Chief Justice to speak at Newhouse III dedication

Chief Justice of the U.S. John Roberts will deliver the keynote address at the dedication ceremony of Newhouse III. The ceremony will take place September 19 and marks the official opening of the building. Steve Davis, the newspaper chair in the Newhouse School, says he thinks it's one of the top three events in the school's history.

"I can't think of anybody who is a more important position when it comes to issues of importance to people in the journalism business," Davis said.

The building's opening comes after over a year of construction, which is expected to be completed by Wednesday. In addition to Roberts, SU chancellor Nancy Cantor and Newhouse Dean David Rubin will speak at the ceremony.

Getting a taste for a story...

After reading through a list of events for the upcoming weekend, I saw exactly what I wanted to report on. FOOD + Italian Culture + Lots of people + FOOD = A great story! I may have made my decision on the account of being hungry and Italian but I like to think I chose this story because it was a major community event that sounded very interesting. Festa Italiana is a three day festival in downtown Syracuse that has food, music, Italian bingo, bocce tournaments and more! What could be better right?

Now that I found a story, I needed an interview. Since my story was leading up to an event I thought I could take an angle that highlighted the vendors preparation for the festival. With sixteen vendors I was positive someone would want to talk to me, a student who has no superiority, connections, or pull. Well I was wrong. After calling eight of the vendors I was starting to get hopeless. They were all busy getting ready for the festival as well as running their restaurants and bakeries. No one had time to talk to me. Finally, I called Joey's Restaurant in Dewitt and they told me to come on in and they would find SOMEONE to talk to me.

After a fifteen minute drive to the restaurant, I walked inside and was greeted by a smiling hostess. The problem? The hostess had no idea who I was and the woman I spoke to who promised me a interview with SOMEONE was no where to be found. But I was in luck! After telling the hostess who I was and what I wanted she sweetly told me that the Director of Operations, Dennis Hayes, was on his way to the restaurant and would be happy to talk to me! I could not have been happier!

After a twenty minute interview with Dennis Hayes (which i was very appreciative for since I knew he was extremely busy getting ready for the festival), I knew I had it! He was amazing and made my job so easy. I learned a lot about the prep work for the festival, the festival itself, and why Joey's is involved. Not only did I learn everything I needed for my story, I learned that Joey's has been around for twenty-five years and the chef also is the current standing Meatball King (pretty impressive if you ask me!).

Conclusion: The people were friendly and the food smelled great so go check it out if you get a chance!

P.S. I attended the event and it was amazing... so were Joey's meatballs!

Festa Italiana

Pots and pans are flying around the kitchen at Joey's Restaurant in Dewitt as they finish up preparations for the start of the tenth annual Festa Italiana in downtown Syracuse.

The festival is a three day event that will showcase sixteen local restaurants and bakeries. This family fun event celebrates Italian heritage with food, live music, Italian bingo, bocce tournaments, children's activities, and more.

Vendors are expecting anywhere between 45,000 and 65,000 attendees. With such large crowds, planning for the event is crucial to how the weekend will go.

Dennis Hayes, the Director of Operations for Joey's Restaurant says, "For about every hour of festival, there is about six to eight hours of planning and work and other efforts, so I will be happy once the festival starts."

Hayes also says that it is all worth it in the end. Festa Italiana is a great way for local businesses to advertise what they have to offer.

"We want to make sure that Joey’s restaurant is recognized in Central New York and in order to do that we have to reach out. We don’t do elaborate TV, radio, or print advertising and we have limited marketing resources. My belief is that to get to the community you’ve got to reach out and participate in the community.”

Festa Italiana kicks off on Friday, September 14th at eleven and continues through the weekend finishing off Sunday at eight. Tents will be set up in front of City Hall at Montgomery and Washington St. Admission is free.

Festa Italiana- Al...

Following the trail of bread crumbs...

For me, the story I covered about Tashlich was particullarly interesting. I atended the service at Thornden park not only as a journalist, but also as a participant.

