Heroic

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/08/us/uncommon-valor/index.html?hpt=us_t3

This is a long article but a great read so I highly recommend it if you've got time.

     While I was looking for an interesting story in the wide world of sports like usual, I found a different story.  I found the story of Clint Romesha, a former Army staff sergeant who will be receiving the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during a fierce battle on October 3, 2009 in Afghanistan.  He is only the fourth living person to receive this honor for actions in Afghanistan/Iran.  It'll be tough to summarize this article completely because any short summary I give won't be giving Romesha enough credit, but I'll give it my best shot.  Basically, during a battle known as one of the worst ground attacks during the Afghanistan war that took place on Combat Outpost Keating, Romesha led a small group of men after eight American men on that post had died.  He helped free some men who were trapped in a Humvee and also helped hold the Taliban off until air support came. 

     After reading the story of the battle for COP Keating, I feel a great deal of admiration for Romesha and every other man involved in this battle.  I think that he fully deserves the Medal of Honor and praise for his actions during this battle.  It's a really insightful story because it tells about some of the hardships and trauma of being in a battle.  It's a great story and one that needs to be told during times when all you hear about are the death and destruction that occurs during war.

     There is only one thing though, that bothers me after reading this.  It says in the story that COP Keating is in an indefensible spot.  Romesha was quoted saying that it wasn't a matter of "if" the Taliban would attack, it was a matter of "when" they would attack.  I don't understand why whoever sends the soldiers to different camps/outposts would send anybody to a spot where there will most certainly be death and compromising the safety of the soldiers sent there. ??? If anybody has an answer to this question...

     Other than this though, it's a great story and awesome to hear of somebody so heroic.

Steroids in the MLB

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/49258/baseballs-ped-problem-wont-seem-to-go-away  (of of ESPN.com)

     It started with some of the supposed "greats" such as Sammy Sosa , Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, and the biggest: Barry Bonds.  It continues today in supposed "great" players such as Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, Gio Gonzalez, and David Ortiz.  It's the steroid era in the MLB.  A time in which players all around the MLB are trying to gain an (unfair) advantage. 
     This article talks about four players who have received steroids from a clinic in Florida and how they feel about their decisions and defending themselves.
     The question that I would like to discuss is this: Should Major League Baseball legalize some steroids so that some players don't have the unfair advantage and put everyone on equal playing ground?  The actual number of players doing steroids is unknown.  If it's something that "every player is doing," then it's beyond the point where players are gaining an unfair advantage, and to the point where the players who aren't doing roids are getting gypped.  If only a select few are doing steroids (which is what I'd like to believe but see as unlikely), then the MLB needs to crack down and start doing some serious mid-season drug testing. The second seems like it would be more effective because even if the MLB legalizes some steroids, then some players will seek out stronger ones and the cycle will never stop.  But if Major League Baseball ends up suspending a bunch of players (especially today's stars) then ratings will continue to fall for an already dying sport.  Even though it's a no-win situation, I'd like to see the latter as baseball has always been one of my favorite sports and it's a shame to see players who won't just play for the love of the game.