The Baseball Player's Union is dead wrong about steroids

[WilliamPitt]

Poll question: The Baseball Player's Union is dead wrong about steroids

Jackson also criticized the baseball players' association for not accepting a more stringent drug-testing policy. "The last I heard, was against the laws of the land," Jackson said. "The players' association talks about 'my rights.' My rights? Do you have the right not to pay taxes? You do something wrong, you pay the penalty."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1757710

Shock of shocks, I agree with Jackson.

[GOPisEvil]

1. The Union is mistaken.

Gene Orza should have shut his pie hole. He came across very badly.

For the good of the game and for the health of the players, the union and management should work together to come up with a comprehensive testing program. In fact, I think the union membership and public pressure are going to drive this to happen sooner, rather than later.

[VelmaD]

2. Yup, the union is dead wrong

Dead being a key word in that sentence. If they really cared about the health of their members they would have done something about steroids YEARS ago. I mean didn't these people SEE what Lyle Alzado looked like before he died.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Kick

[Mrs. Venation]

4. The Union Is Wrong

Jackson is correct. Steroid use taints the game and sets a terrible example for kids who are developing an interest in baseball. I think if Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire have proven to use steroids to boost their slugging their records should be set aside.

Get performance enhancing drugs and supplements out of sports; make it the product of human effort, not drugs.

[havocmom]

5. and Johnny Bench should not have placed those bets

Used to love the game but can't stand to watch the pros anymore.

Give me Single A any day. Those kids play with more heart. Also, I take a perverse delight in the confusion on faces of 19 year old lads from sun drenched lands dealing with July weather in Helena MT. :evilgrin:

edited cuz you shouldn't type while eating cold pizza

[Braden]

11. I think you meant Pete Rose vis a vis placing bets

baseball has allowed itself to self destruct for years. its a two tiered league for one. Many of the records that were broken were done so illegally. Attendance is abysmal in most markets, playoff games start at 9pm eastern time and end after midnight. Just ridiculous. And I am a paying customer. If 'w' wants to really change baseball then insist on appointing an independent commissioner.

Since he is aligned with owners I know it would never happen. But clearly the union is wrong here. the Steroid issue won't be resolved until the clean players start voluntarily testing themselves and shaming the illegal players into coming clean.

[underpants]

14. Thanks God there are no steroids being used in Single A

Nope none what so ever. Those kids are trying to make to the bigs on heart and God given talent and hardwork alone. It is reassuring that steroid use is not rampant in the minors amongst those trying to make it or make it back to the bigs on a level that most have no idea about and a blind eye is turned to by management. I mean what if you found out that Jason Giambi so over juiced himself to make to the bigs that he now has to get testosterone shots weekly to be able to function sexually. Thank GOD none of that is true.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Sadly, I don't think any real change will occur until a big-name player

announces he has terminal cancer from the stuff.


:evilfrown:

[underpants]

7. I find the rush to 'regulate' 'roids strange

I thought they didn't like regulation? Oh maybe taking care of uber rich baseball owners is okay but say making polluters clean up their act is not. No indeed the "Clean Air Act" creates a market for trading and selling the ability not to have to do anything. But if some megamillionares' investment might be tarnished the feds come rushing in to do what that market can't-The players are the product in the that market and what they do to stay in it or make themselves more money at the expense of the owners is suddenly not okay.

I think the union is wrong on this from a PR standpoint but they are protecting the rights of their members to make their own decisions. Of course it helps that the union is up against the mental midgets that are MLB.

ON EDIT-...do what that market can't

[playahata1]

8. Sorry, Reggie:

IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY -- NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

Steroids is only a red-herring, IMHO. This is nothing but divide-and-conquer, a way for the owners to cripple, if not flat-out destroy, the union. And why should the players give up their rights for the sake of public relations? Management is not God, so why should we deny organized athletes the same rights as any other group of organized workers?

