I really don't know that there's anything new to say about the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in professional sports anymore. Alex Rodriguez and 12 other major league baseball players were suspended today for receiving performance-enhancing drugs from a Miami wellness clinic. A-Rod was suspended for 211 games, although he has appealed the decision and is eligible to play while the appeal is pending. If it is upheld, he would be out the entire 2014 season and out his entire 2014 salary. Boo hoo. The 12 other players - Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers; Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres; Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers; Francisco Cervelli, New York Yankees; Jesus Montero, Seattle Mariners; Jordany Valdespin, New York Mets; Sergio Escalona, Houston Astros; Fautino De Los Santos, San Diego Padres; Cesar Puello, New York Mets; Fernando Martinez, New York Yankees; Jordan Norberto, free agent - have been suspended 50 games, or until the postseason should their teams make it. Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, who won an appeal of his suspension last year for using PEDs, accepted a 65-game ban last month for his involvement with the clinic. Don't even get me started on how he swore up and down last year that he had been falsely accused.
I think we can all agree that we know professional athletes use PEDs. It is not limited to Major League Baseball, and it is certainly not limited to the players who get caught. We can all agree that using PEDs gives players unfair advantages over those who do not but we all flock to the ballpark to see the results of these drugs, such as monster home run races between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, and aging players being able to play well into their late 30s when they should be slowing down because of their age. Players who are truly talented and who want to play a fair game are almost forced to do PEDs as well just to compete with the users. And really, if we're being honest, what do we care if professional athletes use these drugs? It makes games exciting, and the only ones it hurts are those players who try to play fair who can't compete and the health of the players who use. I personally have more important things to worry about in my life than whether or not Alex Rodriguez is going to lose out on 30 million of a $275 million contract. As I said before, boo fricking hoo. Personally, I've never been an A-Rod fan. I would be perfectly fine not having him and his drama around my sport and my team.
Still, as much as I am so over hearing about this "news," I am so so disappointed to see Francisco Cervelli's name on this list. There are some players you just know are using PEDs. There are some players who seem like talented, stand-up, honest guys, like Derek Jeter, who you think are probably clean, but like I said before, you never know. Just because someone wasn't caught doesn't mean they haven't done it. I liked Cervelli. I was looking forward to him take over for Jorge Posada before he was waylaid by many injuries. I couldn't care less about the "news" about A-Rod but the news about Cervelli makes me feel disappointed. Like when I found out about Andy Pettitte. That one hurt. That one made me feel let down.
What are your thoughts on the player suspensions or on the use of PEDs in sports or the continued media coverage?
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