TheChez.net

By: Lundin’ Bridge

As more 2003 steroid users were recently announced (Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz), more questions surface as to who hasn’t taken steroids? It seems like whenever you turn on ESPN these days there’s a developing story of yet another major leaguer who’s be accused of juicing. It’s becoming more and more difficult for fans to put the Steroid Era in the past when reports continue to surface, most notably from the anonymous steroid tests given in 2003.

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, I’ll refresh your memory as to what’s been going on in Major League Baseball. In 2003, Major League Baseball decided that they would implement a drug test to see if future random drug testing would be needed. The test takers were told that the results would be anonymous and it would be strictly for research purposes. Okay, good idea. There was some word going around that players were taking supplements to enhance their play and it was time to start buckling down on it. Flash-forward five or six years. Jose Canseco comes out of the steroids closet and admits to using steroids. Okay that was  foreseeable. Still startling but it wasn’t that hard to swallow. Until Canseco released his book, Juiced, siting several famous players for using performance enhancing drugs. Wow. This can’t be true, look at all those names.. Our idols! Our role models! It couldn’t possibly be. Until it was. Famous names started to become associated with steroids. Mark McGuire. Barry Bonds. Sammy Sosa. Well that was predictable, you could see their on-field production and muscle progression increase over their careers. Rafael Palmiero. Miguel Tejada. Ivan Rodriguez. Wow.. Damn Mexicans. Roger Clemens. A-Rod. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Who can we believe?! The 2003 test results began getting leaked, and the 104 players who tested positive for steroids were now becoming known. Turns out Canseco was right all along, and this time in baseball would forever be known as “The Steroid Era”.

So now that you know what’s going on, it’s time to rant. What the fuck is wrong with people? Let’s start with Manny. Manny being Manny. Could he be Manny without steroids? As you know, Manny was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for taking a female utility drug, known to erase previous use of steroids. No, that wasn’t a copy and paste error, he really did take that. And if that wasn’t enough, his name was recently associated with said 104 steroid users. When asked, Manny couldn’t give two shits. Well that’s great Manny, glad to see that you have no problems cheating baseball. Next, Manny’s counterpart for several years in Boston, David Ortiz. One of the most outspoken players against steroid use. Big fucking Papi. Or should I say big after he left the Twins because he couldn’t hit the fucking broad side of a barn and was no bigger than Chuck Knoblauch. Was it Manny who made Papi big? He must’ve, cause with Manny gone this year Papi went 200 plus at bats without a home run and he’s having one of his worst years since the Twins (coincidence?). It’s nice to know that the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years while their two best players were on steroids. Congratulations.

Sometimes it’s easy to recognize that a guy’s been on ‘roids. Barry Bonds sucked in the beginning of his career, but as his head grew bigger so did his home run count. McGuire could probably crack a bat in his biceps while he “raced for the record” with Sammy Sosa. However, who would have thought guys like Roger Clemens? Alex Rodriguez? These guys are work horses, like 24/7 work horses that worked their ass off to be the best at the game. If they were on steroids, who the hell isn’t?

I love baseball, and I’m hoping that the Steroid Era can one day be put behind us, not only for the sake of the fans, but for the sake of Major League Baseball. So many questions are left unanswered, like 1.) What records were truly earned? and 2.) Should these players be allowed in the Hall of Fame? This may be the hardest question that officials will have to answer. Some of the people that took steroids still had a natural talent for the game of baseball and probably could have come close to what they did on steroids if they didn’t use them at all. It’s the players that were just mediocre and became great because of steroid use that will pose the most difficulty. And who’s to say? I don’t think anyone will be able to answer these questions. Thus, an asterisk will always tarnish this era of baseball history. The only thing that will always remain a constant is this: one of the greatest players in baseball history, Babe Ruth, was also on steroids. His performance enhancing drugs? Beer, hot dogs, and women. Let’s see Barry Bonds hit 763 home runs with that.