I spent thousands of words worrying about the slump that one David Ortiz was in back in April and May. I wondered when, if, he’d ever get back to being the Big Papi that we all knew and loved.
It appears now that that Papi was a wee bit enhanced.
Am I surprised that David Ortiz was cited for using Performance Enhancing Drugs as part of the same report that landed Alex Rodriguez in hot water earlier in the year? Not at all.
Sure I’d love to pretend that I’m surprised and get up in arms over the whole deal. I’d love to call down all of the self righteousness I can muster and talk about how it was better when I was kid, when the players didn’t cheat.
I don’t have it in me. Nothing surprises me anymore. Heck you could tell me that the Pope was caught smoking a joint in a tree and I’d probably just shake my head. You could tell me that Joe Montana snorted heroin at halftime of the Super Bowl and I don’t think it would surprise me all that much.
Athletes do stupid things. Public figures are no better than Joe Average. Sure they’re in the spotlight, but the brighter that that light shines the more the wrinkles and imperfections come into focus.
Of course there’s also the other part of this story, the sullying of the 2004, and maybe 2007, World Series titles. I don’t feel like those titles are lessened, and here’s why.
Over 100 players in that 2003 survey were dirty. Who knows how many more weren’t caught. We know that at least 1/7th of the league was cheating, and it could be at least a quarter. Everyone was on a level playing field because the playing field was being altered by every team. In a league full of cheats, the Sox won the title. They all had access to the drugs, and plenty were taking them, so it’s pretty even.
And nothing can take away from the way that I felt that night when they finally took home the title. I was giddy. I remember that night so so well. A revelation five years later won’t change that.
The only thing that has changed is my opinion on Ortiz. I truthfully thought that he didn’t need to cheat. He was such a big guy, with natural power that he didn’t have to take anything, or so I thought.
I won’t be surprised again, though. President Obama could moonwalk naked down a runway during Fashion Week in NYC and I’d accept that for what it is.
Everything’s crazy these days.
The views and opinions in the Enterprise blogs are those of the author and are not neccessarily shared by Falmouth Publishing.
