| Spending $50 Million dollars to tell baseball fans all | | | | Trainers, medical staffs and hanger-ons all want in |
| acrossthe country that players are juiced, stats | | | | on the action. Mostcould find, supply and deliver |
| are inflated and thatbaseball has suffered is like | | | | the goods. And as one player jumped |
| letting your dog out after it hasalready soiled the | | | | aboardothers soon followed. It wasn't for health, it |
| carpet. True baseball fans knew all along. | | | | wasn't for glory, it wasn'tfor records...it was for |
| Here are a few observations that led us to | | | | the MONEY! |
| believe the scamwas on: | | | | Baseball fans figured Barry Bonds was on steroids. |
| 1. MLB Expanded! | | | | He thought the Hank Aaronhome run run and his |
| When two new teams come into the league the | | | | record as an MVP was going to give him |
| have to dilute allof major league's pitching. When | | | | sanctuary, Itdid not. Mark McGuire got out before |
| you add 2 professional franchisesto the league | | | | he was taken down. He is still up forpossible grand |
| those franchises are going to have to fill | | | | jury perjury charges along with Raphael Palmeria |
| pitchingstaffs for all their farm teams. That | | | | caught redhanded. |
| means finding 100 prospectiveprofessional | | | | Now Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite. They |
| prospects. When pitching become diluted so | | | | supposedly took human growth hormonesat a |
| skyrocketsbatting averages. | | | | time when HGH was not even tested for in |
| 2. Batting Averages! | | | | players. And the list goes on. |
| When baseball players bat .300 and above they | | | | So does perjury and steroid/supplement use keep |
| earn multi-million dollarcontracts. When basic utility | | | | Barry Bonds out of the Hallof Fame? Roger |
| players start averaging 20 home runs with | | | | Clemens? If you take one you have to allow for |
| .300+ averages, the "superstars" of the league | | | | the other? |
| demand $100 million contracts. | | | | Is there a contingency plan for Hall of Fame |
| 3. Superstars of the League! | | | | nominees from the steroid era? |
| When exceptional players start having to | | | | Real baseball aficionados no longer see baseball as |
| compete with ordinary players forlarge contracts | | | | a sport but entertainment. |
| and (in effect) advertising revenue, they have to | | | | The NBA doesn't test for marijuana on their |
| find an edge. | | | | players and reportedly 70% of theseplayers are |
| 4. Finding an Edge! | | | | users. But NBA ratings have free fallen since |
| The Oakland A's capitalized on "bigger/stronger" | | | | Magic Johnson, Larry |
| with the Bash Brothers. Theplayers that pumped | | | | Bird and Michael Jordan hung up their corporate |
| iron, got physically huge and slugged little baseballs | | | | sponsored basketball shoes. |
| forwhat seemed like miles. Effect? More home | | | | The NBA is no longer a sport (as seen in our |
| runs meant more fan interest. Homerun | | | | recent Olympic performances), itis entertainment. |
| production equated into big dollar contracts. Now | | | | The NFL will soon follow. When did sports become |
| bigger meant richer. | | | | on par with |
| 5. Everyone Wants to Hit the Long Ball! | | | | Championship Wrestling? |
| Why bunt? Why hit and run? Why sacrifice? | | | | Can baseball save its credibility? What is credible |
| Home runs guarantee a secure contract. | | | | these days? As long as MLBcontinues to lie and |
| So what happens to players facing the middle to | | | | tell us that they are out to save the sanctity of |
| twilight of their career? | | | | the gameyet allow the continuation of all the |
| Outside enhancement. Steroids. Supplements. | | | | cycles stated above then they have turnedthe |
| Whatever it takes. | | | | game into just a bastardization of our former |
| 6. Who Has the Drugs? | | | | American pastime. |