This is interesting. I'm surprised by some of these responses.
Let me start off by saying I agree with you that it is stupid that steroids are illegal. I think they should be legal. I'm not arguing against you here. All I'm saying is, I don't feel bad when an athlete gets caught for cheating and is forced to face consequences. I think that is fair because they are illegal, both federally and by baseball's rules, and things like that can't go unnoticed.
Now, for the rebuttals.
Flex said:
Oh no?
That's funny. Cuz I recall a guy by the name of Roger Maris. Was he on steroids, too?.
When I said "those guys," I was talking about McGuire and others that have gotten caught for steroids recently.
Flex said:
What about (SKINNY) rookie Centerfielder Ken Griffey Jr.? He was mashin' 'em out his first few years. Sure, he never got to 60+, but he was on his way. ?
McGuire and those other guys were "on their way" you could say, but couldn't get there without steroids. Neither can Griffey.
Flex said:
If steroids do make the entire difference, then we should just juice up the entire Minor League Baseball system. We'll see who even comes close to being a superstar. My guess, not many.
I never said steroids make "the entire difference." You're putting words in my mouth. These guys were already really good, but they became amazing once they started cheating. If you asked me, that's a pretty sorry way to become amazing. I'm glad you brought up Roger Maris - he was amazing.
Flex said:
...But because the media makes a huge stink of it, it grabs the govt's attention, and THEY demand reprecussions, THATS why it's a big deal now.
I don't care how they became a big deal - that is irrelevant. But to let this "big deal" go unpunished would be a disgrace to the game, and would set a precedent for others to cheat without shame.
Flex said:
...And i'm not saying nobody loves the game. I'm just saying that all morals went out the sports window a few decades back when $ became more important than the sport itself.
If that's true, then it's sad. I stand by my original statement - That doesn't make it right, and it doesn't make it something to be looked over and ignored.
Flex said:
...But i hope even more that people STOP shunning steroids the way they do, which all STARTS with the media.
I honeslty hope so, too, Flex. But as long as it is against federal law, the media and the general public will continue shunning it.
Flex said:
...Yes, Oaktown, steroids are REALLY analogous to crack. Great comparison.
...
Jaywalking is also illegal.
Crack isn't quite as ridiculous a comparison as jaywalking. Crack and steroids, although VERY different, are both federal crimes. Jaywalking, on the other hand, is just a petty misdemeanor, and will just get you a small ticket. You were actually the one with the silly comparison.
gr81 said:
it is absolutely NOT silly to compare a male using steroids to a female using birth control...but what is teh difference? Why is one OK but not the other?
I actually laughed when I read this. Here's the answer: Because one is illegal under federal law, and one is perfectly legal. I don't understand why that is hard to understand. You can say steroids "shouldn't" be legal (which I agree with), but THEY ARE! That's the difference, and it's a pretty freaking big difference!
P-Funk said:
These are professional athletes. They are not the average person with average abilities. They are a top 1% of human beings that have the ability to perform with incredible skill. So, that being said, does it matter if they take steriods? I don't think so.
Yes it matters, because it's CHEATING. Where is the integrity in the world? Is cheating to get to the top ok now? Do people not value honor and doing the right thing? It is so disappointing to hear people so apathetic about achieving goals and breaking records while cheating!
Anyway, my stance remains - they cheated, and they should be punished accordingly by the powers that be.
But that doesn't mean I think steroids are bad, because I think it is pretty ridiculous that they are illegal. I think it's even more ridiculous that prohormones are illegal, but that's a different thread.