Bud Selig issued a statement yesterday saying that A-Rod had, more or less, shamed himself and the game.
I read his words. And laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
Eight years ago, in a conference room inside what was then known as the Sports Illustrated Building, I sat alongside several of my colleagues and bemoaned the role steroids was playing in baseball. I was 28-years old, new on the Major League beat, locked in an office … and I friggin’ knew!!!!!!
So how in the world can Bud Selig—the! commissioner! of! major! league! baseball!—say he knew nothing.
He’s either:
A. An idiot.
B. Completely full a shit.
C. A completely full of shit idiot.
I’m all for roasting A-Rod, Bonds, McGwire, David Bell, Jack Cust, Brian Roberts and every other guy who cheated to gain an edge. These bobos can offer up any excuse in the book, and we all know they’re likely trying to save their tattered reps. But Selig is the biggest culprit of all—the man who sat atop a game that ignored the performance-enhancing problem for years and years, anxious to watch the dollars roll in and the home runs fly out.
Look at it this way: When, in the Selig Era, has Major League Baseball ever done anything with the fan’s interest in mind? They start every meaningful game late at night, thus ensuring maximum advertising dollars (and that nobody under the age of 10 will watch an entire contest). They continue to increase ticket prices, and charge insane amounts for merchandise and assorted goodies. With the possible exception of the NHL, no major sport has shown a true interest in the fan.
But baseball is, by far, the worst.
So to hell with Bud Selig and his sanctimonious ramblings. A-Rod is certainly guilty. But Selig is responsible.
