Matt Griffin
Sports Editor
Like many, I enjoy watching ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” as well as reading up on my hometown San Diego Padres in any newspaper or online source. What I can’t help is seeing the constant attention that the media is putting on Giants leftfielder Barry Bonds. Now, I am not any super genius in the baseball world but I do remember when Bonds used to be known as one of the best hitters in baseball.
Baseball has taken a step backward due to the steroid scandals that have risen in these past years. Now I am not saying that baseball players are corrupt, but we all know that few feel they need to cheat to gain success.
It has also been shown through the media that if some of the older players such as Roger Maris or Babe Ruth were playing today that they would be somewhat of a phenomenon
That may be true, but we have to look at the bigger picture.
Pitching alone is a totally different game. Physical conditioning alone has been broken down to a science. Maris and Ruth would be good or just as good as the professional athletes of today.
Maybe this is what has provoked Bonds into taking steroids. Wanting to be the best does take extreme measure but come on this is ridiculous. Bonds has only made it worse for himself by trying to attack those who have the power of printing their opinions. He has repeatedly reacted in a negative way, blaming his hardships on the media. Bonds has become so hyped up in the media that on highlights every evening no matter if he goes 0-3 or 3-3 it is reported. What happened to reporting the highlights of each game? No one cares if Bonds struck out twice and hit a double producing a Giant loss.
New York Yankee Jason Giambi was accused of taking steroids before Bonds name had been dropped. Now, Giambi took a different approach to the situation. He confessed that he had taken steroids, accepted the consequences and now he is playing free of ridicule for one of the best teams in baseball. I guess, to Bonds, this doesn’t make sense.
Yes, it is hard to confess to anything we have done wrong but that is part of breaking the rules and being a professional. If Bonds had confessed and explained his side to the media, maybe things would not be so bad for him. Because we all know how hard it is to play a sport you love, be successful at it, make millions of dollars and not to mention enjoy the lazy boy chair that sit in front of your locker.
Therefore, if Mr. Bonds has it so tough then maybe he should retire. I have always been told in sports, when it is not fun anymore that is when it is time to look to alternate activities. I personally would rather see someone who has been successful in baseball in a clean matter break the records of those who set the example of how a baseball player should be. Bonds, do us all a favor: Figure it out. No one is going to care how stressful a millionaire’s life.
As for the media, please show us the real highlights of the day, not a day in the life of Barry Bonds.
Matt Griffin, a junior journalism major, is sports editor for the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at mgriffin@ulv.edu.
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