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Bad timing on a worse issue
By: David Reid           

     The new book coming out that gives the most detailed description to date of Barry Bonds steroids use is not a surprise to most fans. Most neutral baseball fans, even in the back of their minds or with a little bit of their heart know that Bonds has used some sort of banned substance over his career. I will read the book, because I feel that most of the information in it will be accurate, but I do have a problem with the date of its release. Instead of baseball fans enjoying the World Baseball Classic and the beginning of spring training 2006, we are constantly caught up in the talks about Bonds and his steroid use.

      While I certainly do not agree with everything Bud Selig has done over his career, organizing the World Baseball Classic so major league players could participate was a great idea. Fans can tell that the players love to play for their country. USA pitcher Mike Timlin said that when he pitched in the first game he was far more nervous than any World Series game he threw in. Chipper Jones said he was more excited to play for team USA than any postseason game he has played in. Numerous other players from other countries have expressed the same notion. And the fans appreciate this. David Ortiz is probably the most beloved current Red Sox, but that does not even compare to how much his fans in the Dominican love him. The fans love it. The players love it. This is why it is a shame all of this Bonds steroid talk came out at this time.

      Instead of answering questions about baseball or their country, the players are being grilled with questions of Bonds and steroid use. Instead of Bud Selig being able to enjoy the WBC, he is constantly being asked the same questions. This book should not have come out now. Why couldn’t it have come out over winter? These two writers claim to be huge baseball fans, but I do not  think a true fan would want to take away from the WBC, the greatest collection of baseball talent in a long time. I do not have a problem with these guys writing their book and they are sure to make tons of money, but I do have a problem when they take away from the game I love because one prominent player is cheating. It is not fair to the players and it is certainly not fair to the fans, who just want to enjoy some baseball.