Quote:
Originally Posted by Goughy
I wouldnt touch 'em. To me it is clearly cheating so Ill never do it. Im quite cut and dried like that. I hate those that put their selfish motives above that of the sport.
In fact it really angers me.
|
Well, that's great that you wouldn't, and I am sure there are people like you. But if you have a family, and few other skills in the job market, those steroids could be the difference in getting to the bottom of the major leagues (and still making millions) vs. not getting there at all. If you wouldn't use steroids, you're a better man than I because I'd use them in an instant if it means millions vs. nothing. An instant and I wouldn't be morally conflicted about it either. Who cares about the sport? I've got a family and a future to secure. If I get caught in a year, well I probably made more in that year than ten years outside anyway. If I can keep it going, well that's just great too.
Steroids increase power and all those things, but what a lot of people use it for are their injuries. Recovering from injury quicker is a huge advantage in sport, and you see people doing that all the time, especially as in many cases, you stop being tested when you're injured. Even in cricket, Warne's primary motivation was probably injury prevention. While guys like Akhtar/Asif did it for the muscle and power.
Either way, I don't see the big deal. It's just steroids. I certainly don't see it as being anti-sport as many other things that go on. Baseball breaks attendance and money records all the time, despite the massive use of steroids. NFL is by far the most successful competition in the US (and could be the world because while soccer is bigger, every single team in the NFL churns out millions in profit), and you know what you get when you first test positive for steroids? A confidential warning. Then suspension for four games on next violation. A player recently said that about 50-70% of NFL players are pumping steroids.
And you know what? I don't care. I love the sport and I enjoy every minute whether it was being pumped full of steroids or not. I said this before, but if the Philadelphia Eagles win the superbowl next year, and it comes out that every single player on the team was pumped full of Nandrolone, you know what would happen? The whole team would get a parade anyway, they'd be lauded all the same, and I'd be the first person there when they get the parade. I'd say good for them, Philadelphia needed the championship and I'm glad they got it for us, doing what it takes without getting caught. When a large percentage of people are using, it evens out and its perfectly fine. The problem is when the regulations are strict and only few people can use. It's when that happens that a few people have an advantage that no one does. But even then, good for them for beating the system. It's the job of the regulatory agencies to keep the game fair and even, and its the job of the players to push those limits.