Flying through LAX offers many benefits, not the least of which is exposure to so many different kinds of people. It’s not every day you get to sit next to a six-foot-three German guy and peer over his shoulder at his gossip mag.

Right there next to a photo of Rafael Palmeiro, I spotted the headline, “Ist das doping?!” You don’t have to speak auf Deutsch to figure that one out; America’s pastime is under the microscope even in the land of Teutons.

It reminded me of a conversation I just had with my husband: in the baseball world, which is worse, steroids or gambling?

If the U.S. Congress has anything to say, it’s the juice. And I happen to agree with Congress on this point—any grand baseball achievements made in the last few years have a big fat asterisk next to them. Which means they’re not really achievements at all.

Not that gambling’s any better for baseball. Pete Rose makes one lousy bet (okay, maybe a lot of lousy bets) and his career is forever ruined, his reputation tarnished.

Which brings me to my point: baseball sucks. No, wait, that’s not really my point. My point is that the PGA is superior to Major League Baseball for two reasons: one, it’s not clouded with steroid scandals, and two, gambling is not only permitted, it’s encouraged. For those of us who play dollar skins, that’s good news.

And the big boys do it too: Retief Goosen and Jason Gore joked about the cash they wagered on their final round at the US Open and got knowing nods from the crowd. Imagine what would happen if Curt Schilling chuckled about a bet with Derek Jeter.

Gambling is fun, for heaven sakes. And golf, for all its reputation as a “stodgy” sport, admits that, even revels in it. You can win or lose cash on the golf course more ways than Chris Baldwin can insult Michelle Wie. And those bets can be pretty intense performance-enhancers, believe me.

Baseball, who needs it? I’m sticking with golf.

Rumor has it Jason Gore still owes Goosen that $10.

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