Huron Expositor, 2007-12-19, Page 6Page 6 The Huron Expositor • December 19, 2007
Opinion
Baseball players must earn their fame organically
Student life is not a
walk in the park, but it
has its perks.
Christmas Break is
one — a hallowed insti-
tution that rarely
stretches for less than
two weeks and has
expanded itself to
almost four in my case this year
I will not be entirely idle over this
period, but I have had idle
moments, most of them filled with
.television, light reading or sports
talk radio — specifically The Jim
Rome Show, which is about as
addictive and wholesome as chick-
en -fried steak.
On Thursday, Sir Rome was preoc-
cupied with U.S. Senator George
Mitchell's report on steroid use in
Major League Baseball (MLB).
He was not alone in this, but he
was also not impressed. The report's
major findings were -that steroid use
was widespread in the recent past,
that insufficient measures were
Ben
Forrest
taken to stop it,
and that sufficient
measures should be
taken in the future
to make things
right.
"Duh," said Rome
(in effect). "I could
have told you that.
It would have taken me fewer than
20 months to do it, and I would
have done it for far less money."
This is part of Rome's shtick, you
see. He is at his most entertaining
when he is obnoxious, and most lis -
tenable when he intentionally miss-
es the point on certain issues.
The value of the Mitchell Report,
as Rome knew well, was not in its
major points but in the names of
accused cheaters it provides. To his
credit, these names had yet to be
officially released as I listened, and
Rome was reserving his indictments
until they were confirmed.
But a few of the names were big
ones, and they bear mentioning
here.
Roger
Clemens was of
course one of the
KZ F. C t O IZ. Y
invited to attend these arca churches
ST. THOMAS
ANGLICAN CHURCH
A Congregation of the Pprish of The Holy Spirit
Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-1522
Sunday, December 23
4th Sunday in Advent
Worship at 9:30am
Lessons & Carols Service followed by refreshments
Monday, December 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve
Worship at 9110p'm
Everyone Welcome
BETHEL BIBLE
CHURCH
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
519-527-0982
Sunday School • All Ages • 9:45am
Sunday Worship Ilam
Christmas Eve Service 7pm
Pastor Mark Kennedy
EVERYONE WELCOME
NORTHSIDE UNITED
Welcomes YOU
Sunday llam,Worship
Nursery & Sunday School
Midweek Programs
go 54 Goderich St. W.
Seaforth
527-2635
www cavannorthsideunited.ca
ST. JAMES
ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
Welcomes you
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
519-527-0142
Sunday Mass llam
St. Patrick's, Dublin
Sat. Mass 5 pm - Sun. Mass 9am
Fr. Chris Gillespie
EGMONDVILLE
UNITED
CHURCH
Sunday, Dec. 23
Pastor Steve Hildebrand
WORSHIP AT 11am
Sunday School loam
Everyone vrrie
Sunday School conce Dec. 23 of Ilam
Christmas Eve service Dec. 24 at 7:30pm
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Goderich St. W., Seaforth
Rev. Henry Huberts
Sunday, Dec. 23
11:15anr Service
Christmas Eve Service at 7:30pm at St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church in Clinton
-Wishing you a blessed Christmas"
biggest. Barry Bonds was one of the
least surprising. Canadian Eric
Gagne and famed comeback kid
Rick Ankiel were two of the more
disappointing.
There were over 75 others, seven
of whom had been Most Valuable
Players. Two had won the Cy Young,
and 31 had • been All -Stars. Some
appeared headed for the Hall of
Fame.
Criticisms of the Mitchell Report
are valid: it relies heavily on testi-
mony from observers rather than
definitive proof such as blood or
urine tests in identifying cheaters.
Yet some of its evidence is not so
easily ignored: there are cancelled
cheques from players seeking per-
formance -enhancing drugs, and
already the report has produced at
least one high-profile confession,
that of Yankees pitcher Andy
Pettite.
Though many of the players listed
may never be proven guilty beyond
a shadow of a doubt, the enormity of
their athletic feats — and the enor-
mity of their physiques — are
enough to cast doubt.
The report is valid in at least some
respects, and it casts a shadow over
the game, even if it only gives cre-
dence to things we thought we knew
already.
Most distressing about the report
is that it not only accuses average
players, but also heroes like
Clemons, and Pettite — the type of
men young children aspire to be
like.
When keeping a job or maintain-
ing stardom is attained by cheating,
it sets a dangerous precedent, and
one that must be suppressed if the
future of sport has any hope for
legitimacy.
Baseball must ensure that cheat-
ing is punished and not rewarded in
the years to come, for a new genera-
tion of ball player is toiling on the
field and dreaming of Big League
glory. We must ensure they gain it
organically.
Have an opinion?
Write a letter
to the editor!
flOQD 6kEETING5
The Municipality of Central Huron,
Council. Municipal staff, and Clinton Power
Corporation staff join together to wish you peace
and serenity this holiday season.
• e
•
COUNCIL
REEVE
Bert Dykstra
DEPUTY REEVE
John Bezaire
COUNCILLORS
Marg Anderson
Tim Collyer
Pam Stanley
Jim Ginn
Alison Lobb
Brian Barnim
ADMINISTRATION
Clerk: Richard Harding. Brenda Armstrong. Belinda Axford,
Brenda Maclsaac, Jane Harris, Shelly Pryce. Judy Dixon,
Shariyn Goy. Deb Stephenson. Nina Potter
FACILITIES DEPARTMENT
Facilities Manager: Steve Campbell; Doug Dolmage,
Gary Fleet, Shawn Gautreau, Mike Ladd, Bev Marriage
PROTECTIVE SERVICES - RIIILDINO DEPT.
Andy DePutter, Lesley Adams. Fire Chief: Steve Cooke
ROADS DEPARTMENT
Roads Manager: Tom Sinclair; Jason Cox, Ritchie Cox.
Roger Cunningham, Mike Dixon, Ian Hulley, Jim Johnston,
Randy Marriage, Gord Tait, Stan McClure, Rick Pickett
YTRIRS/a.RITON POWER CORPORATION
Utaitles Manager: Steve Glbbings
Paul Chambers, John Graham, Mark Krahn, Bier VanWyk,
Adam Wilson, Brett Finlayson