Jayson Stark is a joke.

[ragecage]

Claiming that this is the worst scandal in the history of sports is stupid. It's not only stupid. It's monumentally stupid. Hell, simply claiming that players taking steroids is worse than players taking money to lose on purpose is monumentally stupid all by itself.

I guess im nicer about it I suppose, I thought it was a false and extreme comment. Thats the 2nd biggest black mark to me though (Black Sox). Keeping black players from playing is the biggest thing in my eyes.

[HoustonGM]

I guess im nicer about it I suppose, I thought it was a false and extreme comment.

It was false and extreme, and a sportswriter perpetuating false and extreme myths, to me, is monumentally stupid. It's like the people that keep talking about how Bonds and A-Rod's careers mean nothing now, as if they would've hit 0 home runs without steroids. That's just stupid. If you're being intellectually dishonest like that, you're being stupid. I don't think Stark is a stupid person, but his stance on this and the things he's said about it are stupid.

Thats the 2nd biggest black mark to me though (Black Sox). Keeping black players from playing is the biggest thing in my eyes.

I'm sure there's even more than just those 2, considering Stark opened it up to ALL sports scandals. I don't know enough about anything besides baseball, though, but I can't imagine that every other sport doesn't have its fair share of terrible scandals that are way worse than steroids in baseball. The other sports undoubtedly each have their own steroid problems, as well...they just are treated differently, despite the scandals being "equivalent."

[ragecage]

I dont know what it is either, I really havent heard stories of bad scandals in other sports. I guess you can say is that other sports in general have done a better job in either keeping scandals quiet, or hitting the issues head on and moving on with it.

[dickay]

I actually agree with almost every thought expressed in this thread. I think you guys are making more of it than it is though. Its quite simple;

Its February 18th. The quietest month for sports in the calendar year. ESPN is simply making a story.....and will force this down our throats until NCAA conference tourneys at the earliest. Its not enough to simply report stories anymore, they have to create them. I honestly havne't watched a full sportscenter in over a year. Just kind of disgusted with ESPN as a whole.

[HoustonGM]

Yep. That's a major problem with sportswriting. It's not enough to just report on the stories. They have to create their own fairy tales.

[reflections]

And that would be yet ANOTHER reason Bud should be punted.

Actually. Put Bud, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in a room together. And just check in an hour.

[haveacigar]

I dont know what it is either, I really havent heard stories of bad scandals in other sports. I guess you can say is that other sports in general have done a better job in either keeping scandals quiet, or hitting the issues head on and moving on with it.

Tim Donaghy 2 years ago?

They happen in other sports. Bud's just the only commish stupid enough to keep bringing it up.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Tim Donaghy 2 years ago?

They happen in other sports. Bud's just the only commish stupid enough to keep bringing it up.

Gambling ring in hockey a couple years ago and there was a small steroid scandal in the NFL a few years back.

[HoustonGM]

Anything that involves actually fixing the outcome of games is obviously worse than steroids. It's not even comparable.

[haveacigar]

Anything that involves actually fixing the outcome of games is obviously worse than steroids. It's not even comparable.

The Tim Donaghy thing is a billion times worse than the steroids thing. A referee actually betting on games he calls? Way worse than steroids.

[Slingshot]

The Tim Donaghy thing is a billion times worse than the steroids thing. A referee actually betting on games he calls? Way worse than steroids.

To NBA's defense, you have to remember that steroid use in MLB happened on a enormous scale, and besides, David Stern didn't exactly approve of Donaghy's actions either (ie, he had to suffer jailtime if I don't remember correctly).

I would say this is worse though, came up about 3 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_It...otball_scandal

[Slingshot]

Then again, a large percentage of MLB players have systematically used steroids for decades now, and that definitely is a factor in contributing the outcome of games. Imo, steroids is bad. Really bad. I think it's worse than some of you makes it out to be, but again, just my personal opinion.

[HoustonGM]

It's players doing whatever they can to win. There was no enforcement of it, they were essentially allowed to do it. Fixing the outcome of games in any form is a completely different level.

[Arctic Blast]

It's players doing whatever they can to win. There was no enforcement of it, they were essentially allowed to do it. Fixing the outcome of games in any form is a completely different level.

No, it was players doing whatever they can TO GET PAID. LEt's not try and make this about anything bigger than the simple fact that bigger numbers equal bigger paycheques.

[haveacigar]

the more people do steroids, the less bad it really is.

the problem with steroids is that produce an uneven playing field for all the people who don't take steroids. but, if most of the league is doing steroids, the actual damage to the competitive balance of the game is lowered.