The Steroid List

A few words from the AK Gov of RSN (me):

All of the names need to be revealed. It is the only fair outcome for all of the fans and it will put all of the players on an even plane. We are seeing this issue from a very new perspective today.

Before, when the A-Rod accusation came out, it was easy to say, "serves him right." When the Manny accusation came out, it was easy to say, "Whew, we got rid of him at the right time." But now, what are we supposed to say when the most beloved player on our team's name comes up on the list? Before, it was easy to villify the steroid users. Noone has a problem blasting Clemens, Bonds, A-Rod, Manny. But could we as easily turn our backs on Papi? Now we are forced to consider even the players that we hold in highest regard. I was once in a conversation with a Yankees fan who said that it was stupid to assume that any player was above steroids. He said, "look at Ortiz, he juiced." And I of course defended him. We were all endeared to a player who we considered to have the higest integrity and compassion. And that respect is now called into question.

Will we forgive Papi? Of course. I'm sure we already have. But when we see him being discussed on ESPN and see him in an interview earlier this season condeming all steroid users and see commentators calling him a cheater and a liar, it hurts us as the fans that have looked up to him so passionately. There is a healing process that needs to and will occur between Papi and the fans. And the end result will be that he is still the man that brought home two emotional World Championships. And we will still love and respect him, perhaps more so now that his digression is out in the open. We will move on as a Nation.

I argue that this process must be universal. Every fan needs to feel the uncertainty and confusion that we are feeling right now. Every fan needs to confront thier players and say, "Look, if we are going to respect, admire, support, and cheer for you, you owe us the knowlege of exactly who you are as a player and a person." Only this way can we all experience the healing process as a nation of baseball fans. Only this way can we all move on. It is the fair thing to do.

The Hall of Fame is always a topic of conversation whenever another player is revealed to have used steroids. There are alot of people that acknowlege the steroid era and wish to honor the players regardless, but many more people feel that steroid users would tarnish the sanctitiy of the Hall. However, as our heroes fall one by one, who will be left to place in the venerable halls? If we rid the baseball world of this shadow list hanging over everyone's head, and let the world face the problem together, maybe the Hall would become less of an issue. People will say, we know that they used, we know it was bad, but were they still not the greatest players of their generation? The talents of the baseball legends go beyond steroids. Releasing the list will change the perspective of baseball fans as a whole, force people to look at their players a new way, and accept them for who they are, and perhaps the Hall will become less of a polarizing issue.

This "anonymous list" has been anything but, but the way the names are being released now, one by one, has been devastating to the players and the fans. Whoever is releasing these names is doing so maliously. It is only fair that all the remaining names be released so that all players are forced to answer openly, and the fans are free to remain fans with no more illusions or mistrust. Only then can baseball truly move on.