Well chit! MY OPINION.........
I like baseball.
I liked to play it when I could and coached it when I couldn't. I still like to watch it and I like to see hitters hit it out of the park.
Are they "cheating" by using these drugs? Maybe so, but who REALLY cares? Not me anymore. They get caught, they pay the price.
There's all this self righteous indignation about these guys being "role models" for our kids.
WTF.....seen the video games your kids and grandkids are playing? See what educated politicians are doing to the country? Can you understand the language that, supposedly educated, NBA basketball players are speaking? Listen to modern rap music? Watch some of the "modern" arena fighting matches?
There just ain't that many good, clean, wholesome people, in the public eye, anywhere anymore.
I could go on and on, but the bottom line here is, just exactly why is Major League Baseball supposed too be the only bastion of "role models" for our kids?
You want role models for your kids? Take them hunting and fishing with you and your friends who you respect.
Take on the role model mantle on your own and try to teach them to understand and respect "right" and to recognize "wrong" when they see it. Use baseball as an example if you choose, but I think it is unfair to saddle it with the entire responsibility.
I will miss "Manny being Manny". I miss Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmero.
But that's just me....."Nickman being Nickman", if you will.