Get rid of steroids -- now

The topic of the year for Major League Baseball is steroids.

Sure, Alex Rodriguez going to the already stacked New York Yankees' team was a huge story when it first came out, but steroids has overtaken A-Rod and his move to the Big Apple.

Why is this such a story?

I have heard both sides of the story and frankly, there are good arguments each way.

Some argue, who cares if the players take steroids? After all, it is their bodies and lives they are ruining.

The fans love the long home runs by Barry Bonds and others.

The record breaking number of home runs has made the fans flock to the ballparks again.

Baseball is entertainment and what is more entertaining than seeing records broken and baseballs jumping out of the park.

I have to admit that I like it when Barry hits it in McCovey's cove, or Sammy breaks a window in the condo across the street from Wrigley Field.

Who doesn't enjoy those sights?

However, I don't like what steroids have done for the game. I agree with those who feel this subject needs to be addressed and nipped in the bud.

This does not mean that I want asterisks by Bond's records or anyone elses' if it is proven the players have taken steroids.

It just means that in the best interest of baseball, steroids need to go away.

My main concern is what it does to those who play by the rules.

It has to be disheartening when these "clean" players who get in great shape by working out and eating right see how the "cheaters" receive the big contracts and their names in record books.

Steroids may seem to be the only way to get on a level playing field for those players who may be on the edge of being a good or a great major league ballplayer.

This is just not right.

In my own mind, I see baseball as a kid's game.

When I grew up many, many years ago, we used to play baseball all summer long.

No matter how many guys we had, somehow we got a game going.

Our heroes were baseball players who did not make the huge money that they do now.

However, these days, do children see steroids as a way to make it in baseball?

Do they see it as a way to get the edge on the competition?

If their heroes are doing it, it must be OK, right?

I really do not know what thoughts are going through kids' minds these days.

Parents can only hope that their kids do not see this as a way to get ahead in the sport of baseball, or any other sport for that matter.

Worse yet, hopefully children are not pushed so hard by their parents that they look to steroids as a way to be a success in athletics.

Sure, this is a worse case scenario, but it could happen.

Now, does it really bother me personally that someone is bulking up unnaturally and hitting the ball 500 feet?

Does it ruin my enthusiasm for the game?

No, it does not. But, now that there may be proof that some players were taking or still are taking steroids, I think it should stop.

What should be the punishment?

I don't really know. It will be up to Bud Selig and the Player's Union to decide.

If nothing happens except that testing will now be done and suspensions will be handed out for those who take steroids, this would be fine with me.

The Union is too strong to do too much to the players, and unless they decide that steroids will be tested, then it will never happen.

This subject will not go away on its own.

Now that the "cat is out of the bag," questions will come to everyone's mind when certain people get so big and strong so fast.

Baseball needs to decide what to do about the issue right now.

The sport has had enough "black eyes" over the years, and this is another punch to the face that MLB really doesn't need.

Ban steroids and punish those who use them.

Baseball fans deserve a clean game where the players don't have to take steroids in order to compete with those who do.