It's Not that Big a Deal

By the time you read this, the Hall of Fame balloting will likely have already been released. Names like Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz will likely have led the pack and deservingly so. Some of the biggest questions remain with names like Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Don’t let the title of this blog fool you. As most of you know, I am extremely outspoken about my stance that Clemens, Bonds and all heavy steroid users should be kept out of the Hall of Fame. But as I have continued to think over names like Clemens, Bonds and other standouts in the Steroid Era of baseball, I have come to realize that my approach towards this issue has been misguided… The approaches to most people’s arguments have also been misguided or at least the approaches of many have used improper priorities.

My argument for the longest time has been based on the premise that not only did steroids push athletes to a Hall of Fame level, but these users were master cheaters who have compromised the integrity of the game (or at least the integrity of the game’s records). While I still believe that argument holds true, an argument strictly focusing on baseball misses the true impact of the discussion. That may sound counterintuitive, but stick with me.

Since the beginning of the Steroid Era, a consistent message has been sent: Taking steroids is not that big a deal.

I use passive voice in that statement (“has been sent”) because the message has been sent by several different groups and several different people over the years. When steroids made their uprising in baseball through the 90s, Major League Baseball, coaches and players turned blind eyes to the use of illegal drugs. Let me go ahead and put this out there now… The argument that players should not be punished or held accountable because Major League Baseball did nothing about the rampant use of drugs is completely erroneous.

Let’s say I rob a convenience store with two cops inside. While I take the money, the cops see me but turn the other way. The store owner goes to the police chief and tells him what happened. The police chief does not punish the cops who were in the store. Just because those cops (eye witnesses) are not punished does not mean that I should not be held accountable. I still committed a crime. I still broke the law. This is not an “if a tree falls in the forest with no one around” argument. Wrong is wrong, illegal is illegal regardless of punishment.

Okay, back to the message being sent. The MLB, coaches and players by not speaking out about baseball’s problem during the heart of the steroid era sent a clear and concise message: taking steroids is not that big a deal.

As time went on, baseball started to climb its way back onto the sports map in the United States. Commissioner Bud Selig then started to “crack down” on steroids in baseball. While I applaud Commissioner Selig for starting the conversation on steroids and starting a protocol to punish players, MLB’s drug policy is not enough.

Before we get to the second manner in which the same message is sent, let’s discuss some of the basics of baseball’s drug policy. First offense/positive test is a 50-game suspension. Second offense is a 100-game suspension. I’m going to stop right there. A 50-game suspension is an absolute JOKE. For sake of your time, I won’t go through the details of the monetary benefits to taking steroids. If you want a more in depth look go to my previous blog “Staying Clean” and do a control-F for Melky Cabrera.

My main point? The benefits of taking steroids can and have been up to $12 million a year while the risk is being suspended less than one-third of the season. Not to mention, players can play in the minor leagues while they are suspended on the Major League level for drugs. It’s a joke. The risk is far outweighed by the reward, outweighed by millions of dollars. Players test positive and release calloused statements likely written by their agents or PR specialists. Even some apologies which bring tears to the players’ eyes don’t feel genuine. They apologize to fans then go home and count their millions.

So once again, Major League Baseball, due to its “slap on the wrist” approach to punishing steroid users, and players with their insincere apologies, send the same message: taking steroids is not that big a deal.

And here we are today. A day which is unique. Unique because the power to send a message no longer lays in the hands of Major League Baseball or coaches or players. The power of the message lays in the hands of the baseball writers who vote for the Hall of Fame.

If the writers vote in guys like Bonds and Clemens, the message will remain the same. Taking steroids is not that big a deal. But the writers can change that message that has been sent for over 20 years. They can keep users out of the Hall and tell us that taking steroids IS a big deal.

But in order to understand the impact, we have to take a look at who receives that message. Let me be clear, I’m not worried about the message going to players in the MLB or casual fans or even baseball purists. I’m worried about the message that is received by kids.

If the writers vote in the Bonds and Clemens of the world, our kids will hear a loud and clear message across the board: You can lie, cheat, break the rules, put your body at risk and even be caught doing all of that, but still make millions of dollars, gain fame and then enter into the most prestigious of groups despite not doing what’s right. And the kicker, you’ll never truly be held accountable.

What reason would a high school kid trying to go pro have to NOT take steroids? Or a college kid? Or a minor leaguer who is trying to stay afloat in the ultra-competitive world of professional baseball? For over two decades, kids have not been deterred from taking steroids by any message the MLB has sent. In fact, I would argue that kids have been encouraged to use steroids by the lack of a stance against performance enhancing drugs. Or at least any kind of serious stance.

It’s true that if Bonds and Clemens are not inducted, the greatest players during the Steroid Era will not be in the Hall of Fame. But let’s not act like keeping players out of the Hall erases them from history. People will still talk about those players and the unbelievable numbers they totaled. Their stories are not erased. They are still a part of baseball history, but they don’t have to be in the Hall of Fame.

I write this blog as a young adult who is starting to mature. I write this blog as a young adult who one day wants to have a family. One day I hope I can proudly explain to my son why players who have some of the best numbers in history are not in the Hall of Fame. I can explain that it’s not always about the result. I can explain that at some point, we all will be held accountable for our wrongdoings. I can explain to my son why he shouldn’t take steroids. I hope the writers will allow me to teach my future child that lesson.

But if the writers do induct Bonds and Clemens, my kid can counter with this… “But Dad, look at the money they made and all their accomplishments. I mean, they’re in the Hall of Fame! Look at history. Taking steroids… IT’S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.”