ESPN Testosterone Levels Remain Dangerously High
[[Category: Media Opinions]
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by user I am a cpcp
Because of the fact that I don't have cable, and I didn't really care, I only saw a few minutes of the Home Run Derby last night on ESPN 360. I enjoyed the fact that in the five or so minutes I watched, Chris Berman didn't say "back back back" once and they gave a nice tribute to Peter Gammons.
One thing I found humorous though, both in the commentary and in all of the related press on ESPN.com, the big story was who could hit it into the stupid river.
It's not enough that baseball, a sport battling steroid abuse by players who want to hit the ball further has a main event featuring this very act, but ESPN had to up the manliness level and talk about who could get the balls "wet." (No pun int.... ok, it is intended. I apolgize.)
It's not the first time this has happened. In Boston, it was who could hit it over the Green Monster and into the street - or in "Andro" Mark McGwire's case, to Minnesota.
This pure testosterone-driven "I can hit it farther, I can drive it faster, I can spell my name in the snow in cursive AND print" is already at the heart of sports. I understand that and I love it. I also realize that it adds to the drama. It makes it more dramatic if a player can get it not only over the wall, but out of the park.
But is putting such a big focus on it really necessary? And furthermore, is it really beneficial to baseball in this trying times of getting rid of the steroid stigma?
I'm not sure if they still do it, but the NBA had an All-Star event that was a skills competition where it promoted players who did well at the fundamentals of the game. Maybe baseball should figure out something along these lines to go along with the juice-ball event. I really doubt it will happen, but I think something needs to change.
Next year's All-Star game is in San Fransico and thousands of people will probably once again be manning their canoes hoping that their favorite beefcake player will be able to get some balls wet.
Date
Tue 07/11/06, 8:22 am EST
