Baseball

[transjen]

Originally Posted by aw9725

The present controversy regarding PED’s in baseball and other professional sports is actually nothing new. Nor is it likely to “go away” anytime soon. I have been following this thread for a while and hope this post and the links I’ve provided below will help in understanding the current situation. As some of you know from my other posts and PM’s I played defensive end and linebacker in high-school and college, was a personal trainer for a while, and still workout regularly. So I have some first-hand knowledge of this issue. Over the years I witnessed a great deal of “steroid abuse” and am frankly surprised that it has taken this long for the general public to realize how rampant PED’s are in all of sports. I remember the 1998 baseball season well and telling all my friends that McGwire and Sosa had to be doing something. Of course the reaction I usually got was “no, man, they’re just big guys!” When I was in junior-high and beginning to lift, I remember asking my coaches about Arnold and Lou Ferrigno and was told “they just work hard.” Only when I got into organized football later in high-school did PED’s come out into the “open.” Based on my own experiences, I personally wouldn’t put it past anyone in professional sports (yes, all sports--even golf and basketball) to try using something to get an “edge”--the stakes are simply too high and the amount of money to be made is unbelievable. Even my beloved Colts are suspect (disclaimer: I have two friends that play for them).

For the record, I have never taken anything that was illegal and couldn’t be purchased at a health food store or someplace like GNC. However I had ample opportunities (especially in college) and seriously considered it. I can’t help but wonder if taking these things would’ve made a difference in my own performance--my major weakness was being “undersized” and “slow” for an NFL pass rusher. My college coach wanted me to “bulk up” to about 290-300 and try playing nose tackle--but looking back I’m glad I never took anything like steroids or HGH. Today, I take Creatine before and after each workout as well as ZMA and protein supplements. I’ll be 40 this year and consider myself to be in the best shape of my life. And my six-figure income as a professor over a twenty or thirty year career will be more than what many NFL players make in a short career. I hope young people think about things like this before they start taking steroids, HGH, or whatever. It’s not worth it--at least I didn’t think so.

What should baseball do about these records? I really don’t know. Really don’t. On one hand, there was clearly “usage” and records were broken. Was it “illegal”? “Unethical”? This isn’t the first time in history PED’s have been used. I have included a couple of links that readers might be interested in. Pud Galvin was the first “300” game winner. Was he “jucing”? Read the article, it was considered OK back then. Should Pud be “banned”? I will admit that the Summer of 1998 was very exciting and I remember watching McGwire hit number 62 with my Dad. Should the records stand? Do you think Big Mac would have hit “70” without drugs? Would Barry Bonds have hit as many? I personally don’t think so. But I don’t have a good answer for what to do about those records. Maybe all sports records should be viewed in the “context” of the era that they were set. At least the recent rash of players and bodybuilders “coming clean” about using steroids brings this issue out into the open where it can be discussed. Now at least we aren’t trying to “deny” it’s use as when I was a teenager in the 80’s (of course I knew better--so did my teammates--LOL!). Performance “enhancement” is an area that is not going to go away--it may not be the drugs and supplements used today--but there will always be those seeking to gain an advantage.

Read about “Pud” here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5314753

Read about “Dr. Ziegler” here:
http://www.slate.com/id/2113752/

All we the fans can do about the records set in the riods era is just take it with a geain of salt as it wasn't just one or two players and as Roger Clemons proved pichters were also taking needles in the butt
But sadly in the end these records stand but for all time HR'S yes Bonds has the record but i admire Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth more as they did it the proper way
Jerseygirl Jen

Originally Posted by transjen

All we the fans can do about the records set in the riods era is just take it with a geain of salt as it wasn't just one or two players and as Roger Clemons proved pichters were also taking needles in the butt
But sadly in the end these records stand but for all time HR'S yes Bonds has the record but i admire Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth more as they did it the proper way
Jerseygirl Jen

You know something Jen? I think people will remember Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth years from now and the current players of the "Steroid Era" will long be forgotten.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by aw9725

You know something Jen? I think people will remember Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth years from now and the current players of the "Steroid Era" will long be forgotten.

Well i think some players will be rembered like Tony Gwynn a fine hitter and was not on riods and Cal Ripken another fine player and who was not on riods and holds the iron man make with most consective games played

Jerseygirl Jen

[ila]

Originally Posted by transjen

Well i think some players will be rembered like Tony Gwynn a fine hitter and was not on riods and Cal Ripken another fine player and who was not on riods and holds the iron man make with most consective games played

Jerseygirl Jen

I'd forgotten about Cal Ripken. Thankyou for reminding me about one of the greats.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by ila

I'd forgotten about Cal Ripken. Thankyou for reminding me about one of the greats.

How could you forget Cal But then i have a thing for shortstops as that was the position i played as a kid


On a side note Cal is a very nice guy ,i met him at a springtraining game years ago in FL around 96 or 97 and he was swamped with people wanting autographs and he stayed till everyone got one and he didn't just sign and push you along either
Jerseygirl Jen

[ila]

Originally Posted by transjen

How could you forget Cal But then i have a thing for shortstops as that was the position i played as a kud


On a side note Cal is a very nice guy ,i met him at a springtraining game years ago in FL around 96 or 97 and he was swamped with people wanting autographs and he stayed till everyone got one and he didn't just sign and push you along either
Jerseygirl Jen

I think it's very nice of a star like Cal to be so down to earth and friendly with his fans. That shows true class. It's no wonder he's one of the greats.

[smc]

The Red Sox had a player who was like Ripken with fans and other players alike: Sean Casey. A few years ago, some magazine (it might have been The Sporting News, but I can't remember for sure) surveyed more than 400 players and asked them who the nicest guy in baseball was, and Sean won hands down. Before he came to the Sox, he played for Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Detroit. He's famous for getting up early the morning after games and going to help serve food at a homeless shelter that he founded. He would always come out and talk to kids waiting around after games at Fenway. And a friend of mine told me that he ran into him at a restaurant in Florida during Spring training and started up a conversation with him that lasted 2 hours, where they talked about baseball, families, etc., as if they were old friends ... and then Sean insisted on paying for everyone in the entire restaurant because, he said, "it was such a nice real night" and he was sure he made far too much money to "play a game."

[shadows]

Originally Posted by transjen

Well i think some players will be rembered like Tony Gwynn a fine hitter and was not on riods and Cal Ripken another fine player and who was not on riods and holds the iron man make with most consective games played

Jerseygirl Jen

Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, two class acts.

And Sean Casey, even though I did not know that before I read this thread! Class acts all!

[smc]

Tony LaRussa continues to insist that he had no idea whatsoever that Mark McGwire was using, or had ever used, steroids.

Sure, and I have no idea that there's a dick in my pants.

[dauls]

Originally Posted by smc

Tony LaRussa continues to insist that he had no idea whatsoever that Mark McGwire was using, or had ever used, steroids.

Sure, and I have no idea that there's a dick in my pants.

Well McGwire still hasn't been fully honest about the steroids, so why should LaRussa?

Here are some steroid influenced cartoons that mock the steriod abusers and praise a couple of true baseball heroes.

Roger and Hank deserve their records back.

[smc]

Thanks, dauls, for the great cartoons.

Five weeks before pitchers and catchers report to camp. I can't wait for real baseball to begin so we can shift focus away from juicing, even if only in part.