The Rules
posted in General |THE RULES
Americans like games. All kinds of games. Athletic games, card games, puzzles, mind games, quiz games – you name it. Poker, gin rummy, bridge, skill sports, team sports, video games – the list goes on and on. These games vary enormously from one to another, but they all have one thing in common. They have rules. Whoever plays a game plays to win — by the rules. To be sure there are those who stretch the rules to the limits and even disregard or break them on occasion. But those who break the rules pay a price – some sort of penalty.
Nowadays, the rules are too often ignored – as though the worst thing about breaking the rules is getting caught. The current steroid flap in major league baseball is a perfect example. Over 80 years ago, the best player in Major League baseball, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, was banned brom baseball for life for his role in “throwing” world series games. It was the infamous Black Sox scandal over gambling (betting) on the outcome of games — in this case, the World Series. From time to time there have been efforts to rescind the harsh penalty, even to the point of seeking to make Jackson eligible for entry into Baseball's Hall of Fame. No go. He paid the price.
Since the Black Sox scandal, gambling on baseball games by players, coaches, etc., has been a “no-no”, much to the distress of Pete Rose who was arguably one of the 10 best major league players in history. Several years ago, Pete got caught betting (gambling big bucks) on his own team. He knew what he was doing, he knew what the penalty would be if he got caught, he got caught red handed, and he too has been banned from baseball for life. Now he is going to great lengths to enlish support for his powerful desire to enter baseball's Hall of Fame. Absent the gambling matter, he would have been a shoo-in for the Hall years ago. But he sits on the outside loking in.
The use of steroids (performance enhancing drugs) by players is just another form of cheating – breaking the rules. Now we hear all kinds of rationalizations and excuses from those who have broken the rules as a way to gain an unfair advantage. Some are in denial, and others take the Fifth or plead ignorance. Worst of all, the players' Union is seeking to lessen penalties and downgrade the seriousness of the offenses. And they poo–poo the question of records set while using the steroids. Maybe baseball just doesn't want to face into the issue of enforcing the banned performance enhancing drugs. But if they do want to face into the problem and resolve the steroid problem, the solution isn't difficult.
Here is all they need to do. One, categorically ban the use of performance enhancing drugs. No ifs ands or buts. Two, those caught using the banned substances will be banned from baseball for life. First offense. No questions. Three, all records or statistics for those players will be accompanied by an asterisk saying, “banned drug user”. Will it work? Just ask the descendants of Shoeless Joe Jackson. He was an unsophisticated country boy who got caught up in the big time, and what a tremendous price he paid. Who would be a Shoeless Joe for steroid use? Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire or who?? It will take a big name, and a big lifetime ban penalty. It is long overdue.
My choice would be Bonds. Then everyone whould know that baseball is serious, and most fans wouldn't miss him.