In an earlier post, I defended Alex Rodriguez when his name alone was leaked from of 104 players who tested positive for steroid use in a survey conducted by Major League Baseball (MLB). The leaked information was a violation of a court order. The report of his steroid use cannot help Rodriguez, MLB, or fans appreciation of the game. Of course there are beneficiaries, the writers, the people who leaked the information and the fans who like gossip.
My post was not to encourage steroid use, but could accurately be interpreted as condoning steroid use by professional athletes when leagues and unions don't take protect nonusers' careers by active testing and other rules. Major League Baseball and the union knew of the use, and tacitly approved. Players using steroids seem to out produce those that do not. They hit home runs and fans like home runs. More fans means more money to players represented by the union and MLB. I understand why a player would take them but I admire players who risk careers and the glory that comes with big stats by staying clean.
I do not understand why anybody without big bucks on the line would use them. By the way, great high school athletes, with the exception of one or two annually, do not have big bucks on the line. The probability of making into the pros is still very small, and the probability of being an impact player smaller still.
Dick Butkus, sponsored by Old Spice, maintains the web site "PlayClean," that encourages young athletes not to use performance enhancing drugs. I must acknowledge that I am skeptical of information released by any web site with an agenda. PlayClean does a good job of linking to documents that appear to give accurate information about the impacts of steroid use, but athletic and health. One of the linked documents was produced by the Mayo Clinic (Performance-enhancing drugs and your teen athlete). On anabolic steroids, the authors write,
The use of anabolic steroids is increasing among young athletes, despite the fact that these drugs are illegal without a prescription. Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone and come in tablets, injections, patches or gels. They build muscle and increase endurance, and are particularly popular with bodybuilders and football players.
In the United States, about 3 million people use anabolic steroids — one in four of these steroid users started as a teenager, and one out of every 10 is a teenager. Anabolic steroids can halt bone growth and result in a permanently
short stature, so they're particularly dangerous for still-growing adolescents. Steroids can also damage the heart and liver.
Signs your son may be taking anabolic steroids include increased acne and male-pattern baldness. If your daughter takes anabolic steroids, she may develop male characteristics, such as a deep voice or dark facial hair. Teens who take anabolic steroids may have angry outbursts know as " 'roid rage." They may seem unusually moody and may experience depression when they stop using the drugs.
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I believe it is sad how athletes believe they need steriods to be good professionally. I dont think they do. Many athletes are great ballplayers but dont use steriods. I believe that the risk to ballplayer's health and to their reputation isnt worth it. As a sports fan, I dont think any fan will back any professional player who uses steriods, especially during our economic struggles. When families are struggling financially and are worried about their future, its hard for anyone to see these players sitting on so much of their money and being investigated for steriod usage. Sports users pay their hard earned money to go have a good time at a ballgame, not to see players who cheat themselves and use substances to get themselves ahead. I believe this problem amongst our sports players and fans is even to be called a social tension. People look to sports as an outlet of their world and as a way to enjoy themselves and get away from the economic strife they go through. The steriod use and problems with these players is tiresome to all financially troubled people and sports fans.
ReplyDeleteWarren Burns
As a sports fan, I don't like hearing about professional players I have admired being tested positive for steroids. It makes all of their accomplishments seem worthless and it ruins the game. I see the pressure they may feel in having to take steroids in order to bring in the money, but I don't think it shows good personal character when they resort to doing so. Fans see their players as a type of hero. We don't want to hear about Superman taking steroids to boost his super skills. Superman doesn't need steroids, and neither do the sports players.
ReplyDeleteBella(MHS)
The "Steroid Era" in Major League Baseball could have been easily avoided. Had the MLBPA and the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball stepped up to put an end to it altogether back in the early '90's, steroids wouldn't have reached the previous level of popularity they attained amongst teenaged athletes.
ReplyDeleteI honestly believe that steroid use in the high school levels is very small right now. I think with the public criticism of players like Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, etc., random drug testing, and campaigns against performance enhancing drugs, student athletes are very hesitant to try PED's.
I also think that we should not focus our all of our attention on baseball players using PED's. Steroid use is not an uncommon thing in the NFL and even other professional sports like track and wrestling. I find it unfair to the game of baseball that they are so heavily criticized for the small percentage of players who use PED's, and whenever a football player gets caught he makes a small headline on the back page of a newspaper, whereas Alex Rodriguez made the front page all over America.
