Steroids in baseball Essay Example

are cheaters, and it's disheartening to see honorable players' records overshadowed by those who enhance their abilities through illicit means. Rick Reilly shares a similar viewpoint in his Sports Illustrated column, expressing that despite knowing Barry Bonds is a cheater and his career was fraudulent, he should still be admitted into the Hall of Fame (118). I also sympathize with honest athletes who face defeat at the hands of cheaters. It's regrettable that American youth are being taught conflicting lessons about cheating – it is both wrong and acceptable because it allows one to avoid consequences.

If we don't fully eliminate these players from the game, record books, and hall of fame, then we should acknowledge their accomplishments with an asterisk. This asterisk should state: Records are in doubt due to widespread use of anabolic steroids (Verducci 38). This approach allows us to punish cheaters without completely erasing their achievements. Honest players will witness the tarnishing of dishonest players' accomplishments with this historical asterisk. It will teach the youth of America that cheating has no honor. It is important that current and future generations understand that this era of inflated statistics and hall of famers is being questioned due to the prevalent use of anabolic steroids.
Some may argue against adding an asterisk to the record books and hall of fame, claiming it is not sufficient. These players cheated, and cheaters should be completely eradicated from the game, just like Pete Rose was for gambling on baseball. Rick Reilly expresses this sentiment by saying, "Hey, at least he (Barry Bonds) didn't cheat like Pete Rose by betting on his team multiple times to win. Now that

will destroy a sport." While I acknowledge that steroid users are indeed cheaters, removing them entirely from the game would devastate an entire generation of baseball.
Rather than completely condemning an entire generation of baseball players, I propose including an asterisk next to the accomplishments and records of those who have used steroids. This asterisk would serve as a reminder that these achievements may not be entirely legitimate. Nonetheless, it would still allow athletes from my generation to be acknowledged for their accomplishments. Additionally, this asterisk would help preserve the integrity of the game, which has been questioned amidst the steroid controversy.
The main reason we cannot erase all players suspected of using steroids is because steroids are not the sole factor responsible for the inflated numbers seen in baseball over the past ten to twelve years. According to Tom Verducci in his article, this decade has also witnessed various factors that contribute to improved hitting, such as the construction of ballparks with reduced foul territory, closer outfield fences, and better lighting. Moreover, advancements in equipment, a tighter strike zone, the addition of four expansion teams, and progress in nutrition and training have also played a role (39). AN additional reason we cannot disregard these players is that cheating accusations have been made throughout baseball history. The Black Sox betting scandal in 1919 challenged the integrity of the game even more than steroid use. In this scandal, teams and players were accused of manipulating games for the benefit of sports gamblers.The text discusses the issue of gamblers bribing players to fix games, the accusations of Pittsburgh Pirates players using cocaine, and the comparison between

the legality of steroids and cocaine. It also suggests that baseball should not completely remove suspected cheaters from the sport but should instead asterisk the accomplishments of steroid users. By doing so, the integrity of baseball can be preserved while wrongdoers are punished. This approach allows recognition of the achievements of both current and past players without erasing their accomplishments. Additionally, fans can trust the statistics they see, and it teaches the youth that cheating is wrong. The text also mentions a news article where Bonds criticizes the media for continuously questioning him about steroids. (Source: CNN 22 Feb.2005: n.pag.22 Feb.2005 .Path: MLB; Bonds Blasts Media.)

Random and offseason testing was implemented by ESPN on 13 Jan. 2005, with the source being MLB and the topic being Steroids. This information was accessed on 20 Feb. 2005.

Reilly, Rick No Doubt About It. Sports Illustrated 13 Dec. 2004: 118
Verducci, Tom Is Baseball in the Asterisk Era? Sports Illustrated 15 March 2004: 36-39
Verducci, Tom So What Can You Do, Bud? Sports Illustrated 15 March 2004: 40-43