Bad sports, good sports: Manny being Manny being a cheater

Posted on May 11th, 2009 by Alan Spoll

The big news of the week was Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. The drug he was reportedly taking was HCG, which is a female fertility drug. Yes, you read that correctly. The drug itself is not a performance enhancer, but one that helps the body recover some things that are often lost when taking steroids.

There has been a lot of talk over the last few years about cracking down on performance enhancing drugs, particularly in baseball, where the pratice was seen to be very widespread. A number of players have been suspended over the last few years. And yet this year, we are seeing reports of some very high profile players running afoul of this rule, not to mention the law. Are the penalties not severe enough? First time offenders get 50 games. I am thinking that a whole year might be more like it. Second positive test should be a lifetime ban. Someone like Manny Ramirez probably looks at 50 games like a nice vacation. Yes, he’ll lose 8 million dollars during his hiatus. So he’ll only make 17 million this year. I think he’ll still feed his family. Baseball expresses that they want to rid the sport of cheating and drugs. Let’s see some penalties that demand that the players pay attention.

Bad sports, continued:
2) Think baseball is the only one with a problem? Jeremy Mayfield failed a drug test, and has been suspended indefinitely. Let’s see if NASCAR can make the penalty count.

3) Seriously, Brett Favre…go away. I just can’t take it anymore. But apparently the Minnesota Vikings can.

Good sports:
1) Baseball phenom Stephen Strasburg, a college pitcher, threw a no-hitter with seventeen strikeouts. He is almost certain to be the first pick in the upcoming amateur draft. This story could soon move to the Bad Sports side, as Scott Boras is the kid’s agent.

2) Former Penn Quakers and Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly died this week at age 78. He was a great coach, and, by all accounts, a good man.

3) Making the most of his recent acquittal of charges of tax evasion, Helio Catsroneves returned to the track in a big way, taking the pole for the upcoming Indy 500.

Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday

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Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02