What's Going On?

So the other day I was watching SportsCenter which usually puts me in a euphoric state, but this time was different. They were doing a story about Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania wanting to investigate the NFL, the Patriots, and Bill Belichick over the way the NFL handled “Spygate”. I actually had to change the channel, apparently Sen. Specter feels left out from all the baseball and Roger Clemens hearings. But I do feel safe and secure knowing that since the Senate has fixed all of Americas other problems - war in Iraq, terrorism, social security, etc. – they can focus on the really important issues like which All-Star baseball players actually used steroids and when. Shouldn’t investigations into illegal drug use be done by actual law enforcement and not by a group of people who want more face time on television for when re-election time comes around?

Really, that’s what our elected officials find more important than bringing our troops home? Who cares if professional athletes use steroids or illegal drugs? I know some people will say “but athletes are role models to our children”. Great, so if professional athletes were drug using, murderous, rapist, racists our children would all turn out that way as well? Do our elected officials and some parents think these role models are raising the children of America? At what point do the parents take responsibility for their children not being able to say no to drugs? When did it become ok for parents to stop raising their children and then blame role models for their children’s mistakes?

While I’m at it, why does it matter if professional athletes use illegal drugs? How is an athlete using performance enhancing drugs different from a politician accepting bribe money? Both cases give each person an advantage whether it is physical or monetary, and both cases have the potential to ruin careers and lives. Not all politicians accept bribes just like not all athletes use performance enhancing drugs, but some do so why isn’t there an investigation into politicians taking bribes? So again I ask why does it matter if professional athletes use illegal drugs? I do not condone the use nor am I proud that I am part of the problem. We all are part of the problem, if you have ever watched a baseball game and either hoped for a homerun or cheered your head off for a homerun you are part of the problem. We as fans love the long ball so owners go after homerun hitters so some players do what they can to hit the ball further to get the big money contract. Baseball was never more popular in my lifetime than during the homerun race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, or even during the Chase for Hank Aaron by Barry Bonds. No, homeruns will never go away from baseball (thank God) but as fans we can start appreciating the small ball aspect of baseball, the sacrifice bunt, sac fly, stealing bases and the like. Unfortunately that is not the fix that is just to add to our enjoyment as fans, to fix the steroid problem in sports there does need to be investigations, just not by congresspersons and senators. Let’s leave their time free to bring our troops home safely and timely, ensure social security for future generations, and dare I say balance the national budget while bolstering the economy and growth of our great nation.