The biggest sports business story of the decade was the enormous controversy surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drug within Major League Baseball (MLB). Over the past decade the MLB has took a huge hit to its image and its brand. Ongoing cases and trails against former and present athletes involving the use of illegal substances have forever tarnished the very integrity of the game. In the spring of 2006 The Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program was established in an effort to clean up the sports drug problem. The most noticeable names that come to mind in this scandal are those like Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Do any of these names sound familiar? These are faces of MLB franchises, players who ushered in a dominance of record setting achievements breaking those of the greats that played prior to them. Greats like Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Baby Ruth, etc.
Question: Why is this a major issue within the MLB?
The MLB is one of the biggest sports businesses in the United States. It’s compiled of 30 franchised teams valued at over 8.8 million dollars. In this hyper-competitive environment players have took upon them selves to use whatever edge necessary to be successful. Anabolic steroids and other similar performance enhancing substances is typically the drugs of choice. These types of drugs allow muscles to recover at a much faster pace than normal. This rapid recovery permits athletes to train harder, for longer periods of time, and with greater frequency. An MLB season is comprised of 162 games. This is a very long season and to perform at a peak level day in and day out can be difficult, but not to say it can’t be done. The major issue is that these drugs remove the chance of a level playing field. Being that the MLB is a business where competition is the business, any illegal advantage can damage the integrity and legitimacy of the league
Although any image is hard to repair, it can be done. For example, Kobe Bryant cheated on his wife then won a championship and was forgiven. No one really speaks of that issue anymore but the steroids scandal within the MLB is ongoing. The reason why I believe that this is the biggest story of the decade is because of its large-scale impact. This generation of elite baseball players will almost be eliminated from the history book due to the use of illegal substances. The entire baseball history is forever changed because of this decade of illegal activity. The records that were broken by Bonds, Mcguire, Sosa, Rodriguez, etc will all be eradicated if proven influenced by substance use. Another reason why this is the biggest sports story is because it has forever change the fans perspective of the sport. Once loyal and appreciative fans have now turned their backs on the league due to disgust of the stain left by these players. This is an issue that will be ongoing until the League rectifies it in efforts to change its image. In my opinion it will take a decade to clean up this mess and change the brand of the MLB.
http://www.time.com/time/question/20050315.htmlhttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2007/09/09/2007-09-09_mlbs_steroid_scandal_will_grow_larger_th.html
http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/the_steele_drum/2009/12/bonds-and-roids-ruled-this-decade.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2009/02/fact_and_fiction_in_baseballs_steroids.html
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