I never understood the hero worship of anybody. But then my own ego may be too big to think much of people in that regards. That doesn't mean I don't have favorite players–my recent tribute to Tim Wakefield–but I'm not blinded to the obvious by fantasies.

I agree with you about the media. How about all that Michael Jackson coverage? Give me a break! Walter Cronkite must have been rolling over in his grave before he even died. Now there is someone worthy of three weeks straight intense coverage.

These unfairly labeled athletes have never been given special treatment. Why are you singling them out now?

Give 'em a break…Geez…

It's not like we treat these guys like developing gods starting in Little League. Parents don't put them on year-round traveling teams. Teachers or school officials never let athletics supplant academics as the more important pursuit.. Boosters never invent loopholes to put a star recruit's mom into a new home. The media seldom clamors for fans to give thugs or cheaters another chance.

Do they?

I can't stand to watch a baseball game, anymore. Besides, it is very hard to understand the announcers, given the fact their lips are so firmly puckered on the players asses. Except for DIS writers, you'll never see an article in the big-league media like the one you just wrote.

The seven media conglomerates, which, in essence are one corporate monopoly have no vested interest in policing other monopolies.

Until we fix that problem, we will never get the message out to Bob and Mary in Kansas or Kentucky that their worship of athletes is misguided and potentially very dangerous