 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tickets
Buy or Sell
To buy or sell tickets to
any Baseball game make
sure to use Legalball.com
where all transactions are
guaranteed!
For New York Yankees,
Boston Red Sox, St.
Louis Cardinals, San
Francisco Giants, L.A.
Dodgers, Philadelphia
Phillies, Chicago Cubs,
Oakland A's
or any other MLB TEAM.
By: Keith Dobkowski, MLB News Writer
December 2, 2004
Every sport has its dirty little secrets. It is a secret we all know
yet it is seldom talked about. It hits the newsstands and people
gasp as if the very world we know is no more.
Two weeks ago it was Maurice Clarett declaring that he received
illegal benefits while at Ohio State and we were shocked. Yet
when Jim Brown stated on Fox Sports Radio that college athletes
everywhere are receiving illegal benefits, cars and money, we act
as if nothings the matter.
A week ago Ron Artest entered the stands, fought with fans and
the nation was horrified. Yet when Michael Olowokandi refused
to leave a nightclub and was stun-gunned by police before being
taken to jail, we continued on as if everything was fine and
dandy.
And this morning we awoke to find out that Jason Giambi’s sealed
testimony from the grand jury in the BALCO investigation had
been released. And Giambi admitted steroid use. Again our jaws
dropped. Dropped to the effect that 93% of those polled on
ESPN believe that Giambi has forever tainted Major League
Baseball.
It looks like only 7% of the people get it…
They are the 7% who saw baseball survive when former MVPs
Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti both admitted steroid use. They
are the 7% who saw baseball survive and actually thrive as Mark
McGuire hit 70 homeruns while using performance-enhancing
substances. And they are the 7% who saw baseball survive a
month ago when Gary Sheffield admitted taking the cream and
the clear.
The Problem:
The problem is we are naïve to think that Giambi is alone. We
awoke yesterday morning to find Tyler Hamilton, American Gold
Medal Cyclist, dumped by his cycling team. Hamilton injected
someone else’s red blood cells to increase the amount of oxygen
his body could digest. But more shocking and more eye opening
was article below Hamilton’s about Darrell Tyrone Banks.
Banks is a Paralympic powerlifter. Banks is disabled and
yesterday was banned from competition for the next two years
after testing positive for steroids.
If the disabled are using steroids in the Paralympics, what are we
to expect of our professional athletes. With millions of dollars on
the line during a relatively short career period, isn’t it obvious
that professional athletes would take every measure possible to
succeed.
Yet every time a new athlete comes forward with his story of
steroid abuse, we shake with disbelief.
The Solution For Jason Giambi:
Many possible solutions have already been suggested. They
include placing an asterisk next to any of Giambi’s
accomplishments. Taking away Giambi’s MVP award from 2000.
Letting the Yankees void the final four-years and $84million
dollars left on Giambi’s contract. And suspending Giambi for at
least a year, if not a total banishment like Pete Rose received.
None of these is a reasonable solution.
First, placing an asterisk next to any of Giambi’s accomplishments
is premature and opens a can of worms to every other former
players accomplishments. Do we place an asterisk next to Babe
Ruth’s records for he never played against the greatest talent in
the world, but rather the best-known white players in the
continental United States. Furthermore, Giambi’s use must be
placed in context of the widespread use across baseball. While
Hank Aaron may never of used performance enhancers, it is a
sure thing that most pitchers Giambi has faced through the years
have. They are able to throw faster and harder than any pitch
Aaron ever saw.
Second, according to Giambi’s testimony he never broke a Major
League Baseball rule. Giambi did not use a banned substance
and played within the rules of Major League Baseball.
Third, voiding the final four-years of Giambi’s contract is based off
information received from a supposed confidential grand jury
testimony. Giambi was faced with giving the confidential
information or being charged with perjury. Due to the
government’s inability to keep Giambi’s testimony confidential,
Giambi should not lose his contract.
Finally, suspending Giambi when he never violated a rule is
nonsense. Comparing Giambi to Rose is wrong. Rose put games
on the line by betting on them. He had inside information and
could use it to affect the outcome of a game. Giambi simply did
what other ballplayers have been doing. Trying to get any
advantage possible while still playing within the Major League
Baseball rules.
CONCERT
TICKETS
Or Sell
Your Extras
Using Legalball
Baseball Tickets
NFL Tickets
NBA Tickets
College Football
NCAA Basketball
LegalBall.com - Sports News Covering Legal and Business Issues