'One-size-fits-all' justice not appropriate in every case

   The news has been all awash this week with news about baseball's Biogenesis scandal, and, in particular, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Major League Baseball has been fighting for a decade now to rid itself of the taint of performance-enhancing drugs, and Monday, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig took a major step in the right direction when he lowered the boom on 13 players, including All-Stars Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers and Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers. Twelve players received suspensions of 50 games. And Rodriguez? He was hit with the stiffest penalty since Pete Rose accepted a lifetime ban from the game two decades ago after it was found he bet on baseball while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games -- the remainder of this season and all of next year. He's appealing, refusing to admit he did anything wrong, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. In my mind, he needs to shut up and go away. The more he talks, the more he's hurting the game he claims to love so much. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised by Rodriguez' actions. He is, after all, the most selfish player of his generation.
   One of the interesting debates that has arisen out of the Biogenesis mess is the role our professional athletes play in our society as role models to today's youth. There are many who feel that Rodriguez deserved a lifetime ban from baseball. I agree, but it isn't just because he cheated by using performance-enhancing drugs. Rodriguez deserved a lifetime ban because he's a repeat offender. He admitted he used PEDs between 2001-2003 while a member of the Texas Rangers. At the time he finally came clean about that, he promised that he would steer clear of PEDs from then on. As we now know, he lied.
   Rodriguez also deserves a lifetime ban because he lied to investigators after MLB began looking into allegations surrounding Biogenesis in January. Worse, according to the commissioner's office, he actively sought to hinder the investigation. Rodriguez is a selfish, self-centered narcissist. Through his words, and more important, through his actions, he has shown himself unworthy to play baseball. He should be banned, and every one of his records, including his 647 home runs should be stricken from the record books.
   Unfortunately, not every case is as clear-cut as Rodriguez'. There are many who believe that the only way to clean up the game is for MLB to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy -- one time getting caught using PEDs or other illegal substances and you're automatically gone for life. While that sounds good in theory, I don't think a "one-size-fits-all" approach to justice works here.
   To begin with, baseball's history is littered with big names that probably would never have seen the light of day in today's game. Babe Ruth, besides being one of the greatest home run hitters ever, was a known drunk womanizer and carouser. Ty Cobb, though he didn't start drinking until after his playing days, was allegedly a violent racist. More recently, Steve Howe violated MLB's anti-drug policy seven times while fighting a cocaine addiction. And both Dwight "Doc" Gooden and Darryl Strawberry -- two of the most famous players of modern times -- have struggled with addiction issues for years. Should these players have been banned for life because of their personal demons? That depends.
   I understand, and fundamentally agree with the idea that professional athletes -- because they're in the public eye and make so much money -- should be held to a higher standard. Professional athletes DO need to understand that with their fame comes the responsibility of being role models to millions of impressionable youths. I also agree that today's youth need to be made to understand that bad choices have real consequences.
   But those who are focused only on the punishment aspect of the Biogenesis case are missing the other valuable lesson that can come out of this mess: The power of forgiveness and redemption. Yes, young people do need to be taught that their actions have consequences. And athletes who transgress by using illegal substances such as cocaine SHOULD  be punished. But here's the truth: Athletes, for all their otherworldly skills, are human. And as humans, they make mistakes, just like the rest of us. If we are going to expect perfection from our athletes with a "zero tolerance" policy, it won't be long before there are very few professional athletes left.
   A better approach would be to judge each case on an individual basis. If you have an athlete that tests positive for cocaine, for instance, offer that player a chance to get treatment at MLB's expense. If he accepts, send him to treatment and when he returns, drug test him regularly and require that he attend counseling. On a second offense, again extend the olive branch of treatment, but this time, tack on a suspension of a minimum 100 games. When he returns, double the frequency of drug testing and continue with the counseling. On his third offense, ban him for life. This approach not only recognizes that a player has a real, definable illness, but puts the responsibility for getting better and continuing his career squarely on the player's shoulders, where it belongs. In my mind, it is the right mix of compassion and consequences.
   As for those caught using PEDs, again each case should be judged individually and on its own merits. In this case, it all revolves around a player's intent. If a player tests positive for steroids, but can show a legitimate reason for the positive test -- receiving a steroid shot as part of a legitimate medical treatment, for instance -- then no foul. If, however, it can be conclusively shown that the player took PEDs to try and gain an unfair competitive advantage -- as in Rodriguez' case, then ban them for life and wipe any records they might have set from the record books.
   Alex Rodriguez is a cheater and a disgrace to the game of baseball. He has more than earned his suspension, and I sincerely hope it puts and end to his career and keeps him from ever getting into the Hall of Fame. But for every Rodriguez, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, there are plenty of great players who are struggling with their personal demons. Those people deserve punishment for their transgressions, yes, but they also are deserving of our compassion and an opportunity to get their lives and career back on track.
   It's that sense of compassion that I hope doesn't get lost in all the controversy surrounding Biogenesis and Rodriguez. Yes, those who got caught deserve to be punished, even to be banned for life. But as important as it is to teach the next generation that actions have consequences, it's equally important to teach them that one mistake doesn't have to define your entire life. It's important to teach them that forgiveness, and even redemption, is possible.