Following morning service at the Hillel, I was experiencing a crisis of conscience. Although I consider myself a reform Jew, the reform service was a little too reform for me. I did not feel like I had satisfied my religious thirst, especially since it was a high holy day. Knowing that I had to go to class and get my story in by 4:30, I e-mailed Professor Nicholson, letting him know about the pickle I was in. I suggested that I do a story about Tashlich, so that I may attend the service and get the story done. Thankfully, Professor Nicholson allowed me to do this.

The service was supposed to start at 1:30, but nearly an hour later, the rabbinical student who was to lead the service was still at the Hillel leading a discussion about that day's Haftorah.

I decided to forgoe an interview with the rabbinical student, in favor of talking to a person who was going to attend the service because of time constraints. I went into the lobby of the hillel, and asked the first person I saw if they would be willing to talk to me. I got my nat sound at the service itself.

I took a rather unorthodox approach to covering this story, as journalists are usually outside observers. However, I am glad I was able to cover the story in this way, becuase it allowed me to fulfill my needs as both a student and a Jew.

Thornden park site for Taschlich service

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year for Jews, as well as the beginning of a time of self-reflection and repentance. While turn-out at S.U.'s religious services was high Thursday, at least 20 Jews attended a less celebrated, but equally as meaningful service.

A handful of Jews converged on Thornden park to throw bread crumbs into the park's pond to celebrate a tradition called "Tashlich." This custom symbolizes casting one's sins away, as part of the days of repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

Though many Jews do not partake in Tashlich services, some say it helps them to forgive themselves.

"I don't think 'Oh, I'm a better person now. I've thrown away all my sins," said senior Marc Serber. "It's just kind of a way for you to say, 'Okay, I've made mistakes in the past, but I'm going to put that behind me and really charge ahead.'"

Serber said Tashlich's strong symbolism is what makes him participate in the tradition each year.

Alexander-Tashlich...

How Things Came Together

It was pretty easy for me to decide on a story once the assignment was given. I walk past construction workers everyday on my way to classes and I always saw them working hard to make sure the building would be ready in time for the dedication ceremony. The construction of Newhouse III has been a huge story since groundbreaking day, but with deadline quickly approaching the stories have become quick updates that provide know knew information. I didn't want to do an update discussing for the "millionth" time how workers were running out of time. I wanted to put a positive spin and give the workers a voice, because working on the building lets them see the construction from an artistic perspective. I had to interview a few different people before I found someone who'd been part of construction for over 5 months. The more time the person had been on the site, the more willing he seemed to be interviewed. My natural sound was pretty simple to get. I got a clip of bricks being sanded down for a sidewalk which came out pretty well.

Construction Workers Excited

Newhouse III will be introduced to the public this Wednesday as a 74,000-square-foot addition to the existing Newhouse complex. Construction workers will be able to see their $32 million effort take center stage on a historical day that will be celebrated by current students and faculty as well as distinguished alumni.
Burt Romiel has been involved in construction since April and says the construction effort has been efficient and resilient. Romiel looked ahead to September 19th and described the ceremony as "a day that everyone involved in the project would never forget." "It's going to be a wonderful feeling to step back and look and see the work we did," he said. "To me this building is a sign of education and progress."
Chief Justice John Roberts will make a keynote address to dedicate the new building which features expanded lounges, a dining area, and high-tech labs that bring together the different communication disciplines.

Finding a Story

Originally I wanted to do a post game wrap of the SU men's soccer game on Wednesday night. However, I wasn't able to go to Wednesday afternoons soccer game and had to come up with a new idea. On Thursday morning I was sitting in Schine eating breakfast and still had no clue what i was going to cover. As I was finishing off my french toast I bumped into a friend of mine who used to live on my floor last year. He was sitting with 4 guys who are on the lacrosse team. One of the players mentioned practice and I asked him if they had already begun practising for the season. After he confirmed that they had, I decided that I had a decent story idea and conducted impromptu interviews with two of the players: sophomore goalie Al Cavalieri, and sophomore midfielder Nate Tucker (Tucker is sitting out Fall practice due to an injured shoulder). The interviews went smoothly and I was able to pursue a good angle. The biggest problem I had was finding a natural sound and incorporating it into my story and my lead. But after some help form Prof. Nicholson I was able to complete my story.

