Steroids:Killing one sport at a time

[Fillmoe]

First it was baseball, which I actually used to watch frequently. Now everytime I put it on or hear about someone having a great hitting season all I think is that their on the juice. My favorite team used to be the Giants but I havent watched a full baseball game in years. Now cycling is facing some of the same problems, even though im not a huge fan of cycling they do have a steady fanbase and the sport is being ruined. What sport is next? Basketball? Football? Hockey? WORLD SERIES OF DARTS?

 

[OHSacFan]

I may be wrong, but I think steroids has been in football for quite a while, professional and collegiate. Odd how it doesn't get the media attention that it does in baseball.

But I agree with you 100%. Steroids are tainting so many sports and ruining them for those of us who watch faithfully. I love football. I love baseball. I love basketball. Heck, I used to be a rabid Red Wings fan, too. But anymore I have to wonder who's playing the game cleanly.

 

[kupman]

Here's an idea...and it's just an idea....why don't we just forget about the testing and let athletes take whatever substance they think will allow them to perform at the highest level they can.

 

[Kajun]

Now cycling is facing some of the same problems, even though im not a huge fan of cycling they do have a steady fanbase and the sport is being ruined.

"Now"? Doping has been common in cycling for a long, long time. Tommy Simpson died in 1967 of a cardiac arrest on the Mont Ventoux. A medical exam showed he died of a combination of alcohol, heated conditions and, yes, doping.

I think we see doping in a lot of sports. Like SacFan says, doping in certain sports get more exposed than in others.

 

[RoyalDiva]

I don't think that basketball is a sport that will ever get tainted much by steroids, don't you think? Steroid use in bball would not give athletes the huge advantage that it does in other sports. But you're right, every time I see an athlete accomplish something great, like winning the Tour, all I can think about is if they're using.

 

[Kajun]

Here's an idea...and it's just an idea....why don't we just forget about the testing and let athletes take whatever substance they think will allow them to perform at the highest level they can.

Somehow I think many will be looking to test their limits "hey if it's allowed, let's try some more!", and somehow i think it might end up with casualties. Not all athletes use doping "wisely".

I don't think that is such a good idea.

 

[kupman]

I don't think that basketball is a sport that will ever get tainted much by steroids, don't you think? Steroid use in bball would not give athletes the huge advantage that it does in other sports.

With all do respect, I think you are wrong. First, one of the main reasons professional athletes use drugs is for recovery. Playing an 82 game schedule and even doing it year after year takes quite a physical toll. Drugs could be (and may be) used to help in recovery from one game to the next. Second, drugs can be used to improve aerobic capability and endurance which would be very handy on the court. Third, the NBA game is really aided by strength. i.e Ron Artest. Kevin Martin may tempted to put on a few extra pounds of lean body mass.

 

[kupman]

Somehow I think many will be looking to test their limits.

Of course they will and they already do...testing the limits is the nature of being an elite athlete.

 

[Kajun]

Of course they will and they already do...testing the limits is the nature of being an elite athlete.

Of course. But I meant some people not knowing when to stop. Overdosis-doping anyone?

 

[OHSacFan]

With all do respect, I think you are wrong. First, one of the main reasons professional athletes use drugs is for recovery. Playing an 82 game schedule and even doing it year after year takes quite a physical toll. Drugs could be (and may be) used to help in recovery from one game to the next. Second, drugs can be used to improve aerobic capability and endurance which would be very handy on the court. Third, the NBA game is really aided by strength. i.e Ron Artest. Kevin Martin may tempted to put on a few extra pounds of lean body mass.

Kevin would go about adding muscle - or "lean body mass" - the right way, by lifting weights. He's never going to be huge, he's not built that way biologically.

Sorry, I'm not going to turn this into another thread about Kevin, but that last line really jumped out at me.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

As Kajun pointed out cycling has one of the longest histories of drug/doping scandals of any sport.

As for basketball, I wonder if it will ever come to parents getting their kids HGH treatments so they can grow taller and be more competitive in various sports years before they would ever have a pro career.

 

[BigWaxer]

First it was baseball, which I actually used to watch frequently. Now everytime I put it on or hear about someone having a great hitting season all I think is that their on the juice. My favorite team used to be the Giants but I havent watched a full baseball game in years. Now cycling is facing some of the same problems, even though im not a huge fan of cycling they do have a steady fanbase and the sport is being ruined. What sport is next? Basketball? Football? Hockey? WORLD SERIES OF DARTS?

Same thoughts here Fillmoe... Been a Giants fan as long as I can remember but haven't watched a full game in years. I used to go a few times to SF to catch a game but IMO it's more about Selig running the game into the ground. The steroids is just one item of many that Selig has screwed up.

Football isn't in the spotlight right now but don't for a minute think these guys aren't dop'n it up. I think the same about basketball.

WSOD LOL soon they will be toss'n darts through the board. And we need a WSOD topic, that is pretty cool to watch.

