Is baseball's popularity hurt or helped by the steroid scandal?
551724
Steriods hurt baseball even before it became known. McGwire chasing the records rekindled interest. McGwire, Sosa and twenty others chasing the records just cheapened the records and made for longer games. Today's softball scores mean long games are assured. Modern society doesn't have that kind of time or interest. Most famlies are duel income families. People work long hours today and often face long commutes. So they work 8-10 hours then drive another 1-2 hours then get home and go to a ballpark for 4 hours and then drive home for as much as another hour. It's just too long. \n\nSince the scandal came out now there's a big contraversy about whether the records count. Whether players belong in the hall of fame. In my opinion known steroid users should be banned from the hall. Not for life. Might be one day in the future safe steriods are found and the records are re-instituted. Right now I think it'll be a slap in the face to all of those in the Hall for Bonds, McGwire, Sosa or Palmiero to get into the Hall. \n\nIt has also made baseball look really bad as most other sports have long ago tested for steroids. Ever since some ex pro football players started dropping from cancer likely related to steroid use. Baseball is way behind the times on this and the current steroid testing program is a joke. Steroid usage continues and the players association is trying to limit testing which is to the detriment of all MLB interests.
913958
No every generation has gone through this. Baseball is not the same as it was when you or I were kids, nor was that game the same as our parents, but on the basic level of the game it is the same the rosters have been set at 22-25 men since the early 1900s, the mound has been 60 ft 6 inches away from home plate since the early 1900s, basepaths 90 ft from base to base, the changes that have come about the DH, free agency, and unions have been talked about since the early 1900s. One of the biggest changes the BIGGEST in terms of how the game was played is on its way out, artificial turf. About 3-5 teams now have artificial turf, Minnesota, Toronto, Florida maybe or Tampa Bay any way from the early 70s to the 90s turf played a bigger role in baseball than anything it added speed, to both the offense and defense, made the stolen base much more of a threat, in the mid 70s almost every team had guys stealing 30-40 or more bases a year and these were succesful teams look at how the Royals of the 1970s were built and the success they had as a team, Amos Otis, Frank White, Willie Wilson later on even George Brett had some decent base stealing numbers. Just take a look at those teams from the 1970s. Anyway the 70s also had the beginning of free agency and people thought that would destroy baseball, baseball has lumbered on. In the 40s-50s and into the sixties people thought integration was going to destroy baseball, in the 40s it eas the war, before that the depression, and before that the White Sox scandal and many smaller and sometimes bigger scandal we never hear of involving gambling. So in closing  baseball is changing and staying the same it is bigger than the players although very few of them realize that, it will keep on making us happy and sad at the same time, it will keep us entertained and p i s s us off, it will destroy some players lifes by offering too much temptation (ie Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Joe Jackson) and a lot of the players will rise above the fray and and tantalize us with feats of grace, power, and humility.
1018935
When the book first came out, I bought it out of morbid curiosity. As you are reading it, you come away with the sense that Canseco is full of himself, acting as this "Steroid Messiah", and stating that all performance enhancing drugs are the way of the future and, if used in moderation, is the wonder drug of the new Millennium. In retrospect, as more and more dirt is getting exposed, while Canseco is a jerk, etc., he was actually on the pulse of the hgh/steroid issue long before anyone was aware of the problem. When the book first came out, I don't think anyone believed him and his statements about the seriousness of the problem. Now it looks like he was only scratching the surface. While his "outing" of his teammates may be looked down upon as backstabbing, in the long run, I feel it will help the game get back to being on a level playing field for all players. Sad that it took this scandal and book, but the end will justify the means I feel.
301796
Yes. The way baseball is now teams that can spend a lot of money, and do it wisely, stand a much better chance of being competitive. I expect that both teams will be in the playoffs this year and I'd give it a 1 in 4 chance that there will be one this year.
839934
Do you care about baseball?
