Sports In the Courts Blog : New York Attorneys & Lawyers Specializing in Sports Law & Legal Analysis

Have you watched any TV coverage about the beginning of Spring Training? All the shows I have seen start the same way: A damaging report about steroids. Due to the A-Rod disclosures and the allegations of the union tipping off players to testing, the game has been dealt another serious blow.

The truth is baseball needs a break from its players.

In the era of steroids, HGH and whatever is going on now, we know that the dirty players have always been one step ahead of the cops. In the end, the only group that can really bring about change are the "clean players."

When it comes to the use of the "beanball" in the game, I was always told, "don't worry, the players will police it." When it comes to steroids, the clean players must say "enough!"

The clean players must rise up against the cheaters and overthrow any union leaders who don't support mandatory testing with the strictest methods known to man. A union mutiny has always been unthinkable in baseball. Now it is a necessity. The clean players must start walking the beat.

For too long the union has simply gotten the steroid issue very wrong. There is no labor victory in protecting cheaters. Union leaders (for some unknown reason) must realize that it is NOT their job to protect and advance the careers of dirty players over those who play the game the right way.

However, I don't believe this will change unless -- and until -- the clean players band together and demand real change. They must unify and cause their leadership to renegotiate (yes, again) the testing policy to include blood testing and Olympic protocols. The clean players must fashion a new punishment for the first positive test (i.e., a full-season ban). Finally, the clean players must stop accepting the apologies of dirty players at the drop of a baseball hat and protect the game from those who have no moral compass.

It's time for the clean players to step up to the plate.