Bats, Balls, and Needles

Introduction

2005-12-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

The topic of performance enhancing drugs and their place in professional sports has been one under great debate as of late. Recently many major league baseball players have not only testified to congress under oath but also have become the target of a "witch-hunt" being done by not only the league but also by politicians. Steroids first were introducted when in 1926, after stewing 40 pounds of bull testicles, Fred Koch and Lemuel McGee extract 20 milligrams of "substance with male sex hormone capacities." Eleven years later Danish chemists are able to isolate a male sex hormone and label it "testosterone." What's surprising about this is that it is not till many years later until athletes begin to experiment with the substances. Recently Bay Area Lab Co-Operative owner, Victor Conte was indicted on charges of supplying and distributing steroids to various professional athletes and trainers. Conte is most known for his relationship with San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who also has been caught up in controversy stemming from their relationship and his useage of performance enhancing supplements. Bonds is not the only athlete who has come under scrutiny. Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro all have been accused of using steroids at one time in their career. Another big name in the continuing war on 'roids is Jose Canseco. The former American League Rookie of the Year, recently wrote a book detailing his life and the rampant use of steroids in Major League Baseball. I feel that this book was't a way for Canseco to make money but was merely a way for him to shed some light into a very grey and often unchartered area. Never before have steroids in sports become such an issue until recently. Senator Jim Bunning who also is a Hall of Fame pitcher told a group of current and former MLB players to go ask all of the people who played without enhanced drugs if they would like their records compared with the current records. When asked about that comment, former major league star and at one time the single season home run leader, Mark McGwire replied, ""I will use whatever influence and popularity that I have to discourage young athletes from taking any drug that is not recommended by a doctor. What I will not do, however, is participate in naming names and implicating my friends and teammates." What's most important about this issue is the plain and simple fact that these million dollar athletes have a huge influence over todays youth, and it's a scary thought to think that some high-priced steroid-using athlete can control children like that. Bud Selig, the commissioner of MLB was quoted saying ""Major League Baseball has always recognized the influence that our stars can have on the youth of America. As such, we are concerned that recent revelations and allegations of steroid use have been sending a terrible message to young people." If the league is so concerned about the influence they have over youth and baseballs audience then why let the use of performance enhancing supplements continue for so long? This blog is not meant to expose those that are guilty. This is meant to shed some light into a very gloom area in not only baseball but all professional sports where cheating is an option.

Q&A with Selig

2005-12-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

After months of criticism over how he handled the rampant use of illegal performance enhancing supplements, Major League Baseball commissioner, Bud Selig recently sat down with the Dallas News and spoke candidly about recent topics in baseball. Selig is in exas for the annual Winter Baseball Meetings. Topics being addressed are free agency, stadium issues, and most important, the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The W.B.C. is a 16 nation tournament that will be held in March of 2006. What's most interesting about the article is that Selig doesn't hold back from speaking his mind. Selig has come under great criticism lately and I disagree with those that critique his performance. It is extremely difficult for 1 single person to be responsible for every single player in a league. Sure it's his job to make sure that steroid use ceases but there will always be those that oppose the rules and choose to break them and to cheat.

Conte Begins Term

2005-12-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

BALCO founder, Victor Conte began serving his 4-month prison term Wednesday, December 30th. Conte plead guilty and was convicted of money laundering and distribution of illegal steroids. Dozens of other charges were dropped following a plea deal that prevented Conte and personal trainer Greg Anderson from serving longer sentences. This comes at a time when steroid distribution is on the rise and it is becoming even easier for a professional athlete to obtain performance enhancing drugs.

Critical Policy Ahead

2005-11-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

In a final effort to rid steroids from professional baseball, Major League Baseball and the players union have finally been able to agree upon a "3 strikes and you're out" policy. This comes at a time when the purity and holiness of the American pastime are in question. With the winter meetings less then a week away one must take into consideration exactly how little the player's union has done to try and salvage what's left of the American Pastime. In a time when the credibility of professional sports is in question Major League Baseball needs to adhere to its policy and make sure that future occurences of steroids cease to exist.

Sportsman of 2005: Canseco

2005-11-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not Sports Illustrated has given their Sportsman of the Year award to former American League All-Star Jose Canseco. What gave Canseco the honor was his desire to not only rid the sport of cheaters but to make sure that the youth don't become influenced by these athletes. Now you can take this one of two ways. Did they look to him as someone who truly wants to see those who post tainted records shunned from the sport, or did he try and rat out his former teammates and make a pay day. Whichever one of his motives you believe, one must make one observation, and that is ever since Canseco's book has been released those who have been using illegal performance enhancers have been caught and punished.

Tejada Not Mad

2005-11-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

Baltimore Orioles shorstop, Miguel Tejada recently told The Associated Press from his home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, that he was not mad at all with his teamate Rafael Palmeiro, who recently accused Tejada for giving him a substance that under testing violated the league's drug policy. According to Tejada the substance was Vitamin B-12, but Palmeiro tested positive for the substance Stanozolol, commonly known as Winstrol.

MLB Knew of Juice Use

2005-11-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

According to a recently published report MLB officials knew of the steroid use in baseball dating as far back as 1991 and did very little to prevent it from spreading. Numerous memos were written yet nothing was done to stop the rampant use of designer steroids in baseball. According to the report numerous suppliers connected to not only the bodybuilding world, but also the sports supplement and athletic training industry were supplying MLB trainers with illegal steroids.

