PressEthic

An AP article on ESPN.com today drew attention to New York Mets relief pitcher Guillermo Mota, who has been suspended for 50 games after having been found in violation of MLB's drug policy, which previously warranted a mere 10-game suspension for first-time offenders.

"This is the third suspension since the penalty for first offenders increased from 10 days to 50 games this year," the article stated, citing the two previous penalties:

Pitcher Yusaku Iriki tested positive while on the New York Mets roster during spring training, and pitcher Jason Grimsley was penalized after authorities tracked a package containing human growth hormone to his home. Grimsley already had been released by Arizona when he was suspended.

I, for one, am happy to see increased penalties for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy. In the wake of the questionable careers of Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, in addition to the controversy surrounding alleged offenders such as Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi, among others, it is important that athletes be reprimanded harshly for their performance-enhancing indiscretions. Furthermore, it is important that such scandals not go unreported, so that players and the viewing public alike will continue to associate the decision to cheat with its (newly) more severe consequences. As quoted in the article, Mota had this to say for himself:

"I have no one to blame but myself," Mota said in a statement that did not explain how he ran afoul of baseball's drug rules. "I take full responsibility for my actions and accept MLB's suspension. I used extremely poor judgment and deserve to be held accountable.

"To my teammates and the entire Mets organization, I am sorry. I truly regret what I did and hope that you can forgive me. To baseball fans everywhere, I understand that you are disappointed in me, and I don't blame you. I feel terrible and I promise this is the first and last time that this will happen. I am determined to prove to you that this was one mistake."

I find it reputable that Mota offered this apology, and hope that it will become common practice for athletes who choose to break the rules.

In The Cheating Culture, David Callahan referred to President Bush's condemnation of steroids in the 2004 State of the Union Address, and also cited Senator John McCain's declaration that "baseball was in danger of 'becoming a fraud in the eyes of the American people.'" Unfortunately, America's favorite passtime only continues to lose credibility as more and more of its phenoms are accused of cheating to get ahead. Callahan criticized the MLB's previous drug-testing policy as being "widely viewed as a joke." He continues:

This laxity cannot endure. McCain and other senators have made it clear that if MLB doesn't crack down on steroids, Washington will step in to save the hallowed American institution of baseball. Big government is good for some things, it turns out.

Big government and, I think, journalists. Afterall, as Callahan explains,

Winner-take-all trends in athlete pay are sure to keep accelerating as the reach of global media expands, creating bigger audiences for televised sporting events as well as product advertisements that feature star athletes.

If this is true, then it is increasingly important that these offenses continue to be reported, so that the public can remain abreast of the (hopefullly) changing penalties associated with professional scandals in both the athletic and corporate realms. Thus, perhaps, we as journalists will be able to continue to combat the "cheating culture."