Bud Selig and Steroids

Bud Selig has been the Acting Commissioner/Commissioner of Major League Baseball since 1992, including the labor stoppage of 1994 that led to the cancellation of the World Series. After 2004 fans were slow to come back to baseball in many markets. Then something magical happened, balls started jumping out of the park, HR after HR after HR and fans couldn't get enough. In 1961 Roger Marris set a single season record with 61 HRs. Between 1961 and 1990 two players hit more than 50 HRs including no one in the 1980's. Then between 1995-2005 that feat was accomplished 19 times. Rogger Marris's 61 HRs was bested 6 times, lastly by Barry Bonds with 73 in 2001.

Only it wasn't magic. On January 20th 2004 George W Bush delivered his fourth State of the Union Address. Hidden in the War on Terror propaganda was a peculiar paragraph:

The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message - that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now.

I remember at the time it was written off by experts as George being George, not so strange considering he was the owner of the Texas Rangers from 89-98. In 2005 Jose Canseco wrote a shameless tell all novel about steroids in baseball, naming some of the biggest names including himself. I'm no historian but this is basically what got the ball rolling on steroids.

At first names like Roger Clemens and Barry bonds were shocking but they just kept pouring in. (Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmero, Andy Petite, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz) Baseball fans are now skeptical of every player. An entire generation of baseball is tainted. As well as it's most prized asset; it's record book.

Baseball and Bud Selig have vilified prominent players linked to steroids. In 2007 Barry Bonds led the league in on base percentage (.480) but he couldn't find a job in 2008. He even offered to play for free. Teams claimed he was a cancer in the clubhouse and not one team was willing to take a chance on him. But the truth is lesser players with larger problems get second and third chances all the time. This was league wide collusion. He and other players became scapegoats for the era when the problem seems lager than a few all stars.

Over 120 players have been at least loosely connected to performance enhancing drugs and the number is likely way higher than that. In 1995 Brady Anderson hit 16 HRs then followed it up with 50 HRs in 1996. Barry Bond's head grew six hat sizes. Everyone knew something was going on. George W. Bush (6 years removed from baseball) seemed to know but the Commissioner didn't?. It just seem unlikely to me. Either way, at this pay rate shouldn't you be somewhat accountable for the actions of your company.