It is ridiculous that it is bad for an ordinary athlete to use steroids, and that it is very, very wrong for a professional baseball player to test positive for even the smallest of a performance enhancing drug.
I do applaud the good guys in baseball who were overshadowed in the late 90's like Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr. for their contributions the game of baseball. The temptation was out there for them to use steroids and gain quick fame, but they didn't and today they stand rewarded in Cooperstown.
Dustin Johnson - Midway HS
I still don't agree it's right for athletes to use steriods, any athlete at that.
ReplyDeleteI admire those who can stay away from the steroids and play clean. It's sad that those players aren't the ones getting the glory.
If a fan finds out their favorite player is on steriods, they lose interest. If an athlete quits steriods (considering fans don't know the athlete was on them in the first place) then their performance will decrease and still, fans will lose interest. It seems to me that it can be a lose lose situation with the fans. Still, I think every player can excell without steriods, maybe not as quickly, but it's still possible.
I know that boosting your performance means earning bigger bucks as an athelete, but to those who play clean and don't get paid as much, it's unfair to them. Their paycheck is much less because they don't use steriods. I suppose I somewhat see these athletes on steriods as a bit lazy and selfish. I mean, I often hear of players complaining about their pay. If they're on steriods, their performance is excellent, and their getting paid more. I don't even think they take into consideration that athletes who play clean are getting paid less, and will probably get paid even less if another player wants more money. Anywho, that concludes my rant.
--Double Dare
Most professional athletes train, eat right, work hard, and practice hard to excel in their sport, and maintain their fitness. Why should other players get to skip the hard work and dedication that it takes in becoming a great athlete? They shouldn't. Steriods is the easy way out, and the negative effects, in my opinion, heavily out weigh the "glory" and money that it can produce. First of all, athletes are endangering not only their own health, but also indirectly encouraging youngsters to do the same. When kids start to get into sports, they normally treat their favorite player as an idol, an image of what they want to be when they grow up. How would they feel if their idol essentially cheated by using drugs so they didn't have to work as hard? Taking steriods is just unfair. It's unfair for the other players that are staying clean who earn less than steriod users. I think the greatest negative effect is emotional. It's the steriod user that for the rest of his or her athletic career questions whether it was the drug, or their own ability that made them great..
ReplyDeleteProfessional players seems to forget that they are role models for many children in the world. To me, I feel that professional athletes use performance enhancing drugs because
ReplyDelete1) They are in a slump
2) other players are beginning to pass them (with our without use of steroids)
3) A top player is one of the best in the league, and at the peak of his career, but is also greedy and wants to become better
I guess I'm not as upset about hearing the big names like Jason Giambi, A-Rod, Big Papi, Manny Rameriz, Roger Clemens,Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Andy Pettite taking these drugs. These guys trained and worked hard and became the best that they could be, but to them it was not enough. As unfortunate as the only way to become even better was steroids, it's remarkable how competitive these big sluggers and aces are, and how high the love of their life (baseball) is on their priority list. Because of these guys, baseball is even more interesting and awes all the fans when they are sitting in a ballpark or on their couch watching the ball game! I believe that if there was no rule ALL players would constantly use it, and although there are health issues, the MLB and GMs wouldn't mind at all. I mean seriously.. Someone has to sit in the very back row of the stadium. I wouldn't mind paying for a cheap ticket to be part of an incredible atmosphere and having a possibility catching a bomb A-Rod nailed 400+ ft..
I mean you have to have the right technique and incredible hand eye coordination to hit a ball, so without that you don't even have to worry about taking steroids, you won't even be playing. I somewhat believe that the MLB makes this rule and issues hard punishments is to try and scare teenagers wanting to become the next star. It makes them face reality that their chances of living the dream are slim. Deflating their ego will really make them focus on making it the real honest way. If they play honest and overcome the temptations of performance enhancing drugs, their natural true talent will begin to shine, with out the risk of becoming injured (mentally or physically. Besides, i'd hate to be Barry Bonds. Yeah, everyone knows you have the record for most home runs, but everyone knows you did it by using drugs. I guess that is just one of the consequences you face assuming you succeed. But as a goal if I were in the major leagues, it would be to make the record books honestly. Therefore, I wouldn't be known as a cheater, and that I, have overcome all obstacles and that I am truly the best.
Brooks Wilson's Economics Blog is only for the Professional Sports and Teens. They hit home runs and fans like home runs. More fans mean more money to players represented by the union and MLB.
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