02-09-2009, 09:34 PM
<!--quoteo(post=16942:date=Feb 9 2009, 06:03 PM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Feb 9 2009, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I just think it is ridiculous the standard some of these guys are held to compared to other sports. Michael Irvin got elected to the Hall of Fame and he was drug addicted piece of shit that got busted! No one even remembers that Shawn Merriman took steroids, they just talk about how important he is to their team.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The difference is in the NFL fans want these guys being crazy gladiators that just beat the shit out of each other on the field. People view the NFL like 8 shots of tequila and baseball like a glass of wine. While there's definitely a lot of fans that just want to see home runs and high-scoring games, there's just as many that want to see execution: a sacrifice fly, painting the corners, getting a bunt down, etc. In football we want to see guys get their helmets ripped off, safeties crushing wide receivers going across the middle, or Adrian Peterson laying a stiff arm on Lance Briggs. Baseball's an art to many, whereas football is purely entertainment to most.
Additionally, baseball records are unlike any other records in sports. Do you know what the single season rushing yardage record is or who holds it? Do you know how what the career passing touchdown record is? Who holds the highest QB rating in NFL history? Nobody really cares about these stats. They're treasured in baseball, so when somebody's getting to these records with an advantage past players didn't have, it pisses people off and rightfully so.
We have this historical romantic relationship with the sport that we don't see in other sports. It took place during the two World Wars and gave people something to enjoy at the most tragic of times. It's America's Pastime. It's cracker jack, hot dogs, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", playing catch with your five-year-old son... and now the most popular players in the game, the ones breaking all of these records we've treasured so much, cheating the game by doing steroids. It's sad.
The difference is in the NFL fans want these guys being crazy gladiators that just beat the shit out of each other on the field. People view the NFL like 8 shots of tequila and baseball like a glass of wine. While there's definitely a lot of fans that just want to see home runs and high-scoring games, there's just as many that want to see execution: a sacrifice fly, painting the corners, getting a bunt down, etc. In football we want to see guys get their helmets ripped off, safeties crushing wide receivers going across the middle, or Adrian Peterson laying a stiff arm on Lance Briggs. Baseball's an art to many, whereas football is purely entertainment to most.
Additionally, baseball records are unlike any other records in sports. Do you know what the single season rushing yardage record is or who holds it? Do you know how what the career passing touchdown record is? Who holds the highest QB rating in NFL history? Nobody really cares about these stats. They're treasured in baseball, so when somebody's getting to these records with an advantage past players didn't have, it pisses people off and rightfully so.
We have this historical romantic relationship with the sport that we don't see in other sports. It took place during the two World Wars and gave people something to enjoy at the most tragic of times. It's America's Pastime. It's cracker jack, hot dogs, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", playing catch with your five-year-old son... and now the most popular players in the game, the ones breaking all of these records we've treasured so much, cheating the game by doing steroids. It's sad.
@TheBlogfines