FanNation - The Republic of Sport

My count of names on the infamous Mitchell Report was eighty six. Eighty Six players that were alleged to have taken some form of Steroids or Performance Enhancing Drugs, called out by name after a series of interviews and investigations. The dates ranged from early ninetys, the earliest I saw was 1994,  up until 2005. For a period of eleven plus years all records and and player stats have been tainted to the point of no repair in the eyes of Baseball fans. I doubt we will see any asterisks in the record books unless it is just one big section called the PED era but everyone that lived through this era will know and countless books and articles will be written in the future as well. The fall out from this will last longer than a nuclear blast aftermath in the sports community.

American sports fans are not forgiving as well. Many Baseball fans can not remember who played for what team, even their favorite team, in any given year but  they all remember those historical "Cheaters" and Bad Boys of Baseball. From the much debated "Black Sox Scandal" and Shoeless Joe and down through the ages to Pete Rose, Baseball has seen its share of heroes fall from their pedestal on high.

Fixing games, gambling or using drugs; who is  to say which is the worse? I am not going to, I have my opinion but I will not attempt to sway your opinion on which is the worse. I will only attempt to remind every one about something that is or once was great about our country and the system in which we live.

I have lived a life of truly believing in our way of life and the judicial system that governs each American. "Innocent until proven Guilty" is a right that every American reading this demands; not wants or wishes but Demands. All of the readers and writers of sports blogs, post, comments or Throw Downs would be among the first to cry out for his/her legal rights and ask for a change of venue if they thought that he/she could not get a fair trial because everyone thought they were guilty of an accused crime. Does not matter the circumstances, he/she would be screaming all the way to the Supreme Court if he/she were fired from their job without prove of the crime or without being found guilty by a court of their peers.

During the time period listed on the Mitchell report the amount of names represent less than 5% of the total number of players that played. So why are we accusing every player during this time frame? Why are we doubting the honesty of the 95%? I have a suggestion, "If you truly believe that all the records are tainted and that MLB somehow cheated you out of something; then quit watching. Stay away. Go fishing. Take up Golf. Learn to Sew. Read a book. Play Checkers. Take up Yoga. OR....just believe."