It was Spring Training 1996 and there I was a young 11 year old boy standing in awe of all the ball players around me.

Living nearby at the time, we decided to drive to Peoria, Arizona, which was where the San Diego Padres training complex was located. We had decided to take the day and go to their practices for the morning.

I really did not know a whole lot in particular about the Padres at the time, but was just entering upon what would become a life long obsession for the game of baseball.

I had the privilege of collecting what would be some of my first major league baseballs. Along with the chance to acquire various autographs from many different minor and major league players who had been invited to camp.

The atmosphere and experience for me was nothing short of heaven. I had now been hooked for life.

As it started to reach mid-afternoon, things began to quiet down around the complex. Some players had left and we were contemplating leaving also, but we decided to go after a few more last chance autographs.

I can remember seeing this massive guy who had huge arms. He had this scowl on his face to go along with his sunburned skin and over grown facial hair. What an intimidating figure.

As I approached the guy I hesitantly put out my little hand and it nearly was crushed by this rough, rock solid grip from the other guy. I even forgot to ask for the autograph since I was just frozen in the presence of this guy.

That guy would turn out to be Ken Caminiti. In that season he would go on to win the NL MVP award by batting .326 to go along with 40 home runs and 130 RBIs. This served as one of the first big encounters I had ever had with a superstar athlete.

Sadly, that same "massive guy with those huge arms" has since passed away. Little did I know at the time, but probably the same day I shook Caminiti's hand, that very hand would be used to self administer steroids, perhaps even that morning or night.

Caminiti, later admitted to using steroids during that MVP season in 1996. He constantly was battling serious injuries and what had been a very average career up to that season in his career.

Today as the black cloud of steroids has exploded into the mainstream, the finger pointing game has begun.

Recently, Jose Canseco wrote a book in which he accused players of using steroids, and then Congress sent out subpoenas to some of the best players in the game that requires them to testify next week.

Barry Bonds came into Spring Training this year with a press conference that rocked the world, while Jason Giambi said he was sorry for "something," which we still have not figured out.

And the list goes on...

"Who used the cream?"

"Who used the clear?"

"Do steroids have anything to do with hand to eye coordination?"

These are some of the questions that have been thrown around as the finger pointing game is well underway.

MLB thought they solved the problem when they instituted their new drug-testing program that has now gone into effect. Perhaps Congress thinks they can help fix the problem by sending out subpoenas to some of the game?s biggest stars. Fans think they can help by attaching asterisks to all records that have now been broken in "The Steroid Era."

Then why am I still disappointed with all of this? No, not because my friend actually had the guts to ask Caminiti for the autograph back on that Spring day in 1996.

Because out of all of these problems that have evolved with the steroids controversy, no one has assumed responsibility and sincerely apologized.

It has just turned into one big game of dodging bullets and not owning up to what some players have done. People are always accusing others and placing their blame onto other people. Some have offered excuses that they did not know what they were taking. Still others have said it is there business only, as to what goes into their bodies.

So what is it then that the true fans of baseball want to see or get done?

We want to see Barry Bonds apologize and tell everyone how stupid he was to use steroids.

We want Jason Giambi to say to the fans that he used steroids.

We want to see all of the GMs across baseball acknowledge the fact that they were looking the other way and collecting huge profits throughout the 1990s as their players took serious health risks to turn up record amounts of fans at the gates.

We want the players in Spring Training to tell us this is an important issue, and not just something that is never discussed in their club-houses.

We want to see Commissioner Bud Selig admit it to be his fault for failing to address this problem years ago, by not instituting a strict policy.

We want the players to have healthy lives and realize the risks involved.

Most of all we just want someone to say they?re sorry.