Sports and a Pinch of Perspective
By: Turner Sports Desk
I tried to conjure up a surprise reaction to this story about A-Rod but baseball is just one big asterisk to me at this point. Barry Bonds and A-Rod with or without steroids were two of the best baseball players I've ever seen.
As much as some want to claim these drug use revelations represent the fall of civilization the fact remains that baseball is just a game. Now to put my point in proper perspective if both A-Rod and Bonds were police or politicians then outrage is warranted because they are public servants (paid by the public with an expectation of public trust and service). The fact is they are just athletes paid by our entertainment dollar and as much as we want to attach our moral expectations to our entertainment dollar we cannot.
Frankly I'm much more concerned about the doctor, judge, policeman, bus driver or teacher on drugs than I am the athlete. If you are a frequent flyer and prior to a flight you saw your pilot snorting cocaine wouldn't that jump to the top of your priority list? Suddenly A-Rod's issues seem to fade in the wind. I am not saying he should get a pass but I am asking for some perspective as it pertains to your everyday life.
Sports figures, politicians and hollywood stars have proven time and time again that they are just as flawed as everyone else. It is down right comical to me that some try to hold them to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. Sure, you would love to have your kid meet a guy like Michael Jordan or Jerry Rice and learn a few pointers about their respective sports but our stars are no better than us when it comes to life lessons.