Drug Penalties

[gkch...@uokvax.uucp]

Time for a major discussion here. What is everybody's opinion
on the Ueberroth drug suspensions/penalties? I happen to think he
has no right to fine people that heavily. It will cost Hernandez
nearly $100,000 which is just ridiculous. If Keith had been busted
as normal citizen like you or me, he would have gotten a $500 fine
and some probation at the most. I think the drug testing for the
rest of the career is OK as is the community service.

Even more ridiculous is the statement by Petey that the drug
problem is now over in MLB! I guess LaMarr Hoyt proved him wrong
later that day. I guess I don't buy the argument that since
ballplayers are paid so much and supposedly worshipped by little
kids that they are obligated to be nearly perfect and immune to
the enticements of drugs or other such evils. The guys should be
punished just as a "normal" citizen is punished: no less and no
more.

Geoff Chappell
Univ. of Okla.

[Greg Fyksen]

>
> Time for a major discussion here. What is everybody's opinion
> on the Ueberroth drug suspensions/penalties? I happen to think he
> has no right to fine people that heavily. It will cost Hernandez
> nearly $100,000 which is just ridiculous. If Keith had been busted
> as normal citizen like you or me, he would have gotten a $500 fine
> and some probation at the most. I think the drug testing for the
> rest of the career is OK as is the community service.

> ....

>
>
> The guys should be punished just as a "normal" citizen is
> punished: no less and no more.
>
> Geoff Chappell
> Univ. of Okla.

I would like to ask how the various player's
alleged crimes (remember most of these players were never even charged
with committing a crime much less convicted) compare with the $ amount
of the penalty. Did Hernandez commit a crime x times worse than
Sorenson? I don't know the exact salaries involved but I'm sure
that Keith makes more than Lary and therefore is faced with
a stiffer penalty, but was is involvement in drugs x times more than
Sorenson?
(now that I think about it, I'm not sure that these two are both
in the 10% group, but you get the idea.)

I don't think that people in the public eye, sports, show biz, politics,
etc. should be regarded as "normal" citezens. Because of their
public lives they are in a position to influence society whether
its drugs, fashion, or whatever. This is a responsibility
they have like it or not. Maybe because of this they should be
subject to more stringent penalties but these penalties
should be decided by a court of law, not a highly paid PR man.

I don't expect everybody to agree with me but that's all
right, it will give something to talk about until we
start to argue about manager's decisions and umpire's calls.

Until next time,

Greg (I wish I was in Arizona) Fyksen
AT&T-IS
Naperville, IL