It's About Time

Steroid use in Major League Baseball has been an ongoing issue for sometime now. It has always been known that several major league baseball players have used steroids to enhance their performance on the baseball field. Many players have also denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs. However, reports say something different. It never used to be illegal to take steroids until 2002, so players have gone unpunished. That is until recently.

The 2007 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees were announced last week. Mark McGwire was not voted in, and he was not even close to being voted in. McGwire is one of the players that reportedly took performance-enhancing drugs during his career. When he went in front of Congress a couple years ago to discuss steroid use in baseball, he avoided the question about his own use. His response was, “I am not here to talk about the past.” Well, voters made it loud and clear that McGwire does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame despite his 583 career home runs.
I agree with the voters. McGwire and every other player who took/takes steroids deserve to be punished. And in my opinion, not getting into the Hall of Fame is the worst kind of punishment. Voters are basically telling McGwire that all of his accomplishments do not mean anything if he cheated by taking performance-enhancing drugs.
I believe taking steroids is considered cheating, although many people will probably disagree with me. Let’s say McGwire never took steroids. Would he still have been as successful as a home run hitter? I am not saying he would have been less successful, but we will never know. It is sad to think that many players might have had very different careers if they did not take steroids. Unfortunately, we will never know how talented these players really are.

I also believe that these players set a bad example. They are telling people that it is ok to take steroids in order to be stronger and more successful in a sport.
The voters last week sent out a very loud message. I think it is a great message. Their message also tells me that it is unlikely McGwire will ever be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Disgraced player Barry Bonds does not have much chance either after he retires.

I hope this also can be a lesson to some players that the fans do not and will not forget.

After all these years, it looks like steroid use/cheating has finally caught up to these professional athletes. These players have been getting away with steroid use way too long and now the punishment is coming. All I can say is: It’s about time.