Comments on: The ethics of cheering

By: David Horenstein

David Horenstein — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:02:56 +0000

That’s a good post Will. Forgotten in all of this, is that MLB, the officials, and the commisioner encouraged the use of steroid use. It wasn’t against the rules to take them and Bud Selig wanted nothing to do with drug testing and was forced to do so by Congress. They like every sports journalist, knew about uppers (and then downers) being taken (it was first reported in Ball Four) and they didn’t care.

After all, why didn’t Mitchell investigate the Dominican Republic? Because, Baseball didn’t want him too. So despite evidence of rampant steroid use, everyone just keeps their mouths shut (including reporters, as their only investigating deals with smear campaigns against individual ballplayers).

And, if you have a hitter that didn’t do so well last year, why you can have him spend the winter in the DR. Shhhhhhh! Just don’t say anything.

And, if that gets out, well reporters can rage against that too.

Scapegoat the players, but never, ever have league officials, the commissioners, GMs, managers, or owners be accountable.

BTW, remember when Basketball players were skinny? Care to explain how Lebron James is the size of Hulk Hogan in his prime?

By: Will

Will — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:14:47 +0000

Cheating and the Patriots? Who? What? Where? When? How about all of the above. I think the issue raised is very interesting, but I think the lack of context blurs the issue. Why is ok for Bellicheck to devise a sophisticated form of cheating, but Rodney Harrison taking HGH is so bad (especially when HGH has no proven PED impact…in fact, studies show the opposite)?

For some reason, we seem to overlook the white collar criminal, but condemn the blue collar crime. After all, do we know the level of complicity in each organization? Lou Merloni pretty much said the Sox taught the players how to take steroids.

Finally, I’d much rather cheer for a steroid user than a wife beater, gun toter, deadbeat dad (multiple times over), gang banger, etc.

If we stopped cheering for imperfect people, the silence would be deafening.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:50:32 +0000

Pete:
Maybe I am simplifying things a little for myself to make it easier to digest, but, I have an easier time celebrating A-Rod’s homer today (when I am fairly sure that he is clean)with a clear conscience than I would if I rooted for him in 2003 (when he was dirty). I am not really comfortable going with the “once a thief, always a thief” attitude that a lot of sports writers seem to be rallying to. We know now that A-Rod did roids in 2003, when the test was conducted. We do not have any evidence that he has done anything since (other than completely unsubstantiated “sources” cited under a cloud of secrecy reminiscent of cold war espionage). I’m sorry, but, while I do not approve of his past transgressions, and I am not sure how those transgressions unltimately will contribute to or detract from Hall of Fame consideration and records of achievement, I will cheer for him now (in this moment). He is a player of (at least) better than average talent, playing at a time when he is under a great deal of scrutiny (which is totally deserved due to off the field antics and his admission to PED use), and I am willing to believe that he will finish his career with at least an annual production of 30-40 homeruns, .300 batting ave, 100+RBI with little difficulty. He is not going anywhere anytime soon, so you are going to have to just deal with his presence as best you can.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:14:59 +0000

Pete:
Do you root for Bellicheck? Since he was exposed as a cheater, we know that in good concience you cannot.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:02 +0000

Should I take your question less serious because you happen to have numerous DUI’s ? I don’t know if you do but the point is very few of us have NEVER made a mistake. If I only rooted for perfect people, it would be a very small group.

Not only did I yell and clap out loud in my living room, I cherish the look and smile Arod gave the bench on his way to first.

Is your question racial, moral or just simple hatred? Should we stop to question the background including race, sex, political leaning or home country of all athletes before we decide whether to cheer or not?

By: Infernoscurse

Infernoscurse — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:50:26 +0000

mr andy hawkins, there are hundres of players who took steroids and were caught that never hit monster homeruns, most of them were lucky to hit 15.

Second i know im a customer to the yankees, to me they are the team i root for, i follow and adore year in year out, to me they are like family

Now is it right to use steroids? no, Would i have done it in this era? if i thought i wouldnt get caught i would, who hasnt drink and driven? who hasnt cheated in life, lied to someone?, punched in to work 2 hours later but marked like you were 2 hours b4? I really dont care to pass judgement on others when i myself havent been the most honest person in life and the same way ive made many mistakes i regret i understand others make them also.

if he used steroids it doesnt hurt me, or my kids or anyone other than himself and those close to him so please bare the trying to put any sort of guilt on my behalf for having my point of view and for forgiving someones mistakes, if you cant deal with the fact then thats your personal problem.

By: David Horenstein

David Horenstein — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:02:32 +0000

BTW, Cortizone is a steroid and Keith Hernandez took cocaine, which is also a stimulant. It’s laughable when Cohen becomes outraged over steroids when he’s sitting next to a cokehead.

By: David Horenstein

David Horenstein — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:59:21 +0000

The following is a line to a Foxsports article that links to an interview done in 2005 and from testimony from Henry Waxman, both which state that Steroid Use was rampant as far back as the 60′s.

It also has an analysis commenting on the sudden increase of home runs Hank Aaron had starting at the age of 38 (at a time when ballplayers decline, he suddenly surged forward.) WOW, that sounds an awfully close to Bonds, gee I wonder if ol’ Hammerin Hank gave some advice to Bonds.

http://community.foxsports.com.....Hank_Aaron

This link is from MSNBC and it mentions Willie Mays’ “red juice” (or Gogo juice), which is the same stuff as greenies.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6642822/

Greenies or to use a more common term, METH!. That’s right, greenies are meth (also known as speed or uppers), which are far more deadilier then steroids are. They also have a far more damaging impact on teenagers and young adults. One only has to look at the damage it did to Elvis Presley. See, the side effects of meth causes people to then take something to bring them down.

So once again, I ask, where is this outrage over greenies? Why Pete, since you know for a GOD DAMN FACT, that this was a common practice, did you and every one of your peers not only ignored it, but did everything to cover it up?

METH > Steroids

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:24:23 +0000

Pete, way to get 500 posts. I give you credit as this did raise a great debate and i’m happy to see that the majority of people understand how good of a player Alex Rodriguez is and how valuable he is to the team. In general though I find it shocking that people are dumb enough to hate a 3 time MVP who has a lifetime OPS+ of over 140 but whatever Scott Brosius with his lifetime 90 OPS + was better haha what a joke

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:34:54 +0000

Your hating on Arod is really getting old.