Well Soy, political affiliations aside, I find that I am in a rather difficult position when it comes to steroid use in professional sports. I mean, I am not for it but I have difficulty condemning it as "cheating". Professional sport is a business. It is the business of winning and, as such, you do whatever you must to win. Terribly cynical I know, but true. The old adage, "If you aint cheatin', you aint tryin' " comes to mind.
Anyone that has ever played sports at any real level can certainly understand from whence I speak. I have mentioned my past life in baseball many times. I never doped but then again, I never got "paid" and needed to..My team was sponsored and we won in order to retain that sponsorship (along with using their equipment) but the point is, if we stopped winning, we lost our "ride". Did I try to take an extra step when I could? You bet! Did I try to exploit a weakness or sneak off the bag early or get a head start when I thought no umpire was looking? Absoluetly. I guess I "cheated".
Professional athletes are paid to win. There is no silly sentiment or "pureness" to it. Win or retire. Period. And fans love winning. Now, having said this, as a true fan, I also understand the sadness many feel when a "hero" is exposed as a fraud. But, if you consider that an athlete's body is nothing more than a piece of equipment, how can you blame him?? I mean, they use the best equipment technology can offer, right? Certainly they would consider "improving" their body in any way possible? A truly difficult situation. I know what you are saying, Soy. I just do not know what the "right" answer would be...
Edited at: Saturday, February 07, 2009 12:49:24 PM |