By Matthew Tinonga/reporter
It is no secret that steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs have impacted the sports world. Is there a bias between baseball and football when athletes juice?
TCC student Nick Lyons said that there is a difference because football is a contact sport and baseball is a “pure” sport in his mind.
A prime example is when former defensive rookie of the year, Shawn Merriman, was tested positive by the NFL’s performance enhancing drug tests and received a six-game suspension.
TCC student Corey Sakin said he believes baseball players in the Hall of Fame should have it taken away if they have juiced.
The majority of media attention is on the use of PEDs by baseball players. There are continuous headlines about Barry Bonds and his alleged PED use, but events like the Merriman incident stay in the news for a couple of weeks.
Lyons said he thinks Hall of Fame baseball players should have their status taken away, but said he is willing to forgive most current players, even Barry Bonds.
“I would be upset if a favorite player of mine juiced, but my view of him wouldn’t change much,” he said.
How much of an impact does likeability have on forgiveness of certain players’ bad conduct and PED abuse?
TCC student David Green said the reason so many people do not like Bonds is he acts like a jerk off the field. He also said that players like Roger Clemens cheating in the World Series is very forgivable since he’s a pitcher, not a hitter, and generally a nice guy.
Cowboy fans love to hate Terrell Owens for his antics, but many people love Merriman even though he is a proven PED abuser, Sakin said.
Green said likeability is a huge factor.
“It’s more important to be likeable, because then you can get away with more,” he said.
