Within the last decade, talk of anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs has become prevalent amongst not only players and officials of Major League Baseball, but the media as well. Do performance enhancing drugs belong in baseball? The common answer seems to be "no". As someone with an immense love of the game, it has become increasingly harder for me to believe that every homerun is legitimate. Much of the American public feels the same way.  Talk of steroids has "struck a chord" with fans and may alter the game of baseball forever if it already hasn't.

Some might ask: "What exactly is an anabolic steroid and what constitutes a performance enhancing drug?"  Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs similar to the male hormone testosterone. They are usually injected through the muscle and assist in muscle growth, strength, and power.  Performance enhancing drugs that have allegedly been used in what has been deemed by some as "Baseball's Steroid Era" include steroids, steroid precursors, steroid masking agents, and stimulants. While many steroids and PED's have been banned by Major League Baseball officials, some remain to be banned and, according to numerous active players, are still commonly used. Whether or not these substances actually aid in hitting the ball further is still highly disputed. One thing is clear though: the sport of baseball is changing...for the worse.

Before the steroid era, baseball was part of American lore. Players were household names and ideal role models for children. Their integrity was never questioned. There are still players that fit this demographic, but they have become far fewer in numbers. In the glory days of baseball, a night wouldn't go by that you didn't hear your favorite player's name mentioned on the nightly news over the radio. Sure, this summer millions of people's attention was captured by Barry Bonds' homerun record chase, but it was drenched in doubt and questions of steroid use. The decline in the American public's interest and involvement in baseball is an all too real reminders of the "dark ages" of the sport. The controversy and questions have even intensified to the point that the United States Senate has decided to get involved. Senator George Mitchell is heading up a committee investigating the illegal use of steroids in Major League Baseball. The committee plans to release a report within the next few weeks that will include and incriminate many players, past and present.

It's a cool brisk evening at Camden Yards in Baltimore during September of 1995. Banners that read "2131" are unfurled on a brick warehouse in right field. Cal Ripken has just broken the all time record for most consecutive games started, previously held by Lou Gehrig. This night was voted, by the public, as one of the most memorable moments in baseball history. It seems as time goes by, the number of these "moments" has decreased. This decline can be directly linked to the lack of heroes, or suitable role models for that matter. This is only part of the vicious cycle that is possibly leading to the demise of the sport. Since the steroid era, baseball has become simply what it is called: baseball. It's lost its luster and appeal to the masses. Baseball has always drawn on fan's emotions. It just doesn't have that same draw as it used to.

So what lies ahead for the sport of baseball? As someone who loves the game immensely, I can only hope for the best. I don't see things getting much better in the near future though. With other sports' viewing market increasing more and more every week, the future looks bleak. Any sport needs a market and fans in order to survive. The American public has clearly become disillusioned with baseball. A recent study concluded that attendance in all markets has decreased substantially from last year. Steroids are obviously not the only factor in this decrease, but it is a major one. The problem is not steroids, rather the effects that they have produced such as lack of role models and emotional appeal.