Lacrosse Fall Ball

Players of the men's lacrosse team were hanging out and having a meal at Schine Student Centre, bracing themselves for tough day of practice. The team wants to make up for the failures of last year when they missed the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. Sophomore goalie Alex Cavalieri says despite the disappointment of last year, the team is confident heading into the season.

"We're pretty motivated, it seems like we're going twice as hard in practice. I think both offensively and defensively we'll make big improvements,” Cavalieri said.

With 8 high school All Americans coming in this year, as well as the returning players from last year, Cavalieri says the team has enough talent for a successful season. The team will get its first chance to prove itself when they play Stonybrook and Hofstra in a tournament on October 13th.

Deadlines...

When I was trying to think of a story to cover for our first wrap, I wanted to do something relevant to the campus, that when being interviewed students could relate to. I also knew the hardest part would be getting natural sound. I've just recovered from my first bout with a cold (there will be many this semester, despite a tonsillectomy this summer, I can assure you), along with many other students and thought that could be an interesting story. Why do kids all get sick when they come back to school? Germs, duh. Natural sound: coughing in the waiting room of the health center. Sound bites: nurses or receptionists with figures, and students, too. Boom. I thought I was in business. Well, it turns out you can't interview anyone at the health center without a request form which takes more than a day to process. There goes that story. When I was trying to figure out what else I could do, I again wanted to focus on the natural sound and work a story around that. Newhouse construction seemed as if it was as good as it was going to get. When I started to find people to interview though is when my story got a little bit more interesting. I stood outside of Schine looking for unsuspecting victims, most of whom turned out to be non-Newhouse majors. When I asked them how they felt about the construction and the dedication, most of them didn't really care, and a couple didn't even know what Newhouse III was. It just so happened that my first interview was with the starting runningback of the football team, which lent itself nicely for a bit of a sports angle as well. I can honestly say that Thursday was a lot of fun. It was challenging, but fulfilling, and the general attitude in the classroom was positive. Everyone was willing to listen and help out with each other, there was definitely a sense of camaraderie, and it was much appreciated. And, it must be said, we all look pretty snazzy in business casual.

My story

By Thursday morning I still did not have the slightest idea what it was I wanted to cover. I knew I wanted to do something that was of interest to many people, including myself. So, as I was walking into Newhouse I remembered Professor Nicholson's suggestion about Newhouse III construction. I found it to be very interesting. Every time I passed the construction workers I wondered if they would finish the building in time for Wednesday's dedication.
My biggest question was how did the people working on the building feel about the progression of the construction. I found two construction workers and asked them some questions. They gave me answers; however, they were not exactly the ones I wanted. The construction workers I talked to did not know much about the building as a whole. They only knew what their job was and how to do it. They told me that they did not rush their work and tried to work at the same pace each day. I knew I needed some extra help. Professor Nicholson suggested I talk to Susan Nash, the Director of Administration. Nash is also the person in charge of overseeing construction on Newhouse III. When I found Nash she was very helpful. She gave me answers about what was finished and what was not. She told me that the building was not going to be completely finished in time for the dedication. However, everything that will be used on Wednesday will be ready in time.

Will it be ready?

Next Wednesday marks a big day for Syracuse University. Students, faculty, alumni and friends are awaiting Chief Justice John Robert's appearance on campus. Roberts will dedicate the newest addition to the Newhouse complex, Newhouse III. With the dedication less than a week away, it has left many to wonder if the construction will be finished in time.
Director of Administration, Susan Nash said, " I think that it's going to be mostly complete and that some places it may not be totally functional, like the AV equipment might not be working." Some constuction workers are putting in ten hour days or double shifts to finish this project, Nash said. There is still more construction to be done after the dedication.

Newhouse III Opens Next Week

Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on Newhouse III, which will be dedicated on Wednesday. With a keynote address being given by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Newhouse community is excited for the unveiling of the new building. Non-Newhouse students aren't as interested in the activity however. "I don't know about the Newhouse that's going to be opening next week. This is my first time hearing about it," Curtis Brinkley, a junior CRS major, said. Students in other colleges felt similarly, saying that they either hadn't heard of the Newhouse III opening or weren't too interested. In his defense, Brinkley is the starting runningback for the win-less Orange football team, and had more important things on his mind than Newhouse III. The Orange lost to Illinois on Saturday, 41 to 20.

