2008 Woodie Awards
"From the Bleacher Seats"
The Steroids Controversy: What it Means, and Why You Should Care
Daniel Goodman
Issue date: 3/29/05 Section: Sports
Baseball's biggest stars were finally taken to task at a recent congressional hearing for what was perhaps a decade or more of performance-enhanced home runs.
Yes, we know that the main impetus for the congressional subpoenas came from Jose Canseco's book, not exactly the most reputable source. But this is a case of believing the message and ignoring the messenger. Besides, the evidence has been mounting against the suspected sluggers, as well as from more credible sources: federal grand jury testimony and the FBI.
In November, federal grand jury testimonies of Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield were leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle. Giambi admitted to using steroids, while Bonds and Sheffield claimed they did not know the now infamous "cream and clear" substances they had used were steroids.
This is in addition to the fact that Mark McGwire has already admitted to using androstenedione when he hit 70 home runs in 1998. "Andro," as it is commonly known, is a precursor for steroids which increases levels of testosterone in the body.
Moreover, Ken Caminiti, who died last year, came forward and revealed he had been on steroids when he won his Most Valuable Player award in 1996. And recently, ESPN's Buster Olney reported that San Diego's General Manager at the time, Kevin Towers, acknowledged that the reason he declined to investigate his personal suspicions of Caminiti were because home runs sold tickets.
What does all this mean? It appears as if baseball has been cheating its fans with cheap home runs for the last ten years. After the strike of 1994, MLB representatives realized that the home run would save it, and chose to ignore suspicions of steroid use in hopes that the increased slugging would revitalize the game. It seemed to work during the magical summer of '98 when the home run chase between McGwire and Sammy Sosa rejuvenated interest in the sport. But now those homeruns seem to be a farce.
Baseball ignored the well-being of its players--steroid abuse contributed to Caminiti's death and may have caused Giambi's benign tumor and intestinal parasite last year--and also has cheated its fans. The drugs thatmay have helped spark the summer that saved baseball are now threatening to tear apart the integrity of the sport and its sacred records.
Yes, we know that the main impetus for the congressional subpoenas came from Jose Canseco's book, not exactly the most reputable source. But this is a case of believing the message and ignoring the messenger. Besides, the evidence has been mounting against the suspected sluggers, as well as from more credible sources: federal grand jury testimony and the FBI.
In November, federal grand jury testimonies of Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield were leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle. Giambi admitted to using steroids, while Bonds and Sheffield claimed they did not know the now infamous "cream and clear" substances they had used were steroids.
This is in addition to the fact that Mark McGwire has already admitted to using androstenedione when he hit 70 home runs in 1998. "Andro," as it is commonly known, is a precursor for steroids which increases levels of testosterone in the body.
Moreover, Ken Caminiti, who died last year, came forward and revealed he had been on steroids when he won his Most Valuable Player award in 1996. And recently, ESPN's Buster Olney reported that San Diego's General Manager at the time, Kevin Towers, acknowledged that the reason he declined to investigate his personal suspicions of Caminiti were because home runs sold tickets.
What does all this mean? It appears as if baseball has been cheating its fans with cheap home runs for the last ten years. After the strike of 1994, MLB representatives realized that the home run would save it, and chose to ignore suspicions of steroid use in hopes that the increased slugging would revitalize the game. It seemed to work during the magical summer of '98 when the home run chase between McGwire and Sammy Sosa rejuvenated interest in the sport. But now those homeruns seem to be a farce.
Baseball ignored the well-being of its players--steroid abuse contributed to Caminiti's death and may have caused Giambi's benign tumor and intestinal parasite last year--and also has cheated its fans. The drugs thatmay have helped spark the summer that saved baseball are now threatening to tear apart the integrity of the sport and its sacred records.