I used to be a lot more active on Craig’s threads. Now I typically lurk in the shadows, mostly because my office fire-walled all internet forums. But I digress!

I used to think that Craig actually believed what he wrote. He was relatively “early” in terms of being on the unpopular side of the steroid debate. He’s argued that known steroid users should be in the Hall of Fame. He’s argued that “everyone” did it, so therefore no one should be punished. He’s argued that there’s no proof that PEDs actually enhance performance. He’s vigorously defended some of the most disliked athletes on the planet. He’s argued against the HOF voting process because it has (recently) kept steroid users out and has chastised his fellow sportswriters for (essentially) doing their jobs.

I am ok with the fact that we are on almost completely opposite sides of the issue. However, I’m not ok with him calling out other sportswriters for doing their jobs. If guys didn’t have articles written (immediately) following this news break, they literally would be out of their jobs!

Athletes are public figures that are paid a ton of money. Like other public figures (politicians, CEOs, celebrities), they are under a microscope. Everything they do is analyzed, discussed, applauded and/or criticized. Their livelihoods are largely determined by their popularity. No one should feel sorry for them because they are held to a “higher standard” or because their lives are treated like soap operas. That’s the “cost” of money, power and fame. If they don’t like it, they can always retire and get a “real job”.

Craig, the job of a sportswriter is to get “hits” and sell advertisements. I know you’re not unfamiliar with this concept. Sportswriters will say or do anything to get ratings. They’ll dramatize a story to make it more interesting. They’ll create heroes and villians, because complex characters take longer than 800 words to develop! They’ll do whatever it takes because if they don’t meet their ratings quota, they’ll get fired. If you think there’s something wrong with that, please look in the mirror. I’ve long suspected that your prolonged and consistent support for steroid users (on multiple fronts) has something to do with that, especially when you argued about there being no link between PEDs and performance. Hell, I can’t even write that without LOLing!

“Life’s like a movie, write your own ending, keep believing, keep pretending…”

Both sides need to be willing to accept the fact they don’t have a 100 perfect monopoly on the right way to feel about steroid use.

I can’t really find any purchase on a stance against fairness.

I also think that, with respect to Braun, there is his positive test from last year, and a lot of people think he weaseled his way out of punishment. So here is a guy who had a positive test and now appears on a list of players who were in contact with a guy connected with distributing PEDs. If I were a reporter, I’d write a story on that.

Ryan Braun isn’t going to go to jail here. It’s highly unlikely that MLB would try to suspend him. If he did, the union would have his back, as it should. He isn’t going to get dropped by the Brewers. He is going to make millions in salary. He will likely lose money in endorsements, but his connection with Biogenesis is as much the cause of that (or more) than the press. He’s not going to court, so the standard of proof isn’t the same.

Well, except Snookums.

The press can make its conclusions, as long as they aren’t made maliciously or with reckless disregard for the truth.

I don’t think anyone here is complaining that the press shouldn’t draw conclusions. I think, at least me personally, they should weigh the evidence at hand before drawing conclusions. As I mentioned on another post, the entirety of the evidence in this case that’s been released has been handwritten documents of player’s names with incorrect dates on them. That’s it.

There’s no package of needles with DNA on them. There’s no record of financial transactions from a bank. There’s no detailed outlook calendar with a doping schedule. A failed drug test is great evidence that a person doped. The authorities arresting a mailman with a box of HGH is great evidence that a person is doping. Handwritten notes that are contradicted by the doctor himself isn’t great evidence.

Yet that hasn’t stopped both the press and many commentors from becoming judge, jury, and executioner for these players.