My thinking...

Well I wanted to cover sports in some way. Professor Nicholson brought up Pat Campbell and something about the Carrier Dome in class, so I decided I wanted to find out who Pat Campbell was and what he had to do with the football team. I liked this approach to writing about a sporting event because I believe everything that needs to be written about the football team and its performance has already been written. I also found out a lot about the baskground as to what goes in to preparing for a football and basketball game, which I couldn't fit into my wrap. Campbell related the Carrier Dome on game day to a small city. He has over 1000 people working at the dome including public works, security, medical staff, concessions and things like that. It was basically a smaller version of everything you would actually need in a small town. The most interesting thing I found out is he has to hire extra secuirty guards for later games because the crowd is in a worse mood and students have more time to party before the game. This is especially the case for football games. Campbell also restated what Professor Nicholson has constantly said: Syracuse the city is seen through SU's sports teams. Campbell said the area has no other major league teams or programs to support so they all feel tied directly to Syracuse.

SU Expects Smaller Crowd

Smaller crowds are expected for the Syracuse football game this Saturday against Illinois. This wavering attendance is not the case at many colleges throughout the nation.
“In other areas, it doesn’t matter really how the teams is doing. People still show up. Here it’s not that way. It very much is dependant on winning and who we’re playing,” Pat Campbell, the manager of the Carrier Dome, said.
The attendance is anticipated to come up well short of the 40,329 people that were at the home opener against Washington. This wavering attendance is not the case for basketball games where the Orange led the Big East in attendance despite missing the NCAA tournament.
People in central New York choose to go spend more time at other attractions in the area when the football team is not playing well, unlike in other college towns where there is nothing else to do on Saturday afternoons, Campbell said.

The Making Of...

Covering this story was simply a matter of making sure I was in the right place at the right time. As soon as Prof. Nicholson gave me the idea to cover Rosh Hashanah, I knew exactly whom I wanted to use as a source and exactly what I wanted to ask the source about. Luckily, in my past experiences with the Hillel at SU I have gained a vast knowledge of how things work there and who is in charge, so contacting my source was easy. Once I set an appointment to make sure he knew I was coming, all I had to do was go on with my schedule for the day: attending services. After services, where I had to tactfully hold up my recorder while going unnoticed, problems started to arise. I soon figured out why working on deadline can create a lot of stress. My services (reform services, held at the Hillel center) let out around noon. The conservative services, though, went significantly longer. In fact, that service didn't let out until 1 p.m. My source, the Executive Director of the Hillel, who happened to have been experiencing his first Rosh Hashanah as Executive Director, was at the conservative services. He left early to come meet me, but by the time he got to the Hillel, there was a bit of a food crisis. Reform attendees had been eating for about 30 minutes already, and they were beginning to run out of food. I was able to steal him away from his duties for 15 minutes, where he told me about all of this and also opened my eyes to the fact when Syracuse is in session, the school adds 40% to the total Jewish population in Syracuse. Lowell Lustig really told me a lot about how Hillel accommodates so many people during the High Holiday season and Passover, which happens in the spring.

The Shofar in September

The shofar sounded throughout the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life and Hendricks Chapel Thursday morning. It marked the beginning of the holiest two weeks of the Jewish Calendar. It started with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. No champaign was served at this year's services, though. Apples and honey signify the sweet new year. What might sour that new year, though, is that classes are in session. The holiday fell on a weekend last year, but this year it's during the week. This has been a problem for many students, as they must endure the tough task of balancing school and religion, Lowell Lustig, Executive Director Hillel, said.

"I think it's an ongoing challenge that begins in college when students are making decisions on their own," he said. "It will be part of the choices they make and the values they hold for the rest of their lives."

Enough people are making the decision to come to Hillel for holiday meals that the staff had to ask Shaw Dining Hall to make more food, Lustig said. He estimated that over 250 students came to dinner at the center Wednesday night.

