the Dodgers should have to forfeit the wins for games he played in. I think you should question your willingness to bring back a cheater that shamed your beloved team?â€
Now that would send a message. I am not a fan of the NCAA, but if you use an academically ineligible player, allegedly you have to forfeit the games that he was used in. How about that? How about all the teams inform the players that your team must forfeit all games you played in for the season you were tested?
The NFL is starting to crack down on teams that take head cases, but if any team actually roles the dice on Pacman, let them know if he does anything, ANYTHING, the team pays with a first round pick. A fine or a late round pick will not stop anyone. A first rounder in football would!
ManRam won’t be the last. He could be, if baseball was serious.
Should the government get involved? Of course not! But here is the problem. With so many teams benefiting from OUR tax dollars, and getting a wink and a nod from Federal Anti-Trust laws, the Government can’t ignore it. When game shows cheated they chose to step in. With tax dollars involved how can they let them turn a blind eye to their OWN rules? It is like companies who take Government money and then complain when the Government wants to step in. I personally don’t think that the Government should step in with cash for the private sector, but that is a different blog for a different website.
Should the fans care? You bet they should. How many games against small market or big market teams for that matter did ManRam make a big hit or play? Do those fans get those losses back? Does some guy selling carpet door to door in Omaha who sacrificed to take his kids to a Royals game who watched ManRam at one time hit a jack for win deserve better? Baseball in my opinion is too stupid to see that their sport is dying.
When I was a boy growing up in Laingsburg, Michigan, we played whatever sport was in season. Once it was warm we always played baseball. Now? You can’t find a group of kids playing backyard ball…I tried for a story on TV.
Most fans live in small market areas and when they know their team has no chance they don’t care. Sorry ESPN, I love you, but most people under 30 could care less about the Yankees BoSox.
Baseball is hurting itself. The players are angry, but don’t have the brass to tell their union to change it, and the owners wink and look the other way unless forced to fix it.
I end with this story. I know many professional athletes and I want to tell you a story about one of them. We had been out rabbit hunting and when we returned to my home we had some pheasant and dumplings. A very good dinner if I say so myself. He had a headache and I gave him something for it. Before he would even TOUCH it he asked to see the bottle.
I have seen that on many occasions. These players know what they are taking. They do it by choice. It is time for sports to either make them legal or stop playing and make them pay a real price. First offense, two-year ban from the sport and a forfeiture of all games you played in for the season tested. All positive stats stripped from the record book including if you hit a HR, that HR comes off the opposing pitcher’s record and all stats of your teammates. On top of that, the team owner has to personally pay a $5 million dollar fine. Second offense would be a lifetime ban and forfeiture of all games played and all your positive stats for you and your teammates erased. That would force other players to self-police and a $25 million dollar fine for the owner.
GMs wouldn’t take the risk. Players would self-police and the cost would outweigh the gain. Would it work? Overnight! Will it happen? Of course not! People aren’t serious about that in my opinion. It is about show; a show that we the fans have to watch.
Maybe sports itself has become Manny reflecting sports. Baseball with A Rod and ManRam was humiliated this week. They should be used to it by now. As the sport dies a slow death it is their fault. They deserve the humiliation until they get serious about getting rid of steroids. Or, they could drop the façade and just make it legal.
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