Football less affected by steroids cases, By: Greg Swatek
When a major steroids story breaks in baseball, it's front-page news in almost every newspaper across the country.
When one breaks in the NFL, it's just another sports story in the day's news cycle.
Sure, it will draw some attention. But it will also prompt just as many yawns and passive glances.
Take, for example, the news this week that one of the NFL's best defensive players, Shawn Merriman of the San Diego Chargers, will be suspended four games by the league for alleged steroids abuse.
Merriman is appealing the suspension and will continue playing until his case is heard by the league.
The story was reported by nearly every electronic and print media outlet in the country. But it hardly sparked any debate or outrage from the general public about steroid use in the NFL.
Now, had it been a big-name Major League Baseball player, the country would have been up in arms and the public backlash at baseball would have been intense.
Commissioner Bud Selig might have been summoned before congress again and it would have been conversation fodder around the workplace for several weeks.
Here's guessing NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hasn't lost a wink of sleep over the Merriman incident.
This is a double standard that seems perplexing until you look below the surface.
It centers mainly on how important statistical records are to baseball and how little they are thought of in football.
Quick, name the top three quarterbacks with the most passing yards in NFL history. Name the three players with the most touchdowns.
Now, name the top three home run hitters in baseball history. Name the three pitchers with the most wins or strikeouts. How long was Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games streak before Cal Ripken Jr. broke the record? How long is Joe DiMaggio's record hitting streak?
In baseball, records are treated as the holy grail. In football, they look good on a player's resume.
Another reason for the double standard is football players are accepted as these larger-than-life monsters. In baseball, tremendous size raises eyebrows and skepticism.
Football players are virtually given a pass by the public on steroids because of the physical pounding they take every week during the season.
Baseball players face pointed questions on the topic as soon as they hit three home runs in a game or 50 in a season.
Sports fans want their football players to be huge and the baseball records to be legitimate. It's a tricky combination to pull off.
Finally, while both the NFL and Major League Baseball now have stringent testing policies for steroids, the NFL handles the public relations side of things so much better than baseball.
The NFL, acting on its own behalf, adopted a tough policy on steroids several years ago.
Major League Baseball didn't get tough on steroids until recently, after a few books hit the shelves and Congress came knocking on the door.
Football did it willingly. Baseball did while kicking and screaming.
In the grand scheme of things, football players have a lot more to lose with steroids. Contracts are not guaranteed and a player can be whisked out of the league at any time.
Baseball players receive guaranteed contracts and are protected by the most powerful union in sports.
It makes a huge difference.
So, fair or unfair, double standard or no double standard, steroids are looked at and treated differently in football and baseball.
It's just the way of life in sports.