Neighbors Unite to Control Student Rentals

Students returning to off campus rentals can expect a visit from a city inspector sometime this year. This procedure is part of the new Certificate of Sufficiency ordinance which was backed by the South East University Neighborhood Association. This new ordinance, which requires that all absentee owned rentals be inspected every three years to make sure it meets city codes, is just another step taken by SEUNA towards its goal of controlling the density of student rentals near campus. Their biggest fear is that there are more than five unrelated students living in these rentals says SEUNA Treasurer Harry Lewis. Over the summer the group pushed the city to limit the number of unrelated adults that could live in a house to three but the Common Council refused, fearing lawsuits. SEUNA has continued to work to lower the growing number of students in campus area neighborhoods by supporting the proposal of a new ordinance that would limit the number of parking spaces a new rental could have. The ordinance has not yet been approved.

Running for Inspiration

I got a little stuck coming up with a topic that was on campus, something the community would care about, and not the same thing that everyone else was doing. To clear my head I went on a run, I took my usual route through the neighborhoods right off campus and it reminded me of this neighborhood group I'd learned about in RTN 205 last year. The group had a lot of problems with student rentals and made a big deal about controlling them last year, I wondered if they'd be at it again this year. That's when it hit me that I should find out right my story about it. I found the South East University Neighborhood Association website and found that they were indeed still active, they had one new ordinance going into effect this year, had one struck down by the city over the summer, and had one still in the approval process. I called the number posted on the website and got the home of the treasurer who agreed to meet with me the next day. I was shocked, I couldn't believe how easy it was to get him to talk to me on short notice. I figured out why it had been so it easy the next day, Harry Lewis had just turned 80 although you couldn't really tell and I'm pretty sure he was thrilled to get out of the house and talk to anyone. He was really nice and gave me a lot of good information, the thing was he wasn't very sure about all the new ordinances and seemed a little confused which really confused me which stressed me out. I think meeting with the President of SEUNA would have been more helpful but he never returned my call. Still, Mr. Lewis offered a different view from the website that seems a little harsh and rather anti-student, he wanted to stress that the group wasn't anti-student at all, but just like many things a few bad apples spoils the bunch and that's who SEUNA is really after. He also said that the group wants to teach students now how to be good renters and neighbors for when they are older and out of school

Trying a different angle

The hardest part about my story was that I knew other kids in the class were doing stories on Rosh Hashanah, and I wanted to use it from a different angle. Even though I knew not all of us would write identical stories, I wanted to try a different approach, and coming up with that was the hardest part. It wasn't until I talked to some non-Jewish friends, who didn't know anything about Rosh Hashanah, that I realized it might be interesting to write a story about the holiday from a non-Jewish perspective. That's when I decided to interview one of the fathers of the Roman Catholic Church on campus instead of one of the rabbis. Getting in touch with Father John was really simple once I found the phone number on the Hendrick's Chapel website.
It was easy to come up with the interview questions, and Professor Nicholson gave me the idea for my last question, which asked "What is your reaction to the document that the Pope okay-ed over the summer calling Protestant and Orthodox faiths 'not proper churches' and the Roman Catholic religion 'one true faith'?" I did a little background research on this document to find out what it was all about, and Father John had an interesting answer. He said that idea is not new, and the belief about the Roman Catholic churches being the "one true faith" is just a theory the Catholics hold onto. It is not meant to offend other religions, and they are not against people of other faiths for having different belief systems.

How DID she do it?

I don't think that scheduling an interview was all that hard. I knew that I wanted to do an article about the new Marshall Square Mall gym. So, I went online and got Joseph Lore's number and called the office ad scheduled an interview. I did it as soon as I possibly could so that I had the best chance of getting him right when it was convenient for me.

I tried to chat with him beforehand to get him to warm up to me, because I figured if some random girl came to me and stuck a microphone in my face, i wouldn't be too inviting. I discovered, as I was talking to him, that my story was evolving into something more. The more I talked to him, and the more used to me he became, Joe began to let up some more details about this new gym that SU had going on. I started to get really into what he was saying, and i felt really interested. I think the more excited about it I became, the more excited he became about talking to be about it. It turned out that most of my better sound bites came from the end of the interview.

I think the hardest part was recording the natural sound, because it really is awkward to go up to a girl on a treadmill and basically stick your microphone up her shorts... but that's a completely different story.

Shana Tovah!

