Which would be worse?

Performance Enhancing Drugs have left a lasting impression across the world of sports. For fans out there, youngsters especially , it seems there are fewer people to look up to.  For every week that passes there is another star busted for banned substances. The worst part? At this point it is difficult for fans to trust the stats, performances and careers of all those who still appear legit. 

Baseball fans have struggled with this the most over the past few years. Between the worthless home run race of 1998, the Barry Bonds saga and now Alex Rodriguez/Manny Ramirez/ David Ortiz; why should baseball fans trust their beloved sport?

Well, what if the worst is yet to come...what if all the "good ones" that are left are just as guilty as the aforementioned? What  would you say if Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Usain Bolt and LeBron James were all busted for PED's over the next twenty four months. Would you be surprised, upset or even shocked? Have sports fans lost the ability to be shocked? Has that all been used up? 

I mean what is the home run record to you? Is it 73 or 61? Have we ever seen a 6'9" point-forward that can average 27 points a game, barrel through post defenders and score at will inside? 

Have we ever been so privileged to watch a 6'5" 22 year-old world class sprinter shatter world records with out finishing the race in full stride?

We all thought we had a triple crown winner in Big Brown and even he was busted for being on steroids!

Albert Pujols is absolutely gigantic! He makes large-bodied players look small. However, his numbers have been consistent since he broke out in St. Louis. He hits for average, power and can spread the ball to all fields. Not to mention, he is an above average first basemen. 

I want to believe in Big Al. I really do. 

Derek Jeter has been giving his all since 1995, when he first got a chance to play shortstop for the New York Yankees. He has won the rings, always been a class act and continues to play at a high level. Now it is 2009, Jeter is batting .335 and is on pace for a 20+ home run season. I have been a Yankee fan my entire life and I still wonder/hope about the purity of The Captain's career. 

Mr. Bolt is younger than me. He has two gold medals and currently holds world records in the 100m and 200m dash. Not only has he broken records, he has absolutely shattered them. He wins races with his arms spread eagle, smiling from ear to ear. He finishes so far ahead of the rest of his WORLD CLASS peers that he could probably run the final stretch backwards. He IS the most exciting athlete on the planet right now! But, is he clean?

King James has been hyped since his freshman year at St. Vincent's St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio. Ever since we all saw him with his tattoos covered up, gold jersey and green head band he was supposed to replace Michael Jordan. James is a beast. He can get to the hole at will. His court vision rivals Magic Johnson's. He is unselfish, gritty and a true killer on the court. But have we ever seen anyone his size move the way he does? Are 6'9", 275-pound men supposed to go from baseline to baseline that fast? He is completely unstoppable going to the basket when he gets one dribble and tucks his head down. I don't care if he is guarded by Ron Artest and the rim is being monitored by Dwight Howard and Shaq! LeBron is the first of his kind.

So is Bolt.

I love sports. I also love, with all my heart, the performances these four men continue to deliver. For the record, I don't think any of them are cheating. However, it seems that everyone else is, which makes it difficult for fans to trust what we see these days.

What bothers me the most is that if it ever came out that Bolt, James, Pujols or Jeter did use steroids...I don't think I would be surprised. 

And that breaks my heart.