Lawton Suspended

2005-11-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Former All-Star outfielder Matt Lawton was suspended Wednesday for a positive steroids test, becoming the 12th player penalized for violating major league baseball's policy. His positive test was the third announced by the commissioner's office since the end of the regular season, following those of Texas pitcher Carlos Almanzar and New York Mets pitcher Felix Heredia. This comes as a major blow to the former New York Yankee outfielder who was left off the ALDS roster.

Rose Jr. guilty in steroid plot

2005-11-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

The son of former big league star Pete Rose, has plead guilty to charges of distributing GBL, a steroid alternative. Rose could be sentenced to 21 to 24 months in federal prison and fined up to $1 million under terms of his deal with prosecutors.

League Tried To Act

2005-11-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

A recent article published in ESPN magazine details how during the 90's executives, players, the media, trainers, etc. watched as steroids ravaged their way through professional baseball. According to the article, major league baseball tried to ban steroids in 1991 and again in 1997. During that 6 year period, the amount of steroid use increased significantly. Clearly the league chose to avoid the subject and internally ignore any chance of taking action that would have helped put an end to banned substances in professional baseball. The article also sheds some light as to exactly when steroids formally became introduced into major league baseball.

MLB Drug Talks Continue

2005-10-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

As talks continue between both the players union and major league officials, commissioner Bud Selig remains optimistic despite being quoted as saying "There's been no change," in reference to the league's drug-suspension policy. Selig feels a stronger penalty should be placed upon players who test positive for banned substances, while the union is doing everything it can to reject the new policy.

Almanzar Suspended for 10 Games

2005-10-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Texas Rangers righty Carlos Almanzar was suspended Tuesday October 4th for violating Major Laegue Baseball's new steroid policy.

Union Reacts to Selig's Proposal

2005-09-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

Major League Baseball and the Players Association are working on reaching a new deal that would toughen the pre-existing terms of suspension for testing positive for a controlled substance. The existing terms call for a suspension of 10 days for the first offense. Under the new proposal, Major League Baseball's commissioner Bud Selig, has called for a mandatory 50 game suspension. Selig also wants the union to ban amphetamines, to increase the number of random testings that occur, and to hire a private individual to handle Major League Baseball's drug-testing program. This seems fitting since in March of 2005, a congressional committe came down hard upon Selig, Players Association executive director Donald Fehr, and former as well as current players including, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire.

Palmeiro names Tejada as source

2005-09-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro recently named teamate Miguel Tejada as the source of the substance that made him recently fail a drug test. The substance that Palmeiro tested positive for is Stanozolol, commonly known as Winstrol. Tejada told officials that he gave Palmeiro vitamin B-12 and knows nothing about how the substance could have been an illegal substance.
Recently Palmeiro joined the 3,000 hit club. What makes this such a controversial topic is how legit were his hits and did he lie under oath when he testified to congress. He swore that he never did steroids however when he tests positive one must question his integrity and the integrity of players like him. These big league stars who deny using illegal substances then are found to have lied to not only the media, but their biggest critics, the fans that idolize them.

Titan's Henry Suspended

2005-09-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Tennesse Titan's running back Travis Henry has been suspended 4 games for violating the league's substance policy. This leaves the struggling team with a major hole to fill in the backfield. Teams losing players for more then a few games hurts the teams chemistry tremendously, especially in a season as short as the NFL's. Losing your top running back for 1/4 of the games you play is extremely detrimental to the teams performance.

A Fall from Grace

2005-09-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro pointed a finger to Congress and swore that he never used steroids. Unfortunately a urine test proved otherwise.

Panthers Doc Busted

2005-09-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

A doctor who was accused in a television report of writing illegal steroid prescriptions for three former Carolina Panthers players has been indicted on federal charges.

Conclusion

2005-09-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well what have I learned from researching the topic of illegal performance enhancing supplements and its place in professional athletics. Well for starters there's a huge amount of money being spent not only purchasing the drugs but also a tremendous going into researching these illegal drugs. Many of todays star athletes come under the radar whenever they do something incredible; and why does that have to happen? Stars like Miguel Tejada are being sold out by their teamates. Rafael Palmeiro, who under a congressional oath swore he knew nothing about steroids and had never used them, yet months later tests positive for the steroid Winstrol. What really needs to happen in professional baseball is the league needs to get back to the basics. They need to take into consideration that they have legions of fans yet they are distancing themselves from them with not only inflating arms but inflating ticket prices as well. I once read an article that the real reason they(the league) wanted to neglect taking action originally with riding steroids from baseball was that it generated revenue. More runs equalled more viewership which equalled more fans, more fans equalled more ticket sales which also meant for advertising and sponership. Money was pouring in from all outlets and all the league had to do was make sure that nobody found out about this. Unfortunately way too many people were in on this and it was only a matter of time before word got out. When the original memo was issued about banning steroids from baseball it got shuffled in with the rest of the paperwork and little action was done. Then once the strike came along baseball needed a way out, and through steroids a rebirth of the American Pastime was born. Baseball needs to realize that they will have fans for life. They have a fantastic product, the only problem is that they are letting the athletes get away with way too much. Extravagent salaries, free agency, and little pressure from the front officies, are all reasons that the sport is suffering so much. What baseball has done in regards to their new policy is great. They have taken the steps needed to enforce this as well. Now time will only tell if the can successfully rid steroids from the game.