From Move the Needle.net
By John P. Lock
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We are all just pawns in their game. We are allowed to see what
they let us. It's like a magician and his tricks. Yes, they are illusions but how do I do them? They try to convince you that illusions ARE magic. Just like the NBA tries to tell you they don't care who is in the NBA finals.Manny Ramirez was tested for a P.E.D. in Spring Training and the tests came back at a high level of testosterone. They didn't know if the high level were natural or unnatural so they tested him a second time. The results came back as unnatural.
MLB gave Manny a chance to supply evidence against these positive test results. Time passed and he could not supply the proper evidence to do so and they decided to suspend him.
It's no secret the NBA needs the Lakers or Knicks to be successful. Heck, during the Kobe/Shaq era they changed the playoff format to 7 games in round 1 because they knew nobody could beat LA 4 times in a series.
MLB is a business. NBA is a business. NFL is a business. They are the same as NBC or Apple. If NBC loses their hit show their network will suffer. If Apple loses Steve Jobs they know they are in a world of hurt.
The MLB needs big market teams to succeed. The Yankees are MLB's "Steve Jobs." So it is no surprise to me that MLB waited to release the news and suspend Manny Ramirez when their biggest star Alex Rodriguez was set to return. A-Rod does not handle pressure well. Look at his playoff stats.
Perhaps there are no two bigger stars in the sport right now than Manny and A-Rod. How could MLB take the spotlight off their biggest star in a time when the world will be watching him and putting extreme pressure on him to succeed while "clean?" Easy, move the spotlight across the country to LA.
Do you think the ESPN's of the world were updating us on how well A-Rod was doing the day before his return? No, they were covering Manny while A-Rod slipped through the back door back into MLB.
Don't be naive. NBA referees help determine games. Boxers are paid to take a fall. MLB tells you what to think.
