Letters to the editor. (The Fans Speak Out).(Letter to the Editor)

Sammy Sosa's corked bat incident (on June 3 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Wrigley Field) adds to why baseball is, in my opinion, America's greatest pastime.

A true symbol of the United States would not be complete without a shadow of doubt; that hint of controversy which follows every image of heroism, be it that of a president, movie star, rock 'n' roll band or athlete.

Sammy has pushed the game to a new level, but now with his accomplishments comes a reminder that things may not be quite as they appear.

Will his violation raise questions about the validity of his case for a spot in the Hall of Fame some day?

Every day people prove that despite laws and enforcement, rules can still be broken. Sometimes, we even avoid the consequences, and this holds true in baseball. Honest mistake or not, this was not the first time a player got caught breaking the rules, and it certainly won't be the last.

Baseball fans live for these events--the inconsistencies within a constant and unchanging tradition that give baseball its character: the Black Sox scandal, use of steroids, scuffed balls and corked bats all help make baseball real.

Baseball is America's game because it is the closest thing we have to reality in sports. Sosa's ejection from the game against the Devil Rays and his subsequent suspension will not harm baseball, but instead mark a new chapter in what makes the game so interesting. It adds another piece of history to an already controversial "long ball era."