Cheaters never prosper, or so they say

It's no secret, we are Dodger Fans.  We are raising the third generation of Dodger fans in our house and I practically sold a kidney to pay for Dodger World Series tickets for my husband and son to attend the World Series games.   However, I'm not a baseball fanatic, I rarely sit and watch an entire game, but my 16 year old son is an avid fan.  He is outraged over the cheating scandal and while I'm shuttling him to the ballfield and to school this is a topic of conversation that has dominated our time together. 

I'm mad too and when he said, "The worst part is there is nothing I can do. The Astros cheated and they are still winners."  I knew I had to show him, you can always do something about it. When there is an injustice, we can take action and make our voice heard.

So here is my letter that I sent to the Commissioner of the MLB. (Major League Baseball)   

Rob Manfred

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball                                                         
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY, 10020

Mr. Manfred,

As I sit here on the uncomfortable bleachers at the Little League Ballfield and watch the next generation of MLB players and fans practice the game they love, I can’t help but feel like somehow, we have lost our way.   We need to chat, not as MLB fan to MLB commissioner, but parent to parent. 

I’m sure you remember what it was like raising your four children.  Shuttling them from their various activities, sitting through games and recitals.  Most of our kids don’t end up being professional ballerinas, piano players, or even baseball players.  We pay the fees, spend our free time on the sidelines, drive them around, and then drive them some more.   But why?   If they aren’t going to end up doing it for a living, why do we do it? 

We do it to teach our kids discipline, hard work, and to put forth a good effort.  They are learning to manage their time, to follow the rules, that practice makes a difference, and most important that cheaters never prosper.  

These kids here on today’s ballfield, they are watching you, watching the MLB teams, and learning a big lesson.  Cheating is worth it. 

They are watching the Houston Astros issue an apology with no sacrifice behind it.  The Astros cheated, they admit it, but they still hold the World Series title.  They still have their rings and the World Series Flag still flies at Minute Maid Park.  They received their bonuses and cashed those checks.   Jose Altuve still holds the MVP title and has admitted cheating.  The message the MLB sent was loud and clear, “Cheaters Win.” You can cheat to win the World Series and the MLB will give your team a fine and take away your draft picks.  Don’t worry, you’ll still retain the title of winner.  You can cheat, but you are still a winner.

I’m feeling a little defeated as a parent.  I’m spending hours of my life trying to raise a baseball player who is skilled and talented so he can live his MLB dream.  With the recent events, I’m not sure it’s worth it.  The cheaters are just going to be the ones who win.  

I hope as you sit in your office you can remember that there are millions of kids out there playing baseball in the US, many of them who have MLB dreams.   They are watching you, watching this scandal unfold and learning from it.  The choices you make are impacting not just the league but the next generation.   I think our kids deserve to play in a society where cheaters never prosper, and I think you want the same for your kids and your family’s future generations.  You have a real opportunity to send a message that cheaters are not winners and I hope you will take it. 

Sincerely,

Wendy 

Parent of an MLB hopeful