Baseball Penalties vs. Track

[gh]

Scott Ostler in this morning's SF Chronicle (keepin in mind that he's a humor writer even when he dabbles in serious subjects):

<<......Kelli White, first-time loser, forfeits four years of victories, loses the next two years of competition, including the Olympics, loses her income and is publicly disgraced.

<<Now, if any big-time baseball player gets similarly BALCOed, busted by hard evidence of steroid use, here is his Draconian punishment: zero fine, zero suspension, zero public disclosure, zero loss of sponsorship and endorsement omoneyh, adn a paid drug treatment program. Seriously. That's it.

<<However, if a manicure-pedicure package is offered at the player's chosen drug-treatment facility, he must pay that expense himself.....>>

[MJD]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

Apropos of nothing but is Bonds back playing yet? Don't know why gh's post made me think of that. Free associating I guess.

[gh]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

missed few games with a bad back. Went 2-for-3, got the game-winning RBI in last night's game.

[Hunter]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

It just goes to show the difference between track and baseball/football. Julius Peppers (NFL DE) tested positive for steroids a couple years ago, he got suspended 4 games!!! Baseball didnt even drug test until this year!!! These sports try to sweep steriods under the rug. In contrast track has stiff punishments for those that test positive and is very upfront and candid about the process. Yet track is the sport that gets the black eye and has a supposed drug problem!? My ass!!!
KK

[Husky Dude]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

Track is governed by the Taliban the real sports are governed by common sense. Sure, there should be drug penalties but they shouldn't be destroying the sport. How does that old line go? "The operation was a complete success! Unfortunately the patient died."

[WestCoastTrackFan]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

It is a bit too late to talk about destorying the sport ... what about all the athletes who have lost out on medals and their just rewards by the dopers ... think it through. You cannot compare track and baseball until baseball actually has a program

[Track fan]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

Being on drugs in track directly affects your performance, since the sport is pure physicality. Baseball your skills can override physicality. That's why the sanctions should be different.

[MJD]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

>Being on drugs in track directly affects your performance, since the sport is
>pure physicality. Baseball your skills can override physicality. That's why the
>sanctions should be different.

Patent nonsense. It gives you an edge. End of discussion. You are just saying not as much. You steal 1 million dollars, you steal 100,000 dollars-it's theft either way. In Canada, they start to distinguish serious fraud from not so serious fraud at $5000.

[Runninghorse]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

I agree that Track is controlled by those with a Taliban mentality. Track fans may be dumb enough to put asterisks and raised eyebrows on super performances, but quite frankly, other sports fans are more reasonable.

Track & Field further shoots itself in the foot by having created a situation where only the creme of the crop gets to make athletics their career. If you are as high as tenth best in the world in a given event, you barely make s____ while the top person collects millions. By contrast, the 200th best basketball, football or baseball athletes make VERY comfortable living.

IN OTHER WORDS:

This means being just an itsy bit better in this sport can mean the difference between living the life of your dreams or giving the landlord and other creditors another sob story.

[Hunter]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

While there is obviously a huge physical component to track and field, there is a tremendous amount of skill and technique required as well, particularly in the field events.

The complex movements used by pole-vaulters, shot-putters, hammer throwers, hurdlers, etc take years upon years to develop. Many people in the throwing community believe it takes 8 years to develop excellent technique in the hammer.
KK

[Friar]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

I don't think Sen.McCain is going to let MLB get away with this much longer. He is going to ask them to get around their CBA and invoke the"for the integrity of the game" clause.
There should be enough pressure on Selig to do it ,even though none of the owners want it.

[Realist]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

My favorite conspiracy theorists say that the reason steroids came up in the state of the union and taht the pursuit has continued is because Mr. Bush is acting on behalf of his old baseball owner buddies who are looking for a lever to bust the players union.

[Runninghorse]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

Yeah, imagine that. The cheatingest (p)resident in American history who invaded a defenseless country with history's biggest arsenal of WMD, an endeavor which has caused the lives of over 20,000 people and growing, complete loss of credibility for Americans in the world, yet he's "concerned" about cheating among athletes. Come to think of it, didn't Bush endorse Arnold for govenor? Arnold was very open about his use of steroids throughout his entire competition career AND his movie career.

[gh]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

OK boys, the political rants stop now, please.

[Asterix]

Re: Baseball Penalties vs. Track

> an endeavor which has caused the lives of over 20,000 people and growing,

That's what happens when you cut out sex ed and limit access to birth control!