Dateline Dayton – Except for attending Dayton Dragons’ baseball games, I am not a big sports fan. Dragons’games are fun, win or lose. Seldom do I watch sports on television. I would rather look at American Pickers, Auction King, Pawn Stars and, when desperate, Storage Wars. This is not to say I’m not interested in sports. In season, I check to see if the Cincinnati Reds or the Cincinnati Bengals have won. In addition, I always look to see who won the NASCAR race of the week, curious about where Danica Patrick finished. I enjoy seeing her beat the good ol’ boys.

During golf season, which I also don’t play, I check to see who won.  On some lazy Sunday afternoons, I will watch a match on television. I like Phil Mickelson, who left a tournament to keep a promise to his daughter. That speaks very highly of his character compared to the character of Tiger Woods. There was – maybe still is – a time when he would leave the course for any female.

Even with Tiger’s indiscretions, he still is a force on the golf course. Rory McIlroy, a youngster, is another player to watch. However, he is not a Tiger. The putts Tiger can sink are outstanding, and he has made golf interesting to watch.

Pardon My Cynicism

With what I have said above, I probably shouldn’t comment on the present baseball scandal.
Alex Rodriguez and the others involved in the performance-enhancing drug scandal have done more to harm baseball than Pete Rose ever did. Pete was banned from baseball for life. A-Rod and the other boys got off with anywhere from a 50 to 211-game suspension.

Alex, at the present time, will get to complete this season since his appeal will not be heard until at least November or December. How convenient!

What this mess says to me about Major League Baseball is, if you are caught using drugs that might help you win games, you will possibly receive a small suspension if caught. Get caught gambling, however, and you will be banned for life. What a double standard.

Major League Baseball appears to be condoning drug use with these light suspensions.

On the flip side, look at all the free publicity they are receiving. Even I am giving them exposure. Possibly Major League Baseball doesn’t even care about the drug use. They just want publicity.

Okay, you say my comments are sour grapes since Pete Rose was with my almost-hometown Cincinnati Reds, and you may be right. Major league sports needs to clean up. They must get tough with players who use drugs, beat their wives, girlfriends and fellow bar patrons. Isn’t dog fighting a form of gambling? The football player involved in that terrible incident still is playing ball.

Some day I hope professional athletics will realize they are role models for impressionable youngsters.
Sure is fun going to a Dayton Dragons game, which we did last night.  Again they won with a homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Still can’t believe all the people who leave in the bottom of the seventh and miss the excitement.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net