Will baseball commit suicide?

Baseball is getting ready to commit suicide!

With the possibility of yet another strike in pro sports, Major League Baseball is getting ready to kill the "national pastime."

After the last strike, many fans finally returned to the game when some guy named Mark McGwire started hitting home runs -- 70 of them to be exact.

This time, if they go out on strike, it is different. No one can save baseball from this strike. Even if Michael Jordan played for a team -- with free attendance -- baseball cannot bounce back from this strike.

The owners say the players make too much, and in my opinion they do. The players say it's not about the money.

Well, I have to ask this, "If it's not about the money, then why don't you play?"

Personally, I know 200 people that would play baseball for $30,000, but, it's not about the money?

MLB suits also want the players to be drug tested for steroids, which is already illegal in the United States, but, somehow, is not a banned substance in baseball.

In this one case, it is not about the money. It is about overpaid men being allowed to break the law with no consequence.

The fact is that pro athletes damage their sport whenever they strike, no matter what the reason. They claim that they are striking for the good of the younger athletes, but that is total hogwash.

If every few years the workers at General Motors went on strike, the suits would find a way to get new faces and a new union in the building.

The same should be true for pro sports, especially baseball.

Look at all the kids in the minor leagues, they would love to play big league ball. Many have the skills and talent, but because of contract stipulations some guys never get a chance.

If I were running baseball, nobody would have a base salary over $400,000.

Players would earn their money. For example:

* Home run = $1,000 * Stolen base = $500 * RBI = $500 * Win = $1,000 * Shutout = $2,000 * Strikeout (pitching) = $100 * Walk (pitching) = -$100 * Strikeout (batting) = -$100 * Walk (batting) = $100 * ... and so on.

In addition:

* Players would be randomly tested for all illegal substances.

* Any player could be sent to the minors, or benched regardless, for any reason seen fit, regardless of who they are.

* The entire League would pool revenue and split it equally.

Hopefully, this would cut out dynasties, outrageous salaries and the drug problem.

Unfortunately, this would never work because you must remember -- "It's not about the money!"