How this works:

Sports editors Isaac Rosenthal and Jerome Nolasco commet on The Mitchell Report, Spygate and the Lack of Role Models in Pro Sports

“Fact,” means that the opinion is true in the reporter’s opinion, “fiction” means that the reporter disagrees with the statement.

The Mitchell Report

The Mitchell Report names many baseball players as steroid users.

This ruins the integrity of baseball--fact or fiction?

Spygate

The New England Patriots went 16-0, and had arguably the greatest year in NFL history, but were involved in a spying scandal.

“Spygate” tarnishes their acomplishment--fact or fiction?

No Heroes?

Between the Mitchell Report, Spygate, the Donaghy Scandal and Michael Vick, fewer athletes are role models now.

There are no more heroes in sports--

fact or fiction?

Isaac Rosenthal

Fiction. Thankfully. Steroids do ruin the integrity of the sport, but there are enough clean players, that there is still some integrity left in baseball. There are also minor leagues where players are clean. Steroids are close to completely ruining sports, but they haven’t done it yet. Thank goodness for that.



Fact. They went 16-0, but they cheated. I don’t think this takes away from their accomplishment necessarily, but it definitely takes the shine out of it. For me it is like the difference between getting 100% on a test and getting 100% plus extra credit. They still aced the test, but they won’t have that extra sparkle that the 1972 Dolphins did, because the Dolphins went undefeated, and there’s no “yeah, but” attached on the end. The Patriots didn’t go undefeated because of the cheating, but they did cheat. People will always remember that.

Fiction. It’s a fiction, but it’s more of a realistic fiction. I’d say if things don’t change, that’ll be a fact within 15 years, but for now, there are still heros. There are still some throwbacks who play by the rules, but the sad truth is that we’ll have to reconsider this question a little further on down the road. Take for example the slew of rising stars, Andrew Bynum for the Lakers, Sidney Crosby in the NHL (which is more popular than people realize, just no so much in SoCal), and Russell Martin and James Loney on the Dodgers.

Jerome Nolasco

Fact. Due to the fact that one of baseball’s well known pitchers, Roger Clemens was named in the Report. A potential Hall of Famer, Clemens is now being questioned by Congress for his use of steroids. Barry Bonds has also helped in destroying the integrity of baseball by breaking the all-time home-run record while using steroids. Baseball isn’t what it use to be.

Fiction. First of all, they were caught cheating in the beginning of the season and were fined heavilly. The Patriots haven’t been the only ones to cheat. Last season, the heavily favored Patriots played the Miami Dolphins, and the Dolphins pulled off an the upset. Soon after, the Dolphins listened to the Patriots play calls. They didn’t get fined because they were a team with a losing season, but since the Patriots are on their way to a perfect season, analysts from all over are pushing for an asterisk next to the Patriots’ 2007 season.

1/2 Fiction 1/2 Fact. There are plenty of heroes in sports, except baseball. Kids still wear the jerseys and gear of Lebron James, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant and so many others. But no longer do we see them sporting the Barry Bonds jerseys. James, Brady and Bryant still put up the points for their teams while staying clean. In light of the recent Donaghy betting scandal and the Mitchell Report, athletes like them are still considered heroes.