Another one bites the dust

It is not easy being a baseball fan these days. Every time it looks like the game is distancing itself from the steroids era, another controversy hits it right between the eyes.

The latest scandal was the suspension of Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez for 50 games because of a drug violation. Ramirez chose not to appeal the suspension and will not return to the team until early July.

He claimed this violation was a result of medication prescribed for him by his personal physician. The medication included contents that are banned by Major League Baseball's drug policy, and he failed to verify whether the contents were acceptable or not.

According to published reports, the drug he tested positive for was the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin.

A female fertility drug? This may seem like a wacky way to flunk a drug test, but some experts state the drug is used by steroid users because it can limit the side effects of stopping a drug cycle.

So, fans have to make up their own minds whether to believe Ramirez made a simple mistake or was trying to cover other possible drug usage.

The real shame is that Ramirez's achievements will never be looked at the same way again. With more than 500 career home runs, he is easily one of the best sluggers of the last 50 years.

Additionally, one of the reasons he is such a popular player is because he is so likeable. In an age where star players make tens of millions of dollars, there is a goofiness to his personality that shines through and people have responded to it.

True, he took a public relations' hit for the way he weaseled himself into a trade that sent him to Los Angeles from Boston. However, he seems to love L.A., and the feeling was mutual out there before this mess.

On the positive side, his suspension shows baseball is serious about cleaning up its drug problem. Ramirez is the first superstar to be hit with a 50-game suspension since baseball toughened its testing standards.

Until now, only some role players had received a suspension, and there was a concern baseball executives would be hesitant to drop the hammer on a big name. Skeptics can now drop their concerns.

Of course, this has happened while the media spotlight continues to shine on New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez admitted a few months ago that he used steroids while he was a member of the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez is clearly the best player in professional baseball. For years, it was believed he had never used the juice, and Major League Baseball placed a lot of its hopes on him to lead the sport out of the steroids era.

This will not happen now. Even if he breaks Barry Bonds' all-time home run record, his achievements will be belittled the way Bonds' statistics have been. Though he never was suspended for steroids use, Bonds has been accused and investigated for the last several years regarding possible usage.

Though Ramirez and Rodriguez have lost a lot because of their decisions, the real losers are the youth of America. Teenage athletes have grown up watching player after player get exposed for drug use.

The temptation for them is obvious. If the athletes they idolize are doing this to get a competitive edge, why shouldn't they do it? It is part of our human nature to believe we can get away with something even when others are caught.

Let's hope they won't make a mistake they will regret.

A different take on the Alex Rodriguez steroids scandal

I am an unapologetic professional baseball fan.

Despite the efforts of players to cheat the game by using steroids and greedy owners who are dumb enough to give average players bloated salaries, I still love the game.

When a person considers all the scandals the sport has gone through in the last two decades, it is amazing the game remains as popular as it is. Attendance remains high even though the sport has been passed by the National Football League as America's favorite pastime.

Of course, baseball recently received another body blow when New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez admitted that he used steroids from 2001-03.

Rodriguez's admission was an especially painful one for baseball's establishment. He was the one they hoped would lead the sport out of the steroid era.

Many of the game's important records that were set in recent years were by players allegedly linked to steroids. An obvious example of this was when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. In many ways, that record is baseball's most important achievement.

However, because of all the controversy surrounding Bonds, the celebration of his achievement was muted.

There are other examples. When Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both pursued the sport's single season home run record in 1998, there was initial jubilation, but that faded after both players were linked to possible steroid use.

These events, among others, stained baseball deeply. This is why Rodriguez's recent confession is so important.

Rodriguez is the game's best player. If he continues hitting home runs at the pace he is now, he will pass Bonds as baseball's home run king. Many viewed him as the person who could sweep the stain of steroids out of baseball's record book.

Until recently, he had not been associated with steroids in any way. However, a test he took earlier this decade was leaked to the media, and Rodriguez admitted that he used the juice while a player with the Texas Rangers.

He said he started taking it after signing his record busting $252 million contract with that team. He said he felt the pressure to perform at a high level every day.

Since then, it has been open season on Rodriguez. He has been criticized in every conceivable way, and the scrutiny intensified when the Yankees reported to spring training last week. I don't envy what he is going through.

Even though he has nobody but himself to blame, I feel a lot of compassion toward him.

This compassion is not based on the fact that he plays for the Yankees. I do not like the Yankees. If the earth where Yankee Stadium is located were to open up and swallow the huge ball park, I would be wearing a smile that reaches from ear to ear.

My compassion is that he made a big mistake and now he has to deal with it in the white-hot heat of the public stage.

Though none of us have probably used steroids, we have all made big mistakes that we hope will remain in our past. Because of that, we need to be grateful that we will not have to go through what Rodriguez will.

The New York media will hound every step he takes. When the season begins, he will play road games in cities all around the country. Can you imagine what the fans in Boston will say? My guess is it will be pretty rough going.

So, even if you don't like Rodriguez, be grateful you are not in his shoes.