A stunning silence on steroid question
The following is a Counterpoint column:
By Robert C. Page III
The question for each panelist was to answer "yes" or "no" as to whether a player who had been determined to have used performance-enhancing substances should be stricken from the Major League Baseball record book.
The occasion was the gathering of 250 people at the "2005 Hot Stove" presented by the Burlington Indians minor-league team and its booster club.
The program was entertaining and successful. However, the responses to the questions were in stark contrast to other mostly light-hearted answers submitted in writing by the audience.
Former major leaguer Greg Booker was first to be asked. He hesitated, thought and then answered, "Yes, the rules are the rules and should be followed." He served himself and baseball well with his answer.
The other panelists were asked if they would like to respond. The silence was total and prolonged, and it clearly sent the wrong message.
All the panelists have professional baseball experience. They were a current manager of a Major League Baseball team, minor-league club president, college head baseball coach, former major-league players with several teams, an assistant general manager of a Major League Baseball team, and a minor-league manager.
Is the implication from their silence that they condone the use of performance-enhancing substances? What other conclusion is logical?
They had the opportunity to explain or qualify a "yes" or "no" or any other statement. Is it fear that they would be ridiculed by their peers or that their livelihoods would be threatened if they said anything?
Surely, there must be something the 250 baseball fans needed to be told to learn and understand. So much for the integrity of Major League Baseball among this group.
What a missed opportunity, save for Greg Booker, and an otherwise sad commentary on the principles and ethics of these baseball professionals and Major League Baseball.
The writer lives in Chapel Hill.
Comments (1)
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Robert,
I agree that steroids have no place in sports but the simple fact is that they were not banned until recently. Many folks who were using them were not, at the time, breaking any of baseball's rules. Thus, if they weren't breaking a rule then what basis is there for removing them from the record bood? Some will argue that steroids are illegal and that fact justifies removal from teh record book. But that argument arbitrarily uses a law to punish someone. Let's toss anyone who speeds or runs a stop sign from the record books as well. The real problem of the matter is that baseball happily turned a blind eye to performance enhancing drugs until very recently.
Posted on March 3, 2005 7:54 AM