I’ve come to a conclusion over the course of the past 67 days. If you’re wondering why my conclusion occurred in such a random time period, which you surely are, it’s because 67 days encompasses the time frame in which Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for using an illegal substance until now.
And that conclusion is … drum roll, please: Most sports fans, particularly in baseball, don’t give a hoot about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Baseball analysts give a hoot because it’s their job to talk about sports, and they need all the material they can get.
Old-timers, who see the records they set in the 1950s go down in flames with each passing MLB season, certainly give two hoots.
But the fans of these players who use PEDs don’t mind it at all, especially if their team is winning.
Now, fans like to act like they care, because the politically correct opinion is that PEDs ruin the integrity of baseball.
That would be true if it weren’t believed that more than half of the players in the MLB engage in some sort of “steroidial activity.” I created that phrase myself.
Case in point: Ramirez. Man-dog. No PED user has ever been more glorified than Ramirez. People were never angry at him, especially not Dodgers fans.
They are too busy attempting to contain their exuberance over the fact that the Dodgers have the best record in all of baseball.
Never was it, “I can’t believe Manny would do that!” It was more like, “I can’t wait until Manny gets back! We miss Mannywood!”
In addition, Ramirez is doing his best to disprove the idea that the use of PEDs has made him the slugger that he is. In the nine games since Ramirez has been back, he has already hit three home runs, one in each of three series against the Padres, Mets and Brewers. Maybe PEDs don’t matter that much after all.
Another example of forgiveness was in 2006, when San Diego Chargers superstar linebacker Shawne Merriman was suspended four games for his use of PEDs. What happened? He apologized, accepted the blame, and then went out and recorded 17 sacks in only 12 games to lead the NFL in sacks for the season. To put it shortly, fans forgot about his earlier misconduct.
The point is, fans want to win and win by any means necessary. Tell me Lakers fans weren’t a slight bit happy when Paul Pierce appeared to have injured his knee in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals? It sounds bad, but it’s absolutely true.
The steroids scandal in sports isn’t about steroids. It’s about winning. It’s about records and accomplishments.
If Barry Bonds wasn’t the all-time home run king, would people really care if he were a steroids user?
If Alex Rodriguez wasn’t the face of baseball who has won numerous MVPs over the years, would the public care if he used PEDs in 2003, which is six years ago? Absolutely not.
I bet no one cares that Juan Salas, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007, was suspended 50 games for using PEDs in 2007.
What about Yusaku Iriki, a former pitcher for the Mets who was suspended 50 games in 2006 for his use of illegal substances?
These guys were not essential assets to their teams; therefore, no one gave a hoot.
So now to the infamous hypothetical situation: What if there were a PED scandal at UCLA? What if our struggling football program rose to the top only to find that one of our best players was using PEDs? Would UCLA fans care?
Say UCLA beat ‘SC in football. Would fans really care how it happened? It’s my opinion that we would not. A UCLA fan’s hatred for USC greatly overshadows how much we care if a linebacker is tossing back pills. UCLA fans wouldn’t lose an ounce of sleep.
It’s the harsh reality of the sports world. Everyone claims that using PEDs shows no sign of character and ruins the integrity of sports, but the fact is, fans that disregard their favorite player’s use of PEDs lack character as well.
Why should players worry about the integrity of the sport when the fans do not? Fans boo louder if you go into a hitting slump as opposed to if you use steroids.
Sports fans need to shape up, because as long as we continue to layer the pressure on these athletes and maintain tremendous expectations for them, the more prone they are to cheat.
If you believe cheating is a big deal except when it comes to your team, e-mail Watson at bwatson@media.ucla.edu.