Well unless Manny Ramirez can come up with another excuse that would show why he took a woman's drug, usually taken by players to end the steroid cycle, I think Ramirez has now been added to the elite class of legends that felt they needed more.
Let's look at the most recognizable steroid cases. Rafael Palmero, Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds, Andy Pettite, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, and now Alex Rodriguez. Those are just some noticeable names that have ruined their legacies with usage of performance enhancing drugs and it is a shame.
If you look at that list, you will see some of the greatest players of their respective eras.
All of them were bound to be hall of famers. Barry Bonds is the "Home Run King." Rodriguez was supposed to be the man that led us out of this era by showing that we do not need to cheat to be legends in the land of baseball. Clemens was argued to be the greatest pitcher of all time. Why take steroids when you do not need them?
Now Ramirez of all people comes up with this excuse:
"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons."
Why in God's name would you take some pill from your physician and not talk to your trainer about it? Maybe he's shy or afraid of his doctor? Sorry to say Ramirez, but that will not work if you are planning to have that as your excuse. The real reason has to be because it was an illegal substance that his trainer would never allow.
It is a shame too, because Ramirez did not need this drug. Unless he's been taking it throughout his career, he's already hit 500 home runs and was a first ballot hall of famer. Does that recognition not mean anything to the players anymore?
<!-- my page break -->I think they much prefer to take steroids as long as they are getting millions of dollars shoved into their pockets. The use of steroids has tainted "America's National Pastime."
Here and there, more names are added to this list. Who's next? David Ortiz? Albert Pujols? Jimmy Rollins? As a matter of fact, can we trust that any All-Star is healthy?
Not anymore.
My fear is who will be next. I'm just glad that those other 100+ names were not revealed with Rodriguez because I think we would have heard a few other big names who had taken steroids.
Much like the National Football League back in the '90s, steroids destroyed that sport and they might just be getting out of that era, but I feel we have a lot to fear in baseball and many people have questioned many things when it comes to performance enhancing drugs.
One more notable question is, "Well it was permitted back in the '90s, why blame the players?"
That question has always intrigued me as it could be said in two different ways. You can blame the players because they are the ones who took the drugs. Nobody can force them into your body except yourself.
Or you could argue that the owners, managers, team doctors, and general managers wanted their stars to take drugs. We have no proof of who would have done that, but I think a player would easily accuse their doctor of permitting them to take steroids. Much like what happened with Clemens and Brian MacNamee.
With all of this being said, I find it hard to be passionate about baseball as much as I used to be, because they are completely fine with cheating as long as they are making money.
I am not talking about every player, but there seems to be this ongoing pattern concerning legends in baseball. Anyway, this topic is so disgusting in my opinion and it saddens me that the best in the business feel they need to take these drugs.
The truth has spoken!
- Login to post comments