A Nation Turns It's Lonley Eyes To You
The drug controversy in Baseball has reached a critical stage. Jason
Grimsley and the Human Growth Hormone scandal has upped the ante in
this ever growing scandal. The players union, which for so long
opposed any kind of testing for performance enhancing drugs, is now
home to apologists for any player who is caught using them. It is time
for the best known players in the game to take a stand. They have to
stand up and be counted as being against the kind of cheating that has
gone on for too long in the game.
It is clear to everyone that Barry Bonds took steroids. Everyone that
is except the people who actually play the game. Albert Pujols and
Derek Jeter have both made statements proclaiming that without
evidence, their should be no rush to judgment on Bonds. This is the
kind of thing that makes a bad situation worse. There have been
players who have spoken out about the steroids issue, but they have
been fringe players at best. The most well known player to state the
obvious has been David Wells, but he is not exactly the conscience of
baseball.
Where are the players who are going to take a stand on this issue? Why
hasn't Arod said something? Why hasn't Griffey said something? These
are the people whose legacies are threatened by the cloud that covers
all of baseball. Doesn't integrity mean anything to these people? Are
they so controlled by the union that they are unwilling or unable to
point out what's wrong with the game and take a public stance against
the people who have put the very integrity of the game at risk?
Doesn't the game that has provided them with the fantastic life that
they enjoy deserve at least some payback from these players?
It's a shame that people like Curt Flood apparently no longer play
this game. I guess it has become so much of a business that even the
players who are guilty of nothing have become as complicit as the
owners in this scandal. The whole point being not to rock the boat. As
long as the checks keep rolling in, why make a stink? Curt Flood
challenged baseball's reserve clause because he believed that it was
wrong. The reserve clause made a player the property of the team that
held his contract for as long as he was in the majors. There was no
free agency and a player didn't have a choice about which team he
played for. Flood was traded one year and decided that the didn't want
to play for a new team. He challenged the reserve clause in court. He
lost, but he paved the way for free agency. He didn't reap the
benefits, but without him, there is no telling how much longer the old
system would have been in place. Some have said that free agency has
ruined baseball, but players should have the right to sell their
services to the highest bidder. Every American worker has that right,
so it only seems fair that baseball players operate under the same
rules.
Flood was basically ostracized by the owners after challenging a
system that he saw as legalized slavery and his promising career was
soon over. He always said that he never regretted his decision,
however. Where is the player today that is going to put aside his
economic interests and speak up for what is right? It's fairly obvious
to me that the person who needs to take a stand is Derek Jeter. At
this point he is the face of baseball. He makes millions in
endorsements and Yankees are on ESPN and Fox so much at this point
that the rest of America has to wondering if there are any other teams
in the country. Derek is always looked upon as the embodiment of the
best there is in the game. He has the respect and admiration of
millions. It's time for him to take a stand. So what if he has to call
out some of his own teammates. So what if he makes enemies of the
players union. So what if some players resent what he has to say. It's
time to show the American people that someone still cares about
honesty and not just about a paycheck.
I would hope that someone would think enough of the game to try and
make a difference. He just has to have the courage to stand up and say
something. This time it's not about the union or the owners, it's
about the game. Derek Jeter should be that man. Derek, a nation turns
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