Local Sports
Commentary: Steroids Era is over, but what’s next?
By Michael CummingsTuesday’s 6-5 victory for the Boston Red Sox over the Oakland Athletics ushered in a new Major League Baseball season, and with it, the second year of baseball’s purported post-steroids era.
But don’t count on baseball’s purists to let sleeping dogs lie.
And why is that?
Well, since we’re using a Latin prefix to describe baseball’s brave new world, let’s throw out another bit of classical wisdom in an effort to explain:
O tempora! O mores!
That would be a direct quote from the incomparable Cicero, the rough translation being: “Oh, the times! Oh, people’s habits!”
Modern versions vary from something about hell in a handbasket, to kids these days, to any other phrase starting with “these days.”
These days, players only care about money.
These days, the talent pool is watered down.
These days, the ball is juiced.
These days, there’s just no loyalty.
Of course, for Cicero, “these days” were over 2,000 years ago and he was griping about the moral bankruptcy of Julius Caesar and his new imperial regime. And the golden days for which he pontificated were set back in the Rome’s republican days.
Now, Bud Selig is no Julius Caesar and Major League Baseball is no Roman Empire, but the point is this: Even at the height of western culture, there was always someone around to complain.
And though baseball is not the Roman Empire, it is the American pastime. Which means there will always be someone around to complain.
Before steroid it was baseball’s labor issues. Before the labor issues it was player greed. And before player greed it was owner greed.
You get what I’m saying, hopefully, but if not, here it is. The steroids era must be considered nothing but a blight on the game, but it’s time to put away any thoughts of a bygone golden era of blameless heroes and halcyon myths.
Baseball players — then and now — will do anything to win, from taking steroids, to throwing spitballs, to taking amphetamines during games. That doesn’t make it right, but it does make the problem both timeless and ubiquitous.
So instead of bickering about steroids and cheating and asterisks, let’s move on and enjoy the smell of pine tar and dirt and freshly cut grass.
These days, that’s something anyone can enjoy.
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Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Eagles hold on, defeat Holly Pond in nailbiter
Late in the fourth quarter Friday night, just before a couple of big free throws, Cold Springs High girls basketball coach Tammy West pulled aside Georgia Myrex for a quick pep talk.
Except for one thing: When West placed both hands on top of her star player’s head, it looked a little more like some kind of crunch-time benediction.
Or something like that. - PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Holly Pond stays unbeaten, sets up showdown with defending champs
- Wallace pitcher Holley signs letter of intent with UAB
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CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Top-ranked Bearcats return to Russellville looking for revenge — one year later
Behold the power of three.
Heading into its Class 5A quarterfinal tonight at Russellville, Cullman High’s football team has already avenged two of its three losses from the 2008 season.
In week six, the Bearcats beat Erwin 42-16 to avenge a 25-20 loss from last season. And in week eight, Cullman downed Mountain Brook 28-13 to get revenge for last year’s 49-34 defeat.
Guess who the third target is. -
TALKIN' PREPS: Looks like more basketball parity this season
No juggernauts. No clear-cut favorites. Just a bunch of basketball teams that could beat every other team in the area.
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AUBURN FOOTBALL: Washington may be playing himself into job as kick returner
The road to success has been long for Demond Washington.
Just about as long as his big return last weekend against Georgia.
With his Auburn Tigers trailing 24-17 in the fourth quarter this past Saturday, Washington took a Bulldogs kickoff at his own 1-yard line, weaved in and out of traffic and sped all the way to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown. -
CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Versatile Adams fills multiple roles in Cats’ offense
Connor Adams has worn several labels over the past 15 months.
Starting running back, injured reserve, H-back, Wildcat quarterback, fill-in running back — those all fit the bill.
But here’s another one Adams can claim, and it’s something a little different:
Blessed. -
PREP BASKETBALL: Raiders give Hulsey family bragging rights
Tristan Hulsey didn’t hear a congratulatory yell from his father when he made a layup to give West Point High a one-point advantage heading into halftime.
His dad had a look of disgust on his face, instead. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Aggies hold on, defeat Douglas
airview High’s basketball team stayed unbeaten with a nailbiting win Tuesday night, beating Douglas 52-20.
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