By
Scary Barry Rodriguez
July 6, 2013
On Monday July 5, 2013 , Major League Baseball's commissioner Bud Selig announced the suspensions of 13 players connected to the Biogenesis clinic scandal. The big fish in the story was Alex Rodriguez , of the New York Yankees , who received a 211 game suspension. Like Barry Bonds , Rodriguez has been the main target of the MLB drug police.
All the media pundits , righteous players and fans of sport's purity are happy to see Alex Rodriguez brought down. Little matters like " due process " and " confidentiality " are the last thing that any of these folks consider when it comes down to the overpaid jockstars ! In today's America " Big Brother can eventually get around to all those hypocrites who talk about their own rights yet don't mind the abuse of the rights of others.
I realize that my position is not a popular one given the disgust of the public over the egotistical antics of Alex Rodriguez. Professional sports are a form of entertainment. It seems to me that Bud Selig and Major League Baseball has committed itself to a reckless legal course in regards to player's rights and one that will jeopardize the survival of the cash cow that professional baseball is !
Michael Weiner , the executive director of the Major League Baseball Player's Association made a statement in response to Monday's suspension announcement. He cautioned Major League Baseball that while all the parties are in agreement over the goals of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program , it requires " one that guarantees each player due process rights accompanied by strict confidentiality provisions ".
Mr. Weiner also stated in regards to the Alex Rodriguez appeal , " We believe that the Commissioner has not acted appropriately under the Basic Agreement ". In the rush to judgement many have ignored the fact that " strict confidentiality " has not been the case ! The leaks , the rumors , what about the player's rights. Performance enhancing drug use is the exception ! That is the rationale !
One has only to look at the much hyped NFL " Bounty Gate " scandal of two years ago. Between 22 to 27 players of the New Orleans Saints were accused of intentionally trying to injure players on other teams for money. CNN, grandstanding politicians and everyone weighed in on this out of proportion to the reality of the facts.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed down severe punishment to the coaches of the New Orleans Saints but ran into big problems with the named players. The whole matter dragged everyone through the mud and all the smoke produced little fire ! On December 11, 2012 , former NFL commissioner heard all the player's appeals and promptly vacated all their suspensions. The NFL's fall back position after this embarrassment was that the coaches were the only ones responsible !
Sooner or later the " drug police " mentality of Major League Baseball and all the other sports will destroy what they hoping to preserve ! The witch hunt for PED use has reduced sports to a snitch and media hype culture. The efforts to make bad guys out of top players like Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds conveniently bypasses the real culprits , Major League Baseball and the team owners. They can't have it both ways ! Make money or be the moral guardians of ticket buying fans !
All the media pundits , righteous players and fans of sport's purity are happy to see Alex Rodriguez brought down. Little matters like " due process " and " confidentiality " are the last thing that any of these folks consider when it comes down to the overpaid jockstars ! In today's America " Big Brother can eventually get around to all those hypocrites who talk about their own rights yet don't mind the abuse of the rights of others.
I realize that my position is not a popular one given the disgust of the public over the egotistical antics of Alex Rodriguez. Professional sports are a form of entertainment. It seems to me that Bud Selig and Major League Baseball has committed itself to a reckless legal course in regards to player's rights and one that will jeopardize the survival of the cash cow that professional baseball is !
Michael Weiner , the executive director of the Major League Baseball Player's Association made a statement in response to Monday's suspension announcement. He cautioned Major League Baseball that while all the parties are in agreement over the goals of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program , it requires " one that guarantees each player due process rights accompanied by strict confidentiality provisions ".
Mr. Weiner also stated in regards to the Alex Rodriguez appeal , " We believe that the Commissioner has not acted appropriately under the Basic Agreement ". In the rush to judgement many have ignored the fact that " strict confidentiality " has not been the case ! The leaks , the rumors , what about the player's rights. Performance enhancing drug use is the exception ! That is the rationale !
One has only to look at the much hyped NFL " Bounty Gate " scandal of two years ago. Between 22 to 27 players of the New Orleans Saints were accused of intentionally trying to injure players on other teams for money. CNN, grandstanding politicians and everyone weighed in on this out of proportion to the reality of the facts.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed down severe punishment to the coaches of the New Orleans Saints but ran into big problems with the named players. The whole matter dragged everyone through the mud and all the smoke produced little fire ! On December 11, 2012 , former NFL commissioner heard all the player's appeals and promptly vacated all their suspensions. The NFL's fall back position after this embarrassment was that the coaches were the only ones responsible !
Sooner or later the " drug police " mentality of Major League Baseball and all the other sports will destroy what they hoping to preserve ! The witch hunt for PED use has reduced sports to a snitch and media hype culture. The efforts to make bad guys out of top players like Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds conveniently bypasses the real culprits , Major League Baseball and the team owners. They can't have it both ways ! Make money or be the moral guardians of ticket buying fans !
No comments:
Post a Comment