597049
Many people do. That is why the reaction to his tying Babe Ruth has been so low key. When Hank Aarons was chasing Ruth in the early 1970s people were really excited. Many people think that he would not be there if it wasn't for steroids, although steroids don't help you win Golden Glove awards. Perhaps he should have an asterisk besides his name as happened with Roger Maris in the home run in a year record. It would be more appropriate for this record. Apparently, investigators are currently looking as to whether Bonds committed perjury in a 2003 trial. In general, Bonds isn't well liked and is under a taint. A recent book called "Game of Shadows" claims Bond starting using steroids in 1998.
413783
Why should I feel sorry for him?  He's the one associating with known steroid users.  If he wants the media to leave him alone, then he should retire.  I'm sick of him whining.  I couldn't imagine how much baseball ratings would decline if he broke the record.
227073
It's very possible that ALL pro sports are "fixed", but highly unlikely.  There is just too much media scrutiny and someone always talks, just look at the steroids thing in baseball.
408514
Make a decision about the steroids policy, it's really taken over the game the last 18 months. I would say:\n\nSteroids were taken by many players with many records.  There is no way to know who did and didn't use them in the past and even if we know for sure it's not fair to punish the people who admitted to it or got ratted out when there are plenty of people who didn't get caught.  There is a long line of cheating in baseball from stealing signs, to the spitball to "energy" pills.  We now have a policy in place to test for both steroids and "energy" pills.  I don't see any benefit in investigating any past steroid or in putting an asterisk next to any records.  It will be up to the HOF voting members to decide if any specific player meets the standards of the Hall of Fame.
586358
I hold Mark McGwire just as responsible for the downfall of integrity in baseball as I do Mr Bonds.  If I had my way there would be asterisks next to all their numbers.  I think there will be.  \n\nTo answer your question, Mr Bonds is still playing, therefore he is getting the brunt of the attention.  By the way it looks as though Mr Bonds is having all kinds of trouble with negative attention...I wonder why?
630023
--- First of all, I'm sick of people accusing ALL players of using steroids if they're doing well in baseball. Some people just have natural talent! To whoever is rolling their eyes at this, has Pujols ever failed a drug test? Giambi? Bonds? A-Rod? Sheffield? Whether you remember or not, people HAVE failed drug tests. As far as the baseball world is concerned, they're clean.\n--- Secondly, the sport needs a player like Pujols. With all the steroid allegation surrounding baseball, a clean home run hitter is just what we need to peek fans' interest in the game again, just as McGwire and Sosa's chase of the home run record after the lockout. Let's face it, fans like offense.\n--- FInally, anyone who calls someone a cheater just because they're good at what they do is jealous of their ability. That's all there is to this steroids issue.
722937
probably becuase when they first played it one hundered or so years ago, the only pro teams in the "world"...were teams from the US\nbut it could be as one 'idiot' referred to as our collective ego....but then i wouldn't know about that....i just love baseball...
573885
the whitesox scandal put a black mark against all of baseball. gambling back then, like today is a no-no. when the newspapers got a hold of the news of the world series fix, a smart editor changed the word whitesox to show everyone that the team cheated and hurt baseball, hence Blacksox Scandal.  Hope this helps.
480495
Sadly I would have to agree with you and say that everyone was turning a blind eye to the steroid problem.  The strike of 1994/1995 struck a serious blow to the game that really it has not recovered from.  I hope the independant investigator takes a long look at Selig.
692717
Baseball is a little more laid back.  There's such long periods of inactivity, it's hard to stay riled up.  \n\nGo to a game when it's crunch time, and the outcome of the game really matters.  You'll see a lot more hootin' and hollerin'.
324254
I would say very few, as baseball uses its farm system for developing players, not colleges (unlike football and basketball).  Of course, even football and basketball pros usually don't have degrees, but I'd say even fewer baseball players do.
476228
You can't strip stats from the books because it will create continuity problems and holes in the way we look at accomplishments.   Stats are the major way we record baseball history.. The problem with steroids and other devices used to create an advantage over your opponent, it makes the honorable player suspect. Everyone who is good must be cheating.  Baseball should follow the I.O.C.'s logic and penalize for perception not proving beyond a shadow of a doubt.  Sports are not the legal system and need to show that they are beyond reproach and cheating.  It should fall to the individual player to know what medication he/she is taking and realize that it is their career and reputation at stake every time they use something on themselves internally or externally.