I've waited a few days to let the dust settle on the Manny Ramirez suspension. Manny either is telling the truth about taking a banned substance for medical condition not related to steriods, or he's been using performance enhancers for part if not most of his career. The fact of the matter is we will never know the truth. Not about Ramirez, not about Alex Rodgriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa or Rafael Palmiero. And that's what makes it difficult for the baseball writers and the fans as they try to determine who truly belongs in the baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. I have yet to hear the a ball player confess, "I did it. I'm sorry. It was wrong, and I realize I've tainted my career." Because that's what journalists who cover the sport and true fans who follow it want to hear. Come clean and show remorse about everything you've done.
Yet sometimes I feel like a lone wolf in the woods when it comes to athletes using performance enhancers. Take for instance last Friday when A-Rod made is debut. Plenty of Yankees fans packed Baltimore's Camden Yards and cheered his return... before and after he smacked the first pitch he saw for a home run. Apparently his apology and his version of the truth is enough to make fans forgive. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact the Yankees are 15-16 and in third place in the American League East.
Well forgive me but I won't cheer A-Rod, Manny or anyone else under the suspicion of using performance enhancers. At least not until I know the whole truth. I'm not holding my breath.
Jason Brown
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment