Thursday, September 6, 2007
Steroids.. Don't use them
Hey everybody!! Why do MLB players feel like they have to be on steroids? Although players try to sneak using steroids by the league, they usually get caught. Why take the risk of getting suspended to use steroids? I would like to know why Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco and other players had to go to court because they used steroids in their career before, but Jason Giambi was honest about using "roids" and the commissioner let him off easy. It was stated (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=1936592) that since Jason was being so cooperative, the commissioner will let him back into baseball and he can play. The commissioner originally punished players so he got the message across that steroids should not be allowed no matter what! What is Bud Selig thinking that he can allow one person to slide by with no punishment while everyone is getting in trouble? What does that show about his character? Bud Selig was sending a message to the fans showing that players in the MLB will get in trouble by cheating or doing something illegal. Bud was threatening the players to suspend them without pay the entire time. What message does this show little kids who enjoy the game? The USATODAY reported that "players who test positive the first time will be suspended for 10 days. Second-time offenders will be suspended for 30 days. A third positive test gets a 60-day suspension and a fourth one year." (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-01-12-steroid-policy_x.htm) Bud Selig has never made another exception, just because he cooperated is no excuse for Giambi to get off free. We'll have to see what will happen when another player gets caught
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9 comments:
Hey Lavin, I agree with your point that steroids should never be used in baseball and anyone caught doing so should be suspended indefintely. However the reason MLB is being so leniant toward Giambi and his admitted steroid use is because no one else with cooperate with the steroid investigation. Giambi knows who did steroids and who didn't and the MLB probably wants him to name names on the users. Giambi has been the only current player who has admitted to using steroids and he can help the MLB to try and stop this trend. So ya he did get off easy, but his carrer is tarnished now by his admitted steroid use, but thats probably punishment enough.
Lavin, you make some pretty good arguments about steroids in baseball and you backed them up really well. I agree that no player should get off the hook when it comes to steroids. The players that have done steroids have not only cheated the game, more importantly they cheated the fans.
When it comes to the reason why Jason Giambi got off the hook I personally believe the reason is because Jason Giambi cooperated with Major League Baseball in its investigation into steroids. This story resembles the case of Michael Vick. Michael Vick’s sentence will be decreased because he provided authorities with information about other dog fighting rings. So just like the authorities Bud Selig is after someone/something bigger. Jason simply got off because he did what was the right thing to do.
MLB players think they can get passed all the tests so they still use steroids but I agree with Lavin that the players should not risk the chance of getting caught just to up their performance. It's flat out dumb to use them, they can put a player a risk for health problems further down the road and can potenially get them kicked out of the leauge. And Lavin is right, there is no reason that Giambi shouldn't have gotten suspended for using steriods. He admitted to it, so just give him the 10 day suspension! At least! If Bud Selig wanted to make an example out of someone, he would have been the perfect player to make an example out of! He is a big name player and it would have made headlines, instead we just see something like Minor Leauger John Doe or someone is suspended for 10 days for testing positive for an illegal substance along the bottom line on ESPN, and it doesn't really cath our attention that much.
I agree also about not using steriods but think about it, if you were a college athlete who had a shot to go pro and make the big bucks but you knew you had to get stronger what would you do? In an article in the USA Today by Chris Jenkins says "College athletes believe they have to consider steroids if they're going to make it to the pros" and I am agreeing with Jenkins. Everyone wants to make the big bucks. Now on the Giambi case he handled it like a man and stood up for what he did. He didn't stay quiet and write a book after he retired and start talking about what he did. Giambi took it like a champ and ended up being fine. In my opinion though i would say "Don't use steriods, Ruth didn't."
Lavin, I like the points you made about steroids. I want to make a comment towards your statement Hammersmith about what Chris Jenkins said towards college athletes. If a college athlete has to use steroids to become stronger to reach the MLB then they are getting in for the wrong reason. Hard work is the only way of earning respect from fans and respect from the MLB. If a college athlete is already using steroids to get into the majors just imagine what they will do when in the majors. If they have a problem with there hitting cause they don't have enough power they could easily use the same method they used when they needed more power for the majors by using steroids. This is something that shouldn't even be a consideration by any players and I believe Chris Jenkins is wrong in what he said. There are plenty of strong players in the pro's who don't use steroids. If a player is borderline of making big bucks because he isn't strong enough he will be a lot more appreciative when he makes the pros for his hard work then if he makes it cause of his steroid shooting.
I agree with eveyone that if you get caught you should get suspended. I don't understand why players are still "using" it is unhealthy and it is cheating to the fans and to the other players. I agree the Giambi should get a suspension of some amount of time. Bud should not take it easy on him just because he talked about his steroids useage, i appericate the fact that he did that but don't take it easy on him. The fans are paying good money to see the games and it makes the fans question even the players that don't use. So Bud needs to clean up his sport he is making some progress but needs to do a lot more.
Steroids are an abomination to not just baseball, but all sports. They diminish the character of the game, epecially for a sport like baseball, which has so much history and prestige. The only reason players use steroids is to gain an illegal edge over the competition. Although sterois are bad, you can't just write off players who use them as bad players. Players like Barry Bonds were on track to become Hall of Fame players anyway. It takes much more than strength to hit a home run or a baseball period. I mean the guy has 8 golden gloves and was voted MVP 7 times. As far as punishment, yes, players should be suspended for an extended amount of time, whether they confess or not(i.e. Jason Giambi). They're creating an unfair edge and it should ot be tolerated at all!
Yeah i completlely agree with you on the fact that they don't have to go to court for using steroids. I mean it is blatenly obvious that barry bonds used steroids. I mean he came back one season looking twice the size he was the year before. As for jose canseco i mean just look at him he definately used steroids. I mean some players who were never proven guilty of using steroids had to go to court. It just doesnt make any sense.
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