Eris, you said it best, cheating is cheating. Pete Rose cheated because the rules clearly said that you don't bet on baseball and he did. McGwire did due to the fact that he took performance enhancers. Cheating is cheating no matter what. Furthermore you can't justify one over the other as better or worse.
It's like a cop telling you you broke the law only you point out that someone else also broke the law but did something worse then you. It doesn't and shouldn't matter, breaking the law is breaking the law. Just like cheating is cheating.
As for the NFL, I remember reading some interviews from ESPN and watching it and listening to ESPN radio. Various players from around the NFL were talking around the time of the MLB congressional hearings about how there is really no need for performance enhancers in football. First off, no one really looks shocked or confused when they see very buff football player. This is due to the fact that their practices consist of weight training. Furthermore, they were talking about how a lot of MLB players were using steroids etc to break individual records. Most hits, most homers etc. Things that one wouldn't need steroids for in the NFL. The players are naturally big and one could get the records for most sacks etc on their own merits rather then cheat.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