Today marks the happy new year to all Jewish students and faculty at Syracuse University and around the world. Though most students are upset about having classes on Rosh Hashanah, the staff and faculty seem to understand the university's reasoning for making such a decision. They say classes are canceled for next Friday, which is Yom Kippur, the most religious day of the Jewish calendar. It's more sensible to cancel classes next week than today because Yom Kippur is holier than Rosh Hashanah, and S.U. needs to pick and choose which holidays are important enough to cancel classes. Father John Ruffo from the Alibrandi Catholic Center on campus says he thinks the university does a good job at devoting attention to all religions and faiths on campus. He says if you go to the Hendrick's Chapel website, there are loads of information about all the religious groups on campus and when services and celebrations are held for each. He also says if a new faith wanted to hold some kind of service or celebration on campus, Hendrick's Chapel is really flexible and would "bend over backwards" to accommodate the group.

A new gym? On campus? BRILLIANT!

A new gym is going into the new dormitory that is being built in front of Dellplain Hall. The gym is going to be massive, having several thousand square feet of gym space, and an additional two-thousand square foot dance studio. Interim Director of Recreation Services, Joseph Lore said Syracuse is in the midst of a huge expansion facility-wise. A good chunk of his plan is adding onto exisiting gyms, like putting TVs in Marion, and moving some more equipment into Brockway.
When this gym is built, Syracuse will be among the top 100 schools in the country for fitness facilities per volume of machinery. Also, in the future, Lore hinted at an entirely new gym on South Campus, although he didn't specify whether it would be placed in a residence hall, or in another building completely. Also, another seperate gym facility is going to be added on North campus, independent of any residence hall or existing building. There is no times table for these events, but it looks like SU is getting healthy, and it is getting there quicker than ever.

Major League Bull

It's easy to hate Barry Bonds, yet it's impossible to deny his impact on the sport of baseball. No other player has commanded the attention of an entire nation such as Bonds has in his quest to rewrite the history books of America's treasured past time. As the son of former MLB all-star Bobby Bonds; the godson of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, and a distant cousin of Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, it seems that Bonds evolving into the most prolific athlete baseball has produced in recent memory is just another footnote in his families rich major league history. Steroids have questioned the legitimacy of his records, but his numbers still are remarkable in an age where inflation in athlete production has skyrocketed thanks to the help of modern day chemistry. Trainers have gained valuable experience in weightlifting, nutrition, conditioning, and recovery, but in an age where our professional athletes are being pressured to perform at a consistently high level, it seems as if players (w/ the consent of their owners) are willing to use illegal enhancing drugs to keep them ahead of the pack. The problem isn't Barry Bonds; it's the entire league (including its fans) that should be held responsible for their product. Everytime Bonds hits a home run, ratings go up...as do advertisers and fan interest. Breaking the homerun record brought much needed interest back into America's pastime, no matter if the energy directed towards the sport was negative or positive. As they say, "any publicity is good publicity." Baseball will recover from Bonds' steroid controversy and produce a new homerun king (A-Rod) to challenge for the throne, but it's sad that so many involved in the sport have turned their backs on one of the greatest players ever to play the game. Barry Bonds didn't cheat, rather he played by new rules set up by a league that has suddenly chosen to use him as an example in order to deflect the blame. A league desperate for bigger, faster, better, and flashier stars to catch the interest of a public conditioned to watch bigger-then-life athletes dominate the realms of football and basketball. "It's not cheating, if everyone else is doing it"...is it? I guess that's a question Bonds should have asked his trainer before deciding to juice up.

Bonds or Baseball?

Does it matter if one person is cheating when majority of the other players are too? Does it only matter when that person is breaking records? The problem we have here is the case of a scapegoat. Why is this man's achievements under scrutiny while others are not? When Barry Bonds broke the home run record, he did not receive just accolades for his achievements. Should he have his name forever remembered for breaking a home run record or should he be forever shunned for the use of steroids? Everyone has attacked one batter who uses a drug to enhance his ability, but who has the advantage when both a pitcher and a batter are on steroids? Yes Babe Ruth may have not had any help in his records, but with steroids being such an epidemic in the world of baseball today it is rare to find an athlete who has not played against, with, or while taking the drug themselves. What can not be denied is the fact that Barry Bonds has accomplished something impressive in the baseball world today and he should be recognized for that. What should be scrutinized is the fact that the baseball world is not what it used to be. It is not a sport of pure god given talent, sweat, and sheer determination. It is tainted with drugs, pressure, and controversy.

