"Hi Boys and Girls, my name is (INSERT VIOLATOR HERE), I play for the (INSERT TEAM HERE), but I tested
positive for drugs and cheated. I am
now suspended for 50 games. What I did
was wrong. Don’t be like me. I am not a
role model. A role model works hard to achieve their goals.”
Looks like we have a big problem in Major League Baseball if this New Times story is true, read
HERE. The above
statement was a statement I put together in the summer when
Melky Cabrera was caught cheating and admitting to using PEDs, read
WHEN SUNSHINE TURNS TO DARKNESS for insight on that. Now look, because this issue of PEDs
use is such a wicked web, and I'm no lawyer, I can't sit here and tell
my audience that I have it all figured out. I don't. Sure, there are
accusations everywhere about who used, who didn't and when they could
have used and when they didn't use. Bottom line, the only one that truly
knows is that player and God. BYB would love to ban all players that
are caught, but something needs to happen for me to go further. These players would
either need to admit it, like Melky Cabrera, or they would need to be found
guilty. I know, I know, it's no easy task, none of it is, but it's so hard to just read a news item and just point fingers. I'm trying to give the benefit of the doubt. I feel like I can't just blanket the whole thing and jump on the "accusation
wagon". None of us truly know. Again, It's a wicked web and it makes me queasy.
(Note: not the actual incident)
Late yesterday I came home from work and went to throw out some garbage in my kitchen. I opened
up the can and found my son's
Alex Rodriguez card in the trash.
Puzzled, I asked him about it. He told me a kid in his class told him
that ARod cheated and told me he didn't want it anymore. Now look,
he's 10. He's old enough to read the Internet and thanks to athletes
who use and get caught, he knows what PEDs are now. Unfortunately for me,
I now have to parent alittle harder to explain not only cheating, but
Performance Enhancing Drugs. Not exactly something in my parent handbook. But, it's funny, when he said he threw out
ARod's card, in some regard, I was proud of him. He understood right
from wrong. Cheating isn't allowed, he got it. In another regard, I was
crushed. If these reports of Alex Rodriguez,
Nelson Cruz,
Gio Gonzalez
and
Bartolo Colon and others are true,
and I stress the importance of truth here, It is the ultimate blow to
baseball, to sports and Bud Selig has to wake the hell up.
The report simply said this:
"Major League Baseball is gathering and reviewing information regarding Tuesday's report in the Miami New Times that linked at least seven Major Leaguers to performance-enhancing substances via a recently closed clinic in Miami, but also expressed confidence that the developments demonstrate the scope of the sport's anti-doping efforts.
The newspaper said that records it obtained connect the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez, the Rangers' Nelson Cruz and others to Anthony Bosch, the former owner of Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla. In the cases of some, Bosch's handwritten notes indicated that players obtained human growth hormone and other substances from him." Here is the full story from MLB.com
HERE.
Here is a portion of MLB statement. Full statement is
HERE: “
We are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances. These developments, however, provide evidence of the comprehensive nature of our anti-drug efforts. Through our Department of Investigations, we have been actively involved in the issues in South Florida. It is also important to note that three of the players allegedly involved have already been disciplined under the Joint Drug Program... Vigilance remains the key toward protecting the integrity of our game. We have the best and most stringent drug testing policy in professional sports, we continue to work with our doctors and trainers to learn what they are seeing day-to-day and we educate our players about the game’s unbending zero-tolerance approach. We remain fully committed to following all leads and seeking the appropriate outcomes for all those who use, purchase and are involved in the distribution of banned substances, which have no place in our game... We are in the midst of an active investigation and are gathering and reviewing information. We will refrain from further comment until this process is complete.”
When it now trickles down to my son, I have some thoughts on this. Trust me.
PEDs are running wild and my kid is crushed. When that happens, I want to circle the wagons. So, in other words, this is more about
baseball now... This is about my family.
So, I simply revisit an idea that
Bleeding Yankee Blue had that was ignored by Major League Baseball this past summer. Once again, I
believe that if implemented, it will surely end this epidemic, or at least
slow it down to a grinding halt. Quite simply, we shame these
offenders. I detailed this idea when Melky Cabrera was caught, and
admitted his guilt. The idea is simple: You put these players in front
of a camera. You have them talk directly to the fans, to the kids. You
make them read a script and, I'll use Bartolo Colon as the example here below,
remember he was another player who admitted guilt:
(Below is the statement I would force failed testers to use as a new policy suggested by BYB)
“My name is Bartolo Colon, I pitch for the Oakland Athletics this season, but I tested
positive for drugs and cheated. I am
now suspended for 50 games. What I did
was wrong. Don’t be like me. I am not a
role model. A role model works hard to achieve their goals.”
This Public Service Announcement should be shown on MLB or Sports
productions around America, at the Super Bowl, before Tennis matches and
on baseball pre-game shows. Everyone should see it. But that's not all, that
player should also pay a nice fat fine. This hits these players in
the ego and in the pocketbook and in addition to all of that, these violators should be
suspended for an entire 162 game season meaning, that season is erased. In other words, if they are caught in August of 2013, there stats don't count. On their baseball card it would read
"Suspended for PEDs", just like it would read
"
Out for Season with Injury."
Quite frankly, this is the smartest, most comprehensive idea to keep players from using. I am sick of my son asking me why players
"cheat" if they're already talented. Pretty smart question for a 10
year old, I don't have an answer, do you? I'm tired of explaining why
PEDs are bad. Now it's time for the players to explain to kids why it's
bad, so, a Public Service Announcement from the player himself should
do the trick. Why? Because I may be a parent, but I do my job, I guide
my kids. I also teach about personal responsibility. So why not have
these guys do it too? Hey ARod, if this report is true, why don't you
tell my son why you cheated? (In fairness, ARod denies the charge by the New Times, read
HERE.)
Why don't you tell my kid why it's wrong Alex? Why don't you tell my kid why
he shouldn't do it? I already do, but kids worship athletes and you
guys need to set the example!
And message to MLB... Implement my idea. It's easy to do! From
this point forward, if a player violates the PEDs agreement, it should
be considered a violation of MLB Rules and it would automatically void
any involvement from the Players Association.
These players need to
step forward like men and take their lumps. They need to do it without
protection of lawyers, agents, the Player's Association or their teams.
If they are so "adult" about making a decision to cheat, then they need
to be "adult" about handling their punishment on their own.
Sure, read this post and poke holes in it if you want, you're entitled. But I know I'm not the only one who thinks that enough is enough. It's time to drop the hammer. Shame these violators, because we all know MLB will never ban these violators from baseball. So, do the next best thing, take
away their stats, embarrass them and let them talk directly to the kids
about personal responsibility, because I gotta tell ya, your little
PEDs handbook just ain't working. Wake up Bud, wake up.
Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.
