September 11, 2007

GLAUS MERELY AMONG THE LATEST TO BE EXPOSED—THERE WILL BE MORE

      Before you condemn Troy Glaus for his recently exposed indiscretions keep in mind that he is just the latest name in what eventually will be a lengthy list of names attached to the growing steroid scandal.  This is not a baseball arranged committee looking into transgressions and balancing the discoveries of truth against their own essentially myopic interests, this is a coordinated government investigation into illegal internet drug dealing—and this particular investigation is being coordinated with the media.  Reporters from Sports Illustrated have been with the investigation since last summer, and there are more reporters arriving every day.  Don’t for a moment believe that this is the end of the story.

             A little background—if you don’t mind.  The District Attorney’s Office of Albany NY has spent the better part of two years investigating an Internet ring involving performance enhancing drugs and athletes from different sports.  During the prosecution of an Albany doctor they discovered that the doctors working out of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando were writing prescriptions of performance enhancing drugs for athletes.  The raid on the pharmacy in February netted the investigation much if not all of the pharmacy’s database.  There have been two football, three baseball, and ten wrestling names reported recently—names derived from that database.  More will follow.

       The horrific story that came from this investigation revolves is that of wrestler Chris Benoit.  The investigators at that time believed Benoit wasn’t a danger to himself or to anyone else, and that the wrestler could eventually lead them up the criminal ladder.   That decision, obviously, ended in tragedy.  And it is likely that the investigation picked up steam thereafter to ensure that another similar ending would not occur.  That would explain the ten wrestlers suspended by the WWE, the NFL suspensions of Rodney Harrison and Wade Wilson, and the now baseball related (and non-suspended) names of Glaus, Rick Ankiel and Jay Gibbons. 

       It has become routine for baseball fans nowadays.  A brief collective sigh of disappointment follows the news of another player being named.  Any sense of moral outrage has long passed.  The general sense is that most of those that played at some point in the past fifteen years likely knew something about steroids—or perhaps someone who used it.  There is also a sense that most, and probably all, of baseball’s organizations knew it was happening—and if the clubs knew then the commissioner’s office knew.    

      A miracle was happening at that time though.  The strike of ‘94 had cut a major swath through baseball’s fan base and left the business reeling.  Even Cal Ripken passing Lou Gehrig for the consecutive games played record didn’t change the landscape.  Baseball was in trouble. That’s when a simple little home run chase between two major league sluggers suddenly imbued baseball fans with a sense of exhilaration and drama. 

       Baseball was saved by the McGwire-Sosa home run chase of ’98.  Everyone was happy.  Business was booming.  But then one day a reporter spotted a bottle of something in McGwire’s locker—and that was the first time the public ever heard about something called Androstenedione.  The Steroid Era was underway. 

       So don’t send all your resentment and disdain Glaus’ way.  He’s definitely not alone.  There were many who, along the way, felt that they needed help to compete.  It’s a tough business, this baseball game.  The moral ledger indicates though that Glaus cannot be excused for his decision-making.  Cheating is cheating, and the reasons for allegedly purchasing the illegal performance enhancing drugs are totally unacceptable--reasons, incidentally, we have yet to hear  

      We are willing to forgive our heroes their minor indiscretions and fallibilities, and as long as they maintain some sense of decorum and admit their errors we can support them.  Of course if an athlete decides to be monstrously abrasive and completely unwilling to communicate with us then…well, that’s the side of the ledger where Pete Rose and Barry Bonds reside.  

      And too bad for them.

Preview my new fictional novel A Walking Parody at www.michaelghobson.com

Follow my weekly sports commentary at 8:20 am Saturday at www.team990.com

Listen to my weekly guest appearance Friday nights on Norm Rumack's show at www.fan590.com