The attention given to the Sammy Sosa story this week got me thinking. For those unaware, Chicago Cubs player Sammy Sosa was caught using a corked bat during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday.

Baseball has come under increasing criticism from its fan base in recent years. The fatigue over the 1994 strike, the explosion in player salaries, and the pressure of cities to publicly fund new stadiums for their teams are just some of the issues on the minds of current and former fans of the sport. Unlike a fan who dislikes hockey, basketball, or football, sports fans who speak out against Major League Baseball often do so with a passion akin to one who had a messy divorce or who was cheated on by their mate.

The average attendance has dropped as have the television ratings. However, when the Sammy Sosa story broke this week, it received national and international attention. His eight game suspension was even a headline story on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer on Friday. It's not as if it was a slow news week either. Many major stories broke this week including the resignations at the New York Times, the indictment of Martha Stewart, and President Bush's trip to the Middle East.

What that indicates to this consumer is that while baseball may no longer be America's pastime, it still holds an important place in American culture. To simplify this case, think of baseball as a family member or close friend who occasionally gets himself into trouble, and just can't seem to straighten his life out. You may get frustrated with his antics, but you could never see yourself completely abandoning him.