Furthermore, there has NEVER been a period in history when sports was ever "pure." Athletes have always looked for whatever edge they needed to compete, and even if MLB does implement tougher testing, even if more and more performance enhancing drugs are banned, there's always some chemist out there ready with THE NEXT BIG THING.

[CanuckAmok]

9. As a Union member...

I have a pet peeve about anyone of these useless multimillionaires being lumped in with other, legitmate "organized workers". A professional sports players union is an affront and an insult to true Unionism.

[playahata1]

10. I suggest you read

A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME, by Marvin Miller.

What's the difference? A few extra zeroes? Do you have a problem with ACTORS AND ROCK/POP MUSICIANS making millions of dollars? What makes athletes different from these other entertainers?

[CanuckAmok]

17. I work with ACTORS (why the all-caps?)...

Yes, I do. Not on a fundamental, 'fair share' level, but It's insulting to listen to these guys bitch about those 'extra zeroes' when the rest of society can only dream of that kind of life.

I have no sympathy for any of them.

Fuck 'em...fire them all.

[playahata1]

18. Calm down, buddy.

I use all caps to indicate book titles.

Damn, people get so touchy these days.

[WilliamPitt]

19. 'ACTORS AND ROCK/POP MUSICIANS'

is a book title?

[SarahB]

12. Human Growth Hormone abuse is also a big problem

And there's no test for it if I'm not mistaken. But it's not technically a steroid I believe in the same league with the testosterone and androgens or the herbalish concoctions that are similar. It is, though an additional substance being added to alter performance.

(Ahhhh! I'm posting on a baseball thread!)

[HEyHEY]

13. Steriods? Do you want home runs or not?

;-)

[NNadir]

15. I used to be a big baseball fan, but today I couldn't care less.

I was a Met fan, way back to the days of washed up Duke Snider and Washed Up Willy Mays, through the Seaver Era, through the brash 86 champions, and of course, through many losing seasons. T

Then came the Valentine years, Valentine being a big Bushie. I haven't bothered even to read the scores since. The Steroid crap, the strikes, the distorted salaries and all that other stuff.

Actually I'm disgusted with sports in general. The low point, of course, when disgusting pigs like Limbaugh and Miller were pawned off as "Sports commentators."

Screw professional sports. I'd rather ride my bicycle.

[Character Assassin]

16. I have the great misfortune to actually know the man: a class A asshole

And blatantly sexist, to boot. He owns the Gold's Gym I train at, and we've had numerous run-ins. Don't even get me started on his brother.

He clearly cannot understand how foolish it is to compare this subject with the legality of not paying taxes.

[playahata1]

20. You know Reggie?

I used to be a huge fan of his, growing up. But now there is something about him that rubs me the wrong way. For one, his association with the Yankees. He thinks that Steinbrenner is going to give him a top front office gig, but in reality he is only a paid flunky, a waterboy, if you will. You have to consider the way George treated him in his last season as a player with the Yankees.

[playahata1]

21. Reggie and sexism

Reggie's attitude toward women probably stems from the fact that his mother had abandoned him at an early age. (When she left, she lined up all the children, and picked the ones she would take with her. She left Reggie with his father.) That affected him: a failed marriage, many failed relationships, period.

[Character Assassin]

23. I have no idea what it stems from, but whatever it is, he's never faced it

[amazona]

22. don't know what to think

Steroids do increase performance and muscle mass. A lot. There is no getting around it. I have never been completely clear on why it should be illegal to use a product to enhance your size/performance as long as you're clear on the risks. That said, I don't take steroids but if I was in a competitive situation, hmm, I don't necessarily know what I would have done. I don't know very much about baseball, but my instinct suggests, yeah, these sudden improvements in performance must be due to technology, since human bodies are the same as they ever were -- and steroids are a proven technology.

I guess what I'm saying is, I've never fully understood why athletes should not be allowed to use whatever drugs they like to achieve the level of performance they're aiming for. A lot of people can never reach beyond a certain level of strength, mass, and power without steroids.