Spring Break
Editorial: The steroid era injects apathy into American society
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Opinions
For most baseball fans, the introduction of steroids to the game is a travesty.
Although fans will pay exorbitant amount of money to see big names like Alex Rodriguez smash 500-foot home runs, they still object to the use of drugs that enhance players' performance and encourage longer, more awe-inspiring home runs.
Ironically, steroids saved baseball.
The 1994 players' strike was a devastating blow to America's pastime, causing the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904.
Baseball wouldn't recover until 1998, when rival sluggers Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa with the Chicago Cubs would finally revitalize the game - and the I-55 rivalry - with their historic single-season home run chase.
Years later, Barry Bonds with the San Francisco Giants took it one step further, breaking Hank Aaron's legendary career home runs record, arguably the most coveted title in sports.
These three men who undoubtedly saved the game are now all suspected of steroid use.
Even baseball's favorite son, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, has admitted to past steroid use when he played for the Texas Rangers.
Why is this a big deal?
If steroids have made the game more exciting and brought in more revenue, why ban them and ostracize anyone associated with them?
Two words: They cheated.
Throughout the "juiceball era," fans assumed athletes like McGwire, Sosa and Bonds broke records honestly, without the aid of drugs.
It was without a doubt one of the biggest letdowns in the history of sports.
Just as soon as the game won back public's trust, players were once again placed under the microscope, calling into question the honesty of every player and every Major League club, turning the national pastime into one of lies and deception. The problems are severe enough to merit federal investigation, placing Major League Baseball under intense scrutiny.
What does the steroid era say about modern American society? When the drugs that discreetly plagued baseball for years were brought to public attention, it was a rude eye-opener for fans who had finally regained faith in the game they had missed since before the 1994 strike.
Moreover, the steroid era is an embarrassing statement of Americans' perceptions of heroes and how Americans will seek the easier path to greatness.
Rather than take the honest road paved with hard work and dedication, why not get to eternal reverence and fame by riding a syringe?
Imagine the message modern American culture sends to youth: "Don't worry about trying hard and putting in years of dedication. You can achieve your goals just like the pros with drugs guaranteed to have negative side effects."
And so that's what America has come to: Relying on dangerous drugs and supplements in order to achieve its goals.
From steroids to dieting pills, our culture has embraced a new synthetic life of sloth.
It's a lifestyle that should be abhorred before it can be passed on to the next generation.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
Although fans will pay exorbitant amount of money to see big names like Alex Rodriguez smash 500-foot home runs, they still object to the use of drugs that enhance players' performance and encourage longer, more awe-inspiring home runs.
Ironically, steroids saved baseball.
The 1994 players' strike was a devastating blow to America's pastime, causing the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904.
Baseball wouldn't recover until 1998, when rival sluggers Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa with the Chicago Cubs would finally revitalize the game - and the I-55 rivalry - with their historic single-season home run chase.
Years later, Barry Bonds with the San Francisco Giants took it one step further, breaking Hank Aaron's legendary career home runs record, arguably the most coveted title in sports.
These three men who undoubtedly saved the game are now all suspected of steroid use.
Even baseball's favorite son, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, has admitted to past steroid use when he played for the Texas Rangers.
Why is this a big deal?
If steroids have made the game more exciting and brought in more revenue, why ban them and ostracize anyone associated with them?
Two words: They cheated.
Throughout the "juiceball era," fans assumed athletes like McGwire, Sosa and Bonds broke records honestly, without the aid of drugs.
It was without a doubt one of the biggest letdowns in the history of sports.
Just as soon as the game won back public's trust, players were once again placed under the microscope, calling into question the honesty of every player and every Major League club, turning the national pastime into one of lies and deception. The problems are severe enough to merit federal investigation, placing Major League Baseball under intense scrutiny.
What does the steroid era say about modern American society? When the drugs that discreetly plagued baseball for years were brought to public attention, it was a rude eye-opener for fans who had finally regained faith in the game they had missed since before the 1994 strike.
Moreover, the steroid era is an embarrassing statement of Americans' perceptions of heroes and how Americans will seek the easier path to greatness.
Rather than take the honest road paved with hard work and dedication, why not get to eternal reverence and fame by riding a syringe?
Imagine the message modern American culture sends to youth: "Don't worry about trying hard and putting in years of dedication. You can achieve your goals just like the pros with drugs guaranteed to have negative side effects."
And so that's what America has come to: Relying on dangerous drugs and supplements in order to achieve its goals.
From steroids to dieting pills, our culture has embraced a new synthetic life of sloth.
It's a lifestyle that should be abhorred before it can be passed on to the next generation.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
J
posted 2/27/09 @ 10:13 PM CST
"Throughout the "juiceball era," fans assumed athletes like McGwire, Sosa and Bonds broke records honestly, without the aid of drugs."
No they didn't, at least not anyone with any sense. (Continued…)
Aaron Dillon
posted 3/02/09 @ 3:51 AM CST
The fact of the matter is we bridged the steroid gap years ago, and since then testing and illegality within baseball has taken center stage. However, the continuous talk on the issue for over six years is getting to the point of being ridiculous, especially when it is media talking heads from networks such as ESPN finding steroids as a way to supplant the current era of baseball over the one most of the current print baseball culture grew up on. (Continued…)
Post a Comment