[Ed Dantes]

Finally, can we just pose this question: Suppose a prominent and popular All-Star player on a two-time World Series champion were to get suspended for a quarter of a season because he got nabbed obtaining HGH. And suppose, at the same time, a coach on one of last year's World Series teams was also suspended for the same offense. How gigantic would the headlines be on every front page in America? How scathing would the columns be from all your favorite writers? Well, any time America is ready to kick up a similarly massive sense of outrage over the HGH suspensions of Rodney Harrison and Wade Wilson, we're ready to read every word of it.

- Jayson Stark

[Fumblerooskies]

EXACTLY...

[RubberMallet]

the difference for me is that the nfl has a better policy...or at least it had had a better policy for years...

in baseball, steroids is causing a problem with some records....thats the only reason its caused a ruckus in the first place....if barry wasn't chasing the record we'd of never payed this much attention to steroids....

no hallowed records are being broken in the nfl by suspected users....its just not that big of a deal....

[Schfourteenteen]

Also steroids were with the NFL before, when some of those records were being written (70's 80's). It is a part of the NFL.

[Fumblerooskies]

and NFL is "big brother." If a national outlet with an NFL contract came down on them...they'd get "Play-makered."

[LUconn]

it's true. any if anybody liked baseball, they could pull the same shenanigans.

[RubberMallet]

and NFL is "big brother." If a national outlet with an NFL contract came down on them...they'd get "Play-makered."

another GREAT point

[kel varson]

Finally, can we just pose this question: Suppose a prominent and popular All-Star player on a two-time World Series champion were to get suspended for a quarter of a season because he got nabbed obtaining HGH. And suppose, at the same time, a coach on one of last year's World Series teams was also suspended for the same offense. How gigantic would the headlines be on every front page in America? How scathing would the columns be from all your favorite writers? Well, any time America is ready to kick up a similarly massive sense of outrage over the HGH suspensions of Rodney Harrison and Wade Wilson, we're ready to read every word of it.

- Jayson Stark

Baseball records and statistics are "SACRED." No one cares about football statistics. End of Story.

[RagingTireFire]

I think the "outrage" at steroids in baseball vs. football comes more from the fact that, if you get caught taking steroids in football, something is actually going to happen to you. If baseball's steroid policy had any kind of teeth to it, the "outrage" would be far less.

[Fumblerooskies]

I think the "outrage" at steroids in baseball vs. football comes more from the fact that, if you get caught taking steroids in football, something is actually going to happen to you. If baseball's steroid policy had any kind of teeth to it, the "outrage" would be far less.

Yeah...miss 4 games...still make the Pro-Bowl...not much is said when the guy gets back on the roster. Yeah...real tough punishment, there.

[Fumblerooskies]

One more example of the hypocrisies...
...Nike football commercial that featured Shawn Merriman...anyone willing to bet they would drop a MLB guy at the first hint.

[thepostman]

football doesn't have guys lying while under oath...i think that just about put the nail in the coffin as far as baseball reputation goes...

there is a hypocrisy in a way...but baseball just doens't have the PR people the NFL has...plus everybody loves the NFL...but if people began lying while under oath it may change...it maybe not...

but that is the biggest difference of the two in my opinion

[Ed Dantes]

the difference for me is that the nfl has a better policy...or at least it had had a better policy for years...

in baseball, steroids is causing a problem with some records....thats the only reason its caused a ruckus in the first place....if barry wasn't chasing the record we'd of never payed this much attention to steroids....

no hallowed records are being broken in the nfl by suspected users....its just not that big of a deal....

Uhhh, so someone doping up before playing in the Super Bowl isn't that "hallowed"?

[Ed Dantes]

Also steroids were with the NFL before, when some of those records were being written (70's 80's). It is a part of the NFL.

Well, take gambling as an example.

Pete Rose gambles on games he doesn't play in. Receives lifetime ban.

Alex Karras & Paul Hornung gamble and have ties to organized crimes. One becomes the voice of football, the other gets inducted into the hall of fame.

Take race.

One has an explicit ban on african-americans playing the game, with one owner saying "we'll let negroes play when the harlem globetrotters let whites play".

The other one, while not much better, is the one castigated for having a racial problem.

(and if you really want to talk about hypocrisy, how about this one... Everyone complains about how light the MLB's steroids policy is. But in the NBA, you need to test positive for marijuana THREE TIMES before getting a five game suspension... and if you're caught a fourth time? another three game suspension.)

[Ed Dantes]

Take race.

One has an explicit ban on african-americans playing the game, with one owner saying "we'll let negroes play when the harlem globetrotters let whites play".

The other one, while not much better, is the one castigated for having a racial problem.

Before anyone goes there -- both leagues were despicable in their actions. I'm not saying baseball dealt with the issue better, but my point is football gets a better P.R. on the issue.

[Sly Fox]

Where is the pot stirring emoticon?

[Fumblerooskies]

Ed makes a great point. Again...I think the media is afraid of the NFL.

[Sly Fox]

The media is not afraid of the NFL. It just doesn't generate the traction with viewers/readers that merit continued coverage. The significance of numbers in baseball often supercedes championships in the minds of some baseball fans. Records generate not much more than shrugs in football. Its all about winning.

I made a comment about the Merryman being in that new Nike spot during the opening weekend and one of the guys working the broadcast with me told me to get off the guy's back. People know there is juicing in football (Anybody old enough to remember North Dallas Forty or Lyle Alzado?) they just don't care as much.

[Fumblerooskies]

Well then...and I will be a succinct as possible...the media needs to...

...GET OFF FREAKING BASEBALL'S BACK, TOO!!!

[Sly Fox]

Now that Bonds finally has the record, you can expect the media interest in HGH & 'roids to dwindle as well.

[LUconn]

I think I can sum up why people feel free to critisize baseball related things as much as they do




yes, there is a regular season game in progress in that photo.

[RubberMallet]

400 people...which is probably generous....

[Ed Dantes]

400 people...which is probably generous....

At an afternoon game in 100 degree heat that has gone 4+ hours between two pitiful teams, one of which has been told by the city "we're not going to help you" and the other had been told "yeah... but only if we get some nice kickbacks here".

Still, pitiful. And if it's the case that no one case about baseball, why is it front-page news when there's a scandal? I mean, I think there was something that happened in hockey last year, but darned if I can remember it because it wasn't drilled into everyone's skulls.

[whmatthews]

The best thing for the Marlins to do is leave Miami.

[WinthropEagleFan]

The best thing for the Marlins to do is leave Miami.

Or actually play in Miami, with a retractable roof...Nobody likes driving an hour to get out to where the stadium is, not even knowing if they are going to play (or get delayed) every day due to the almost daily rainstorms in that part of the state...