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Posted By: davidcycleback

The player's union was an active enabler.

Except for players who were actively complaining that there was no testing for steroids, I find the 'I did it, because others were doing it' to be a bogus argument.

The player's union prevented steroids testing and punishment, and the union is the representatives for the player. Players vote and the union has designated player representatives from each team. Notice that the union recently allowed testing and punishment for steroids, but only after many players voiced their opinion against steriods in the game, often through their player representatives. The current testing/punishment system is greatly influenced by the players. This would also suggest that past lack of testing/punishment also influenced by the players.

If Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa were actively complaining to the union representatives about the use of steroids I will cut them due slack. And perhaps both were, I'm not insinuating they weren't. Someone like Bonds would carry great clout with the union and baseball in general. If they weren't complaining about to the union about steroids, they were enablers of the system not victims.

One of the most insightful things I heard was when someone said that problem with Donald Fehr is that he thinks he's a civil rights lawyer, when he's really an entertainment lawyer. Baseball players are celebrities like movie stars and rock singers, where industry and public image is essential. Fehr did all he could to prevent encroachment on his player's civil rights, but help ruined the image of his clients and the industry that pays their big salaries.