December 14, 2007
Baseball has trouble accepting the obvious
The baseball scandal in the US is an extraordinary story of an entire sport seemingly getting caught up in illegal drug-taking. Watching the press conferences given by George Mitchell, who conducted the inquiry into Major League Baseball, and others on Thursday I was most struck by the dog-in-the-manger attitude of Don Fehr, the head of the players’ association.
Mr Fehr spent most of his opening statement complaining about Mr Mitchell and the way that the inquiry had been conducted rather than apologising for the conduct of his members. True, it is only alleged conduct in the particular cases of the 89 players named in Mr Mitchell’s report. But Mr Fehr cannot seriously dispute that baseball has a big problem and that at least some of his members are part of it.
Here is the FT’s editorial on the subject.
The lure of big money and the opportunity to extend one’s time in the spotlight is too much for many athletes to resist. The star wants to shine on into middle-age and the middling player wants to elevate his game to earn a spot on the roster and the payroll. Young players dope to “level the playing field” as they aspire to make the cut. few are the pure at heart who seek to find their personal best and to let that stand the test of commpetition and time. the true athlete’s edge comes from training harder and smarter than the other guy; combining the physical gifts of nature with determination and focus. It is this and not chemicals that allows athletes to explore the limits of personal and human achievement. That is the beauty of sports and human achievement of all kinds. But human frailties and limitations open the door to cheating. The journey from hero to has-been passes in a flash. It may be too much to ask the gladiator on the field to think beyond winning and losing. It is the agents and union presidents, managers, executives and owners and the commissioner’s collective reponsibility to care more about the game than self interests and to protect the integrity of the game against cheaters who disgust fans and cheapen the achievements of true athletes. Perhaps it is the boys in the suites rather than the boys in uniform who have dropped the ball. A strong commissioner not encumbered with the conflict of ownership is probably the best hope for baseball.
Posted by: bob moore | December 26th, 2007 at 1:03 am | Report this comment