Steroids: The New Price of Competition

Steroids reared it’s ugly head again recently with Alex Rodriguez as the main target. He is the latest victim in a series of political attacks targeting athletes that are set to break records. A list of over 100 professional baseball players that tested positive for steroids was released to the press, yet Alex Rodriguez was one of two names that were released. As an avid sports fan I don’t condone the use of steroids, but we all must look at this situation objectively. Barry Bonds, Shawne Merriman, Alex Rodriguez, are just a few names that come to mind when steroids in professional sports come to mind.

The most prestigious record in all of sports was broken by the great hitter, Barry Bonds. With Hank Aaron’s record in jeopardy, the media immediately looked for a reason to discredit Bond’s achievement. The search for dirt began, and obviously showed that Bonds had been using steroids. The ensuing scandal resulted in bonds lying to the media in order to save his own skin. His denial about using steroids left him writhing in a political snare of which there is no escape. Not only did he become a cheater to the American public, he was now a liar as well. Bonds is now facing jail time for lying to Congress under oath. I would just like to remind everyone that Bill Clinton cheated on his wife, lied to Congress, and the American people. He did not go to jail, and he did not even lose his office. I contend that Bonds became a target when he got close to breaking the record.

Shawne Merriman, the San Diego sack artist finished the season with 17 sacks to lead the league. This was after serving a 4 game suspension for failing an NFL drug test. He appealed the ruling but later dropped the appeal. Merriman should have won the defensive player of the year award, but lost to Jason Taylor who had called Merriman a “cheater.” With 17 sacks in only 12 games, Merriman was on pace to break Lawrence Taylor’s single season sack record. It was another of professional sport’s most prestigious records. Not unlike Alex Rodriguez, being next on the list to challenge the all time home run record.

A-Rod is the latest victim of his own success. As one player, on a list of over 100, his name is the one making the front page. He is a star player, who has been considered a sure future hall-of-fame candidate and is next on the list for the home run record, is now looking at losing his chance to take his place in baseball immortality. A Rod has said all the right things. Unlike Bonds, A-Rod has seen what happens to the players that have lied about their steroid use and has chosen to face the problem head on. This may turn out to be his saving grace. As Americans we consistently seem to forgive our hero’s no matter what their transgression, as long as they appear to be sorry. Hall of fame voters seem determined to continue comparing athletes across generation gaps, which means the use of performance enhancing drugs puts a significant black mark on A-Rods chances to get into the hall of fame. Whatever happened to the other players that were caught using steroids?