 

[bibbinator]

There is an SNL sketch about the "All-Drug Olympics"

 

[kupman]

There is an SNL sketch about the "All-Drug Olympics"

it is a classic....one of the best ever

 

[D-Mass]

Steroids don't kill sports...people kill sports.

 

[kupman]

If anyone is interested, here is an interesting article on drug testing sports and a man who knows quite a bit about it (to say the least).

http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200507/drugs-in-sports-1.html

 

[Bricklayer]

I may be wrong, but I think steroids has been in football for quite a while, professional and collegiate. Odd how it doesn't get the media attention that it does in baseball.

Football really clamped down on that about 15 years ago + had by far the strongest anti-steroid policy of the major sports so far as I know. The temptation in that sport was too obvious. Of course with the dopers trying to stay one step ahead, who knows how effective it is, but the reason it doesn't get much press is because the NFL has actually tried to be responsible about things on its own.

I remember when a huge (for the time) offensive lineman named Tony Mandarich (I think) came into the NFL in the early 90's. Big ole obviously roided monster in college + thought to be a future dominant force in the NFL. Made the cover of S.I. I think. Anyway, so he comes into the NFL, and suddenly he shrinks dramatically and he's got manboobs. He hangs on for a few years, wearing a bandanna over his head to cover the fact he's going bald at age 25. And just fades away. That's an effective steroid policy.

 

[loopymitch]

Tennis has had its' share of suspensions/fines etc. due to drug violations, primarily the Argentinians-Canas,Puerta (8 years reduced to 2),Coris, Chela and back in 1999, it was Korda. I have heard some American players including Courier and McEnroe say that drugs were used when they played but that was before the testing was as strict as it is now. People in every sport are doing it IMO, it's just a matter of time before they get caught. The more dominant sports such as NFL,MLB are going to be the first to be scrutinized and of course such events as the Olympics. Many track and field athletes have tested positive and since been suspended, and there are many more whose allegations have yet to be proven.

 

[Kajun]

Even Mac admitted to having used hormone injections. The doping testing in tennis isn't quite up to par to some other sports, but the past few years it has improved.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I remember when a huge (for the time) offensive lineman named Tony Mandarich (I think) came into the NFL in the early 90's. Big ole obviously roided monster in college + thought to be a future dominant force in the NFL. Made the cover of S.I. I think.

Yes, SI went crazy on this guy. I'm not sure if they actually liked him or if it was a reaction to hype over him being the first OL ever drafted so high (2nd pick overall behind Troy Aikman). They were predicting all the new stats that would be kept for him (and apparently were being kept by his jockers in college) like if he just knocks a defensive lineman to the ground or if he completely runs them off the field. The Packers actually passed up not one but two guys named Sanders to draft this clown.

 

[Venom]

Mandarich had a decent career actually, he just never became an Orlando Pace type of lineman. He played about 8-10 years, I think, which is solid.

 

[OHSacFan]

Football really clamped down on that about 15 years ago + had by far the strongest anti-steroid policy of the major sports so far as I know. The temptation in that sport was too obvious. Of course with the dopers trying to stay one step ahead, who knows how effective it is, but the reason it doesn't get much press is because the NFL has actually tried to be responsible about things on its own.

I remember when a huge (for the time) offensive lineman named Tony Mandarich (I think) came into the NFL in the early 90's. Big ole obviously roided monster in college + thought to be a future dominant force in the NFL. Made the cover of S.I. I think. Anyway, so he comes into the NFL, and suddenly he shrinks dramatically and he's got manboobs. He hangs on for a few years, wearing a bandanna over his head to cover the fact he's going bald at age 25. And just fades away. That's an effective steroid policy.

True. And I had forgotten about Bill Romanowski and Brian Bosworth both admittedly taking steroids. That and there were what? Three Carolina Panthers that were in trouble for testing positive? That was just recently.

It just seems like the steroid problem in baseball is so out front in the media right now, and that's all due to Bonds chasing Aaron's home run record, I believe. Not to open up that can of worms again.

And now we have it in the forefront of cycling. It's a damn shame sports are being ruined this way because with two boys, I don't want them to see steroids as being the answer to achieving in any sport.

I want our oldest to see guys like Steve Nash and Nate Robinson (smaller players) who have put so much effort into getting where they are and doing so naturally. I want our youngest to do the same and not look to guys like Ken Caminiti and Romanowski for inspiration. Hech, maybe I'm too old-fashioned and still imagine that kids hang posters of their favorite athletes on their bedroom walls and use that as inspiration to get outside and practice their dribbling and pitching and passing.

 

[kupman]

Mandarich had a decent career actually, he just never became an Orlando Pace type of lineman. He played about 8-10 years, I think, which is solid.

He played 3 dismal seasons for the Packers and was cut before playing the 4th year of his 4 year contract. He then played 3 years with the Colts which went a little better - but not by much.