You knew it had to happen sooner or later, but they've finally found a charge to lob at our newest golden boy, Lance Armstrong. The Tour de France claims it has evidence that a banned substance showed up in a blood test from 1999. It was probably a bad jinx for Lance to go bike riding with Herr Shrub in Texas last week, but in this newly emerging era of super invasive scrutiny, what with all the drug tests, retina scans, chip implants and surveillance cameras---we are all bound to fuck up, in THEIR EYES, sooner or later. Lance is just the latest victim in this tar and feather police state mentality, which feeds a 24-hour news cycle and helps sheild our warmongering Big Brother from serious observation by keeping us all conveniently distracted while the bombs keep a dropping and innocent people keep a dying. Bread and circuses indeed!As I've stated previously I don't care if Lance Armstrong or Barry Bonds or anyone else have taken steroids or any other so called "illegal substance" at any time in their storied careers. It is none of my business or anyone else's. As to the assertion that it is harmful or detrimental to a given sport, I'll just say that both Mr. Bonds and Mr. Armstrong have carried their repsective sports on their shoulders for quite awhile now, and however they ultimately achieved success is their own damn bidness! An individual should be allowed to do what he or she wants to with their own body! That is a principle right of personal liberty-----self ownership.
Would you say that I am taking unfair advantage of my Mormon brethren because I can consume copious quantities of caffeine and stay up late at night working at the Bit & Spur, while they'd droop and yawn in their lethargic state of semi-coma at 2:15 AM? How about a face lift to land a part for a Hollywood movie? Lip injections? Lyposuction? Eye color surgery? Breast implants? Yikes!!
Why can't adult athletes take any drug they want to? Why is that bad? Who is it hurting? Willie Mays took uppers in the 50's and 60's to keep sharp during long grueling road trips, and Babe Ruth didn't. Does that besmirch the accomplishments of the Say Hey Kid?
Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire's "juiced homers" helped revive a game that had sunk so low in attendance that there was talk of contracting the league in the mid-90's. Who cares how they got it done? It is useful to remember that they are ultimately entertainers, and Lance and his "juiced" buddies, are merely selling Cokes, the Postal Service and the country of France for millions of thirsty onlookers. This ain't about the fate of nations. It's just something you peep at on the telly for crying out loud!
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050824/D8C6AQ400.html
17 comments:
Just as it SHOULD be a persons right to put anything into their body it is MLBs right to say you can't use a certain substance. I'd rather see a level playing field created by not allowing players to use steroids than players having to use steroids to be on the same level as those that are. MLB is, after all, a workplace and if their employers want to ban a substance that is their right.
As for someone like Bonds carrying a sport on his shoulders, I am of the opinion that the Bonds and Sosas of MLB have made a mockery of the sport. It was nothing more than adult league softball which is on the level of kickball.
My understanding is that these substances weren't officially banned, somewhat reluctantly I might add, until fairly recently and it was a gray area for awhile before that.
I agree that the rules of the road, once set, should be observed by those who voluntarily participate in a league or guild with set rules of conduct and sportsmanship.
I think the drugs can help enhance individual results in the same way that sports medicine, weight training and nutrition can contribute to overall athletic success, when applied in the proper proportion to training.
If they are banned, don't use 'em, but it's dumb to single out drugs as a singularly evil device to achieve success.
Thanks for checking in SS.
The fact that it took 30 yrs to break 61 and then 3 players smashed it numerous times tells me that "muscles" do play a part. Then you have to add in the fact that many players have shown up to spring training 20lbs lighter. I think it is safe to say these juiced up players have a definite advantage. It is more than strength; it also involves recovery which is why you will see a lot of pitcher get busted for steroids.
Skeeter,
Nice Platz reference.
Hank Aaron played at 180lbs and look what he did.
Here's my problem with the recent Lance Armstrong test. They did the test recently, but with samples from 1999. I have a hard time believeing that you can store blood for that long and still get a valid test result. I'm calling bullshit on the test.
Players saw the record broken at 61 by Maris yet it still took 30 yrs. The difference in performance from guys like bonds and sosa, in my opinion, is directly attributed to steroids. Bonds had never hit 50 but all of a sudden he hits 73. As for guys throwing harder that is debateable. Probably just better devices to measure speed. As for smaller ball parks and harder balls; those advantages have been offsetting by the fact that a hitter faces 3-4 pitchers a night instead of 1 or 2. Throw in the fact baseball is now integrated and international and there is no advantage (outside of performance enhancing drugs)to playing in 1997 over 1923 when it comes to hitting home runs.
