Baseball was very late in instituting their policy of suspensions for PED use. If it had been done years prior these guys would've been failing tests left and right. Now you have these synthetic lab creations available with the ability to mask then during testing. You would think more stringent testing is necessary as well but like I said these labs seem to always be ahead of the game.
Hell.... they even have had NASCAR drivers suspended for it... and I have heard the occasional story in the NFL, but I've NEVER heard anything out of the NHL... that is news to me...
If there's more money to be made by being a better athlete people will cheat to get that money, it's just that simple, people are being naive thinking the NHL is clean, of course they're taking PED's as well.
I will never understand the Arod scrutiny. Why should he be banned for life with so many other guys actually having failed tests still in the game? How about Braun - gets off on a technicality and has the set to keep his hand in the jar in the same year. MLB basked in the glory of the steroid era, they have themselves to blame. I want a poster of Selig with Sosa and Macguire. Everybody was happy to turn a blind eye then.
I agree... Braun et. al should be banned for life as well... this going after A-Rod alone is unfair... BUT... none of the others make as much as A-Rod... just saying...
Contract or money should have zero to do with it. Meanwhile, Big Papi, the darling of MLB who bulked up and made a career for himself in the heart of the per era after leaving Minny, is being shooed in to the HOF!? What an absolute joke.
Should... but it doesn't... that is why they are going after him... and there is NO, ZERO, ZIP doubt that Shrek (Ortiz) juiced....
I don't think they will likely ban him but one variable out there for him would be if the stories from awhile back are true in regards to him buying his records/evidence from someone at the company. They could push that aspect on top of the drugs and say he was trying to hinder the investigation etc. and use the best interests of baseball clause on him for that. Somewhat suspect that wouldn't hold up but perhaps that is their angle if they want to nail him for a long time, get a settlement or run him from the game. Otherwise, I agree its not going to fly for them to target him and or Braun in a harsher manner than the others involved. Sounds pretty clear that Weiner is laying the groundwork that the union isn't going to be there to bail these guys out and if that is his intent, he knows the evidence is pretty strong I would think.
Hey Cy welcome aboard. Nice to see another of the old ESPN crowd join us. Look I know its written into his contract but some how, some way the Yankees should be able to void those HR incentives that allows him to collect an additional 30M. I mean he already admitted his 3 year use while with the Rangers so his HR total is already tainted. Yes I know that the contract was worked up after the admission but, if he's suspended for suspicion of PEDs then those incentives should DEFINITELY be voided.
It's Arod and it's New York. Braun plays in Milwaukee and is not as big a figure. Fair or unfair Arod is the poster boy for this entire thing.
Thanks Rick, good to be here. I'm all for the Yankees getting out of whatever they can with Alex. I suspect that once his suspension is over (if he isn't banned), the Yankees will have to grin and bear it with his contract. Its a shame of course but they certainly have their share of blame in that one.
Nah, I don't think he has much left in the tank either way at this point. Age, general wear and tear, major hip surgeries etc., no peds (well, maybe no peds) and his mental state--I just can't see much from him. These guys, I tell ya. Watching the Mariano celebration the other night made me think of folk like ARod, Clemens and Bonds etc. that will never know anything like that despite their careers. Personality issues with that group perhaps prevent that anyway but its quite the contrast how one all time great is received vs. those that have cost themselves anything remotely close to respect.
I agree Cy, especially when you're talking about guys like Clemens, Bonds & A-Rod. Because they had all the talent in the world & didn't have to cheat.
