Gothamist points out today how some sports writers are applauding Pettite's candor, while others aren't buying it. As for me, when it comes to Petite or Giambi or Sheffield or even Dykstra (nails...you?), I chalk it up to the Steroid era. Sports is just entertainment with playoffs. Fans want home runs, and long bombs, and monster dunks, and the players that deliver get the big contracts...that's the way it is. On the other hand, I agree with Senator Mitchell when he said the real victims are the other players, who were forced into deciding whether to juice up and risk future health ailments, or play at a disadvantage. But what are you going to do...life's unfair.
The only time it gets to me is when a player tries to commit the sports version of grand larceny. When he steals the home run crown from a real legend of the game. Or now, when he's going to take a spot in the Hall of Fame. I mean, I know Rocket's (or as Lupica christened him...Bottle Rocket's) numbers before the alleged steroid use are already enough to get him in the Hall. But if it all turns out to be true, does he belong in the same room as Jackie Robinson, Joe Dimaggio, Hank Aaron, Cal Ripken and the rest? And if he's in, how is Pete Rose not? I don't know the answer. I'm just saying, it's a tough call. What do you think?