Every playing in the major leagues has skill and there are probably a million more that dont play in the majors that could. Skill is not an issue here.
Do you know if Fielder was or was not on steroids? If he was maybe that the reason he hit 50 instead of 25. If he wasnt maybe he would have hit 80.
Baseball is repetition. You look at any roster and you will see 90% of the players are from the southern portion of the US or are Latin American. That is because they can play 12 months a yr, not because there are unskilled players in the North.
If you dont think steroids matter please explain Brady Anderson to me. Please explain why Sosa is hitting 210, Pudge has dropped 20lbs, Bonds all of a suddend cant heal, Bagwell is in decline, pitchers are throwing 89 and not 92, Juan Gonzalez has vanished. These guys arent hard to pick out. They are hitting 380 with 40hr at the all star break and look like they escaped from the WWE.
Jeff Bagwells brother is Buff Bagwell of the wrestling fame. Im gonna say he was dirty.
Jason Giambi and his brother are not 40 homeruns apart in skill or talent. Just 40 cc's
I repeat, George Foster in 1977 had the most impressive offensive year of anyone since Maris/Mantle in '61. He did it clean, with a black bat and magnificent sideburns.
SS,
Throw in Bret Boone, too.
Gosh Damnit Skeeting hitting 210 in the majors isnt skillful. Thats my point. This guy 2 yrs ago was hitting 330 with 60 hrs. Now all this stuff comes up and he is hitting 210. It was because of steroids. You would be surprised how many people could hit 210 in the majors. They are called minor leagues NOT on steroids. As for fielder just because he was big doesnt mean he was on steroids. I honestly dont know about home. I do know that he was a guy who went from Japan to leading the majors in HR's. If he WAS on steroids he probably would that is probably what allowed him to hit 50 instead of being in Japan. Barry Bond I can guarentee was on roids and he magically hit 73 home runs after never hitting 50. That is a 33% increase. Give that increase to a punch and judy hitter and they are now hitting 320.
Anyway you look at it it is a banned substance that give a huge anvantage to those who use them. Now that may be okay with the fans or with you but i promise you the guy sitting in AA playing by the rules doesnt think to fondly of it.
Math check: That's actually about a 50% increase, not 33.
And Bagwell's in decline because he's old.
Bagwell's deline started in 02 which would have made him 34. Hardly old in today's game. You are right about the math though.
Oh yeah. I thought he was 39, but that's Biggio.
My guess with Bagwell is that after he saw what happened with Ken Caminiti(who has since died)he dropped the roids.
There's no reason to not believe Conseco anymore. He admitted himself that he would have been an average major leaguer, at best, if not for the roids. His confession is what will keep him out of the Hall of Fame.
As for Biggio he stays out of the mix because he is a smaller guy. If you look at him though, he is built like a body builder. He has also put up some of his best years at an advanced age.
I still believe some of the worst abusers are pitchers. Anyone who has ever thrown even 6 innings will tell you they can barely lift their arm the next day. A lot of these guys are bouncing back way to quick to not be using.
That being said, I have to question what Clemens is doing. Way to dominant for a 42 yr old. MLB will protect him though.
Why protect Clemens?
Because he is the opposite of the big hitters. MLB needs guys like him (the pitching version of Bonds) to keep down the big numbers they let get out of control.
I firmly believe they set up Palmero. Washed up player gets 3000 hits and then busted for steroids. By busting a guy like palmero MLB wins because they don't look biased when in fact he will probably retire anyway.
MLB doesnt want a 3rd party giving the test because it wants to protect its stars. Clemens is a star and looks to have another 5 yrs. Palmero, steroids or not, is done, but is seen as a superstar. Clemans is seen as everything that is right with baseball. Busting him (if he is using) would signal to Congresss this is out of control and MLB cant take care of its own house.
Busting Palmero on the other hand keeps Congress at bay and gives the impression baseball will go after anyone.
Really the only difference is the fact that Palmero is a slugger and Clemans is a pitcher. People aren't hip to the fact that pitchers are using. They expect it out of the sluggers.
Just my opinion
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