Column-Baseball's cleansing crucial for American youth

The intoxicating smell of the freshly cut grass is a subtle reminder of the long season to come. The roar of 45,000 loyal fans shakes the stadium to its very foundation. On opening day, anything is possible.

It's baseball season, and spring is in the air. It doesn't matter if you're eating hot dogs, peanuts or crackerjacks; it's all good as long as the home team wins.

The 2007 Major League Baseball season was unlike any other when it comes to statistical milestones.

Three players hit their 500th home run, which is more than any other year in history. Most notably, Barry Bonds surpassed Hank Aaron as the all time home run leader.

In baseball, statistics are important because they are the one of the only objective ways to measure greatness. Over the last ten years, individual offensive production has been through the roof. This tainted period is known as the Steroid Era.

Baseball is a game of stars and in this day and age, many of the stars have been known to cheat.

The unveiling of the Mitchell Report, which revealed the names of dozens of Major League Baseball players who have allegedly taken steroids or human growth hormone and the evidence that connects these individuals to these acts, has turned the baseball world upside down.

According to the Mitchell Report, these investigations were made to "restore integrity to the game of baseball," and eliminate the competitive advantage of athletes who take illegal substances.

The larger issue is the cultural significance of some of Major League Baseball's most popular players doing steroids and in essence, cheating.

Growing up, little league baseball was the one thing in life in which I experienced the most joy.

As a kid, I spent countless hours mimicking the every move of Major League stars in hope that one day I could be just like them and play baseball for a living.

Unfortunately, the game passed me by somewhere around eighth grade, when the first curve ball had me diving towards the ground, while still managing to cross the inside corner of the plate for a strike. At that point, I decided to take part in sports that were more suited for my athletic prowess.

The message that Major League Baseball players send by doing steroids is that success is not earned through hard work and God-given ability, but through the power of the syringe.

Young boys and girls are highly influenced by professional athletes. The athletic success and subsequent stardom of professional athletes give them instant credibility with youth from all walks of life.

When you have a dream that has been with you for a long time it's hard to take "no," or "you're not good enough," for an answer.

The Steroid Era in Major League baseball may influence kids to start taking steroids at an early age to help keep their dream alive, if even for a little while longer.

The effects of steroids are considerably more dangerous for adolescents than they are for full-grown adults and have even been known to cause mental disorders and contribute to suicides.

The future of Major League Baseball is dependent upon finding ways to eliminate steroids and human growth hormones from the game forever before they do permanent damage to America's pastime.

The new season promises to be one of change and excitement. The future of baseball is bright because on opening day, anything is possible.