FanPost

Do Fans Bear Responsibility For Steroid Era? No.

While watching the College World Series today, the announcers began discussing steroid use in the Major Leagues and the announcer said something I have heard over and over but only today did the complete foolishness of it strike me. He said (in reference to the steroid use):

"Of course all the fans are complicit in this thing too. We were cheering and buying tickets. So there is blame to go around"

Now, I learned some logic at law school, and maybe not enough, but frankly I don't see how one single fan could be blamed for being complicit in the steroid era. So if someone could explain to me the logic behind this oft repeated statement, I would appreciate it.

I have spent a couple minutes trying to determine my liability for the Steroid Era. I was born in 1983 and always rooted for the Cubs and Tigers (I'm from Michigan, I had to have an NL team). I went to games at old Tiger Stadium where the obese Cecil Fielder used to hit 470 foot home runs. I bought the occasional baseball hat and read the Chicago Tribune because my dad said it was the only real paper in America. I went to my first Cubs game when I was 16ish and Sammy was chasing Mark McGwire and when he hit #50 something, the ballpark exploded like nothing I had ever seen. My friend was slow to get out of those antiquated bathrooms and came up the steps when Sammy was rounding third - he asked me "Did I miss something?" I didn't know anything about steroids until Barry Bonds starting hitting home runs and his head visibly expanded.

So, BCB being the pre-eminent place on SBN to discuss steroids right now, I ask: What is my liabilty for the Steroid Era? Damn right I was in the stands cheering, but what's the connection? Here are the reasons I have heard for fans being complicit:

  • Chicks dig the long ball..Guys do too. We all love it so much we forced players to juice. Sorry!
  • We turned a "blind eye" to steroid use which was so obvious.
  • We didn't demand proper drug testing.

Graham Filler

The Rivalry Esq

http://www.rivalryesq.com/

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