>>Baseball is of little interest to many here. Please feel free to skip on to the next message.
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>>I am really upset about the current steroids scandal. It has taken down many of baseball's biggest stars, including the guy who was my favorite player, Ryan Braun. Sure, these are people we don't even know other than vicariously. It still stings. The best word I can think of is betrayal. I really liked and admired the guy. It wasn't just that he could hit a baseball. And I wasn't alone. The past few years I have spent a lot of time in Wisconsin and it seemed like he was the spokesman on half the ads on Brewers telecasts. My ex-GF gave me a Ryan Braun jersey for father's day. According to the news lots of Brewers fans feel the same way and so do some of his teammates.
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>>A-Rod is less complicated for me. Unlike Braun, he was widely disliked before his ban. And he's still fighting it. Throw away the key.
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>>I have discussed this off to the side with my fellow baseball phanatic, Tamar. She feels the same way. She said there should be a clause in the standard player contract saying the contract can be voided if the player is found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs. Right now the worst that can happen if you get caught is a 50 game suspension without pay. (Braun and A-Rod are the only two who have gotten more). To a guy who makes millions of dollars a year on a long term contract that is like a speeding ticket. Baseball needs to clean up the game for real.
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>>As sports fans we are a forgiving group. After every player strike or owner lockout we always say we won't be back, and then we are. There is beauty in the game itself. But this feels different.
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>Mike
>Professional athletes, with few exceptions, come through the college system which has been corrupt since TV came on the college football and basketball scene.
>TV winks an eye till things explode. One look at the track stars who were caught doping would have told you in a minute that something was up. Each one of them, male and female, had muscles where most people don't.
>Anyone whose eyes were open could see that Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds were on something.
>Take a look at Serena Williams and Lebron James and tell me that they just happen to be in good shape.
>Serena could be an NFL tight end.
>As much as I love his game, I'm convinced that Tiger started something in golf and now the young guys are all hitting the ball out of sight.
>They say it's the equipment. Baloney. I play with outstanding young guys who use the new equipment and no one hits are far as those guys on the tour.
>Tiger looks like an NFL defensive back and so do a lot of the other guys.
>When there's that kind of money on the line, if it looks smelly, it usually is.

I don't think LeBron is a steroid user. I think he is a freak of nature. The NBA was tuned into him from when he was in high school. A guy who can run the court like a track star and overpower you with his strength as the need requires, he has had that all along. He's not like a Brady Anderson who suddenly hits 40 homers.