The State of Baseball

I dont think that there is any doubt that baseball has been greatly effected in the last ten years by scandals and contrversies. Really if you expand this you will find that it probably covered the last 20 to 25 years of baseball. The biggest of all the issues is how steriods has changed the game. I know what you think I am going to write here but before you tune out because you have heard it all before let me tell you how steriods saved baseball. Thats right steriods saved baseball. It all goes back to the summer of 1994 and the worst thing that could happen to baseball (and I am not talking about Ace of Base or OJ's arrest). The strike. The strike of that year crippled baseball it took Americas national past time and disintegrated what nearly 90 years had created. We live in a society that easily for gets and it took only 9 or so months for the nation to forget about baseball. So when baseball returned in the 95 season in reality very few cared. This continued for the next three seasons until the magical year of 98. Three men captured Americas attention with the greatest home run race since Mantel-Marris. These three men McGuire, Sosa, and Bonds. Many forget that bonds hit 50+ plus that year and was in the thick of it until late in the year. McGuire was the feel good story of baseball the everyman from southern California playing in St Louis with the power swing. Sosa was the heart of Chicago the immigrant with charisma and energy that carried into his swing. Bonds was, well Bonds was Bonds and I may get into him at a latter date. The ensuing race that eventually resulted in McGuire clubbing the record rejuvenated baseball and saved the sport. Now every time we talk about steroids three names always come up McGuire, Sosa, and Bonds. That's if folks. Steroids saved the game that I love.