this is the title

Honestly I don't know too much about this whole thing, but I suppose Barry Bonds did cheat big time. But um... it's always exciting and entertaining to see records being broken, so Barry did accomplish something regardless of what the means were. I'm not saying I agree with cheating or not taking baseball seriously. I'm saying I "agree with", however shallow it might sound, entertainment.

Barry Bonds

Because baseball is a sport rich with tradition that dates back to the 1800s in the U.S., its individual records are highly valued in the sports world, perhaps more than in any other game. So when somebody suddenly starts to approach arguably the most beloved indivdual record in baseball, the all-time home run record, the person will naturally come under intense scrutiny by the media. Of course, Barry Bonds is no ordinary figure in baseball. He has been accused of cheating by way of illegal substances to enhance performance, and he has been a polarizing figure during his lenghty career. However, he has NEVER been caught cheating. He is innocent until proven guilty, but because of overwhelming speculation, he has been seen in a negative light during his entire run to the top of the home run list. Jason Giambi, on the other hand, has openly admitted to taking steroids, but continues to play for the Yankees and is not generally hated by the baseball world like Bonds is. The bottom line remains that Bonds is looked down upon because of not what he has accomplished in his career, but how he accomplished it and because of its significance in baseball history. Giambi gets off the hook in the public eye because he's not breaking records, but Bonds is scrutinized for "supposedly" breaking the most important record in the game. Even if he did cheat, which is very possible, the media should let up a bit until the truth comes out. If it ever does.

The 'Roid to Victory

To be perfectly honest, I do not have a very set opinion on this whole "Barry-Bonds-juices-up-so-he-can-break-records" issue. I just think that the issue goes beyond whether or not his record is legitimate. Barry Bonds used illegal steroids--key word being illegal. You break the law, you break the rules, you should accept the consequences. I would say that I don't see how it's fair to the other players who are itching to take the record for themselves when the competition uses anabolic steroids. However, because, according to USA Today's Chuck Johnson, five to seven percent of Major League Ball players tested positive for anabolic steroids in a recent non-random drug test (leading most believe the problem is much more prevalent), I have trouble believing that other players can truly be upset by Bonds' 'roids won victory. That would be "the pot calling the kettle black", if you ask me. The real issue is how the media and therefore the media consumers view Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds is not a particularly amiable man when it comes to his dealings with the press. The press has the ultimate say in how a person or event is portrayed to the masses. Rather than a celebration of the broken record, the media chose to seek revenge on Bonds by focusing on the cheapness of the victory. I honestly don't know if Bonds legitimately broke the home run record, because my perception has been skewed by the media.

What About the Game?

When it comes to the issue of baseball players and steroid use, it goes beyond those players who have used them to win championships and break records. It comes down to the game itself. The players of Major League Baseball are getting paid to play the game they love because they are the best in the country, on their own. By taking steroids players are cheating the fans and cheating the game. What will become of baseball, America's past time, if it is no longer about talent but rather who is "juiced". If a player can not keep up with, or stay at the top of, the level of play in the league perhaps it is time for him to step aside and let a new generation take the stage and allow the game to progress naturally. The title of "pro" loses some of its magic if the player who gained this status is not maintaining it with hard work and natural talent. These guys are talented enough to get into the league, they shouldn't have to take steroids to continue to play in the league.

Bondsy!!!

In 1998, Barry Bonds appeared to be the third best home run hitter in all of baseball behind Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. He knew that he was the best hitter and that they had an unfair advantage. He stooped to their level and began taking steroids so he could raise his game above their level. Since then, he has hit hundreds of home runs and now holds the record for home runs in a season and in a career. Because of these records, and his strong disconnection from the media, he has become the most scrutinized player in all of professional sports.

Bonds cheated. He deserves to be under fire, but he also needs to be respected as the best baseball player in an era when experts estimate about 50% of the players used some type of steroid.