Steroid Use in Professional Baseball
The news about steroids being a part of every game is not new to any one. In the past, big names such as Ben Johnson in athletics and Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Gary Sheffield in baseball have been accused of taking steroids to influence results of the competitions.
The infamous memories of BALCO scandal has still not diminished from minds of baseball lovers in which Barry Bonds told the world that Greg Anderson, his long-time friend, supplied an untraceable steroid to him. There have been many more accusations till now just like the other infamous Alex Rodriguez scandal of 2003.
The confessions of Jason Giambi and Mark McGwire, professional baseball players, admitting steroid use in professional baseball is highly damaging to the game and existing as well as potential players.
If we have a close look at the frequency of such incidents of steroid use in professional baseball, we will be amazed to know that these incidents are on an unprecedented rise despite ex-players and sporting confederations raising huge voices against use of steroids.
What has been inspiring these players is the “obsessive” self-image of invincibility that is highly damaging from every possible view. Today, every one in the baseball field wants to get an edge, even if unfair, to win. No one wants to lose at any cost and does not mind compromising a thing or two, even with his own health and body. The desperate desire of budding baseball sluggers to turn professionals by displaying exuberant and almost miraculous performance under the influence of steroids as revealed by many television channels is in itself disturbing and harmful for the game of baseball.
It is generally seen that young members of the society often take on steroids to build muscle, look good, increase strength, and make an impression. But what starts as nothing ends up big. The downfall starts when things start going wrong in their lives and they resort to steroids in sports to influence competition results. Once the habit of winning gets too much for these players, the addiction of steroids and invincibility becomes bigger with each passing day in their lives.
Now, the once innocent (and experimental) youth starts becoming a sportsman addicted to steroids for winning. This is the when the holy spirit of the game is defeated and when the game gets defeated, the sportsman behind the disgrace becomes an easy victim for one and all.
If you do not believe these facts, you will surely find it hard to justify that while Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs in a single season stood for almost 35 years, records of Roger Marris (61 home runs, 1961) and Mark McGwire (70 home runs, 1998) were always under the threat and even improvised to a considerable extent by possibly baseball players taking steroids as claimed by some sections of the society. The fact that all of these great players were and are role models of many budding baseball sluggers is enough for a baseball lover to get disturbed and hoping for better.
However, the entire fault does not lie with the baseball sluggers alone. These players are always expected to carry on their feats every time they enter the playing arena.
They are booed when they fail and cheered like nothing when they look aggressive or deliver the punch. In a recently concluded survey among baseball players, it was found that almost all of the players felt the pressure of expectations of their countrymen when it comes to winning big home runs and run the bases and play the field. What most of us forget is that even the baseball sluggers are human and no human can win every day. There are bad times in an individual and even in a slugger’s life.
In addition to that, career spans of players all over the world have been reducing. Many players play for the happiness of their fans and money despite being let down by their body in the form of fatigue, injury, or disease. This is because there are many to take their place in the team if they do not play one game. This fear and insecurity of losing everything – name, fame, money, sponsorship, royalties, new career opportunities, and rich stature – brings them closer to steroids.
Once even a small association with steroids is created, the association goes well beyond times and the ethics of sports.
This is the time when sportsmen start considering themselves bigger than the game and start disrespecting game rules, teammates, audience, and every one close to them. Things go well till they are successful but when the “negative vibes of steroids” reach their “obsession shores”, the boat of over-confidence and the thought of being superior than the game get drowned without even a sound. People start disassociating themselves with the steroid using sportsmen and the world suddenly falls on shoulder of these sportsmen to their complete disbelief and shock.
The game of baseball has always been loved by one and all, irrespective of age, gender, and nationality and the use of steroids must be completely banned in this game if we all need to keep enjoying this game like ever before. This is because steroid use in professional baseball is just not fair for those sportsmen who play the game with complete sportsmanship and sports ethics. There cannot be just any relaxations to allow unethical sportsmen to get benefited from unfair advantage obtained with use of steroids in a game and the game of baseball is no exception.
One must not forget that a game needs to be played like a game and not like a battle. And, winning and losing are all parts of the game. There is no space for steroid use in professional baseball and those who advocate it can better be a part of the TV audience rather than even deserving to be part of the audience on the playing field just if they are too obsessed with the game.
