The Costas Now (HBO) edition on “Steroids in Baseball,” should be required viewing for every baseball fan. It is an hour that covers not only baseball?s biggest controversy, but its biggest problem.
This week I asked Bob Costas what he hoped fans of baseball would take away from the show.
“I hope people understand that this is a problem that we can?t overlook or deny. The steroid era ranks only behind the segregation era as one of baseball?s biggest problems,” Costas said.
A roundtable discussion featuring Bob Gibson, Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver talked about this being “The Chemical Era,” and none of the panel felt there should be asterisks on any of the major records broken this time. They all agreed that if Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron?s record then he should be in the record books without any mark by his name. “The fans have an asterisk in their mind. There is no need to put it in the record books,” McCarver said.
Costas has an exclusive interview with Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who is Barry Bonds? godfather, and he had some tough love for his godson.
Bob Costas: “Have you ever seen anybody who you said, ?That guy is as good or better than me??”
Willie Mays: “I can?t. You name one, and I?ll tell you no. Just name one. Anybody.”
Bob Costas: “Barry Bonds?”
Willie Mays: “No. Barry couldn?t throw with me. He might not been able to run with me. Let?s give him hitting since he hit 73 (homers). Don?t think I can hit 73 home runs. I give him that. But, what else?”
Costas Now canbe seen on HBO many times this month, and it is well worth the time for baseball fans.
Later this month Costas will be in Baltimore to give a commencement speech, for Loyola College on May 20 at 1st Mariner Arena. He said that he enjoys talking to students about issues of the day. It is one of the most satisfying things that I get to do,” he said.
ON THE AIR
CSTV will air the Penn-Maryland lacrosse game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
