When I was a little girl one of my first words was the 4 letter “S” word used by my dad during Louisville Cardinal and Cincinnati Reds games, a lot. So when I grew up to start a Web site dedicated to teaching women about sports, few were very surprised. I recently asked my dad to be a part of my blog and start writing with me about what we love and what he wrote really surprised me .
His first blog article ever is eerily similar to my post a few weeks before on baseball and steroids.
PLAY BALL!
Finally the season is upon us. Now is the time to put all the steroid talk, player bashing aside, focus on our great game of baseball.
I have been a fan of this game for many years and will be for the rest of my life. I am sick and tired of the steroid talk about this player/that player, just enjoy watching the games, and the skills these players possess. We were all enamored with the McGuire/Sosa battle because steroid or not we loved the skill they possessed for crushing a baseball. It’s no different for me now with A-rod. He and the other great players are why we watch the game.
Over the different eras there have been many changes in the game as well as in the players. Many in the media, as well the “purists” seem to think the game has never changed except during the “steroid era.” Well A-rod, Bonds, Clemens etc. would be great players in any era. This idea that they were using “performance enhancers” and their play and their records shouldn’t count is ridiculous.
Over the years as we received more information about steroids and the side effects they can because I hope we can eliminate their use but this is not the only time enhancements have been made or used.
From the balls to the bats, gloves, fields, playing conditions, etc, the game itself has had many enhancements over the years. From the players side think of all the changes since Babe Ruth. First and foremost in Ruth’s time was the exclusion of African-American athletes that would have been some of baseball’s best players. At some point playing became a full time job so focusing on just baseball was all the players had to do. That surely helped. Weight training and nutrition and supplements also enhanced players. And thinking of the medical and surgical enhancements players have received over the years is amazing.. And what about the amphetamines and other stimulants players took when they needed a little pick me up. Some enhancements are legal and some illegal. Some were legal and become illegal. But the players will always be looking for the next “enhancement” to make them the best they can be. And as fans that is what we really want, isn’t it?
The era is what it is. It happened, get over it. Quit whining and complaining and just enjoy the games.
By Michael Brumleve
Dedicated to Nicole Cassato RIP John 10/25/49— 2/25/09
