jaster wrote:Well, I guess that depends.
I mean, we all think Stevie had a ton of integrity. At least it looked that way right?
But do we actually know that?
How about Chris Chelios? He's a cheater. That's one of the reasons why we love him.
Phil Neikro? Cheater. Ty Cobb? Cheater. Gaylord Perry? Cheater.
Maybe we're looking for too much if we're looking for athletes to have integrity.
Maybe we should look at it as entertainment.
Point taken. However, I think there is a difference between steroid use happening off the field and spiked cleats, pine tar, files (btw did you mean JOE Niekro?) and doctored pitches on the field. I know, I just stepped into the arena of "the double standard" and "having it both ways," but I personally differentiate between the two. For stuff that happens in game, at least there are umps and opposing players that can police that stuff. Once a juiced player is on the field, there is nothing that can stop him from taking advantage of the benefits of steroids. Furthermore, I think steroids have a much bigger impact than all the other stuff.
As far as having integrity, this is my view: when I have kids, they are going to inevitably look up to pro athletes, whether I like it or not. And if that is going to happen, I at least want to be able to point them toward pro athletes that are role models and demonstrate good values. I don't expect all athletes to be like that, but I'm generally a bigger fan of athletes that are. I know most people don't care, but it's no coincidence that my favorite athletes are pretty good people (Trammell, Inge, Yzerman, Lidstrom, Zetterberg).
Not for nothing, but we don't know a lot about these athletes.
I've heard stories about one of those guys listed above, I won't say who, that would turn your hair white.
I think Charles Barkley has it right. We need to stop trying to make athletes role models.
The media builds these people up to superhuman status, and then, as it is doing with Bonds now, gleefully laughs as they rip them apart.
Ah, sorry, in that regard I certainly agree. Guess I was thinking that that is sort of already happening... the awareness of steroids' drawbacks.
Something isn't computing with people, because steroids are rampant among athletes of all ages.
They're either stupid or ignorant.


