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Lately most of what I have seen on the forum has been about the negatives in baseball: Illegal performance enhancers, lying, using notations to signify records that were broken by "cheaters", etc.
My question to everyone is simple... is baseball becoming more of a circus than a game?
I think it is, and I blame the media and fans equally for it. Too often does the media portray players in negative lights. Most major league players, or any sport for that matter, spend time helping out their community and doing good deeds. These deeds are quickly forgot when that player messes up once, the media plasters everywhere what the player did wrong, then the fans go and buy those publications and classify that player as a "ass" or "jerk". However the damage wouldn't be as bad toward those players if the fans werent also looking for any negative to demean those players and over-shadow their accomplishments.
An example: Alex Rodriguez is hated by many, for no real reason... Sure he signed the biggest contract in sports history, at the time, but why is that a reason to badger him? Rodriguez receives a great deal of hate by fans who overlook his on and off the field achivements. If you had a job, would you not wish to make the most money possible? I think we all would, and if you say no you are most likely lying to us and yourself.
But why all the hate toward Alex Rodriguez? He gives back to his community a great deal, he rarely speaks out against players, he even saved a boy's life last year from getting hit by a truck (http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...oy_from_truck/). But you rarely hear about those things, good news doesnt sell, bad news does.
The biggest example if negative publicity selling is, I'm sure you guessed it, steroids. All of the talk about the "Steroid/Juiced Era" in baseball yet only one potential Hall of Famer has tested positive for the substance. The issue has become so talked about that if it keeps up the game will lose many fans. But does the media care? No, not if they dont sell magazines, books or anything else they can find to sell. As soon as people become dis-interested in the steroid saga, they will move onto something else. Something else that sells.
It is no wonder that many baseball players do not wish to give fans autographs or talk with them anymore. Why should they put themselves at risk for something negative? But then again if they avoid talking to the press and fans, they are portrayed as selfish, not caring about anyone but themself. With the media hounding players today, it has really became a no-win situation for most.
The World Baseball Classic is now entering Round 2 and the season is about to begin, yet there are more posts about steroids on forums than anything about the game. And that's exactly what baseball is, a game. There is no life-or-death consequence if you do win or lose the World Series. Chicago had not won the World Series since the early 1900s before last year, and that city was moving along just fine.
I'm not saying I haven't made a quick judgement on players based on one-sided information, I'd be lying if I said that. But just try and remember next time you watch a game, or discuss a player in a forum. You are watching them play a game, it's a privilege for them to play and for you to be able to see them play for you. Don't think it's your right, because as soon as you do that, it's not a game anymore.
My question to everyone is simple... is baseball becoming more of a circus than a game?
I think it is, and I blame the media and fans equally for it. Too often does the media portray players in negative lights. Most major league players, or any sport for that matter, spend time helping out their community and doing good deeds. These deeds are quickly forgot when that player messes up once, the media plasters everywhere what the player did wrong, then the fans go and buy those publications and classify that player as a "ass" or "jerk". However the damage wouldn't be as bad toward those players if the fans werent also looking for any negative to demean those players and over-shadow their accomplishments.
An example: Alex Rodriguez is hated by many, for no real reason... Sure he signed the biggest contract in sports history, at the time, but why is that a reason to badger him? Rodriguez receives a great deal of hate by fans who overlook his on and off the field achivements. If you had a job, would you not wish to make the most money possible? I think we all would, and if you say no you are most likely lying to us and yourself.
But why all the hate toward Alex Rodriguez? He gives back to his community a great deal, he rarely speaks out against players, he even saved a boy's life last year from getting hit by a truck (http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...oy_from_truck/). But you rarely hear about those things, good news doesnt sell, bad news does.
The biggest example if negative publicity selling is, I'm sure you guessed it, steroids. All of the talk about the "Steroid/Juiced Era" in baseball yet only one potential Hall of Famer has tested positive for the substance. The issue has become so talked about that if it keeps up the game will lose many fans. But does the media care? No, not if they dont sell magazines, books or anything else they can find to sell. As soon as people become dis-interested in the steroid saga, they will move onto something else. Something else that sells.
It is no wonder that many baseball players do not wish to give fans autographs or talk with them anymore. Why should they put themselves at risk for something negative? But then again if they avoid talking to the press and fans, they are portrayed as selfish, not caring about anyone but themself. With the media hounding players today, it has really became a no-win situation for most.
The World Baseball Classic is now entering Round 2 and the season is about to begin, yet there are more posts about steroids on forums than anything about the game. And that's exactly what baseball is, a game. There is no life-or-death consequence if you do win or lose the World Series. Chicago had not won the World Series since the early 1900s before last year, and that city was moving along just fine.
I'm not saying I haven't made a quick judgement on players based on one-sided information, I'd be lying if I said that. But just try and remember next time you watch a game, or discuss a player in a forum. You are watching them play a game, it's a privilege for them to play and for you to be able to see them play for you. Don't think it's your right, because as soon as you do that, it's not a game anymore.
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