Last week, the Gilroy Dispatch ran a story about how the
steroids discussion has tromped its way into youth baseball with
all the subtlety of a head-hunting fastball. There was something
vaguely disturbing about the way the Little Leaguers interviewed
for the story joked and playfully surmised about which Major
Leaguer was on the proverbial
“juice.” When asked what they thought about using steroids, they
said all the right things – it’s wrong, it’s cheating, no one
should ever do them. And, it’s highly unlikely that steroids are
now, or ever will become, a major issue in terms of usage in youth
baseball. But the disconcer
ting part about the steroids discussion is the cavalier way that
the kids in the story bandied about the names of current and former
big league stars, speculating about whether or not they were
involved with steroids.
Last week, the Gilroy Dispatch ran a story about how the steroids discussion has tromped its way into youth baseball with all the subtlety of a head-hunting fastball.
There was something vaguely disturbing about the way the Little Leaguers interviewed for the story joked and playfully surmised about which Major Leaguer was on the proverbial “juice.”
When asked what they thought about using steroids, they said all the right things – it’s wrong, it’s cheating, no one should ever do them. And, it’s highly unlikely that steroids are now, or ever will become, a major issue in terms of usage in youth baseball.
But the disconcerting part about the steroids discussion is the cavalier way that the kids in the story bandied about the names of current and former big league stars, speculating about whether or not they were involved with steroids.
It made me wonder how seriously most of us treat the issue of steroid use in sports.
Certainly, most responsible adults, including but not limited to coaches, have made a point to tell kids in no uncertain terms how dangerous steroids can be. However, as those same responsible adults realize, kids pay at least as close attention to the unspoken messages from adults and society in general as they do their carefully crafted, moralizing statements.
In an age when personal integrity seems to have taken a back seat to the pursuit of fame and fortune, especially in the world of sports, what kind of messages are kids really getting about the use of steroids?
If it’s okay, even celebrated, for the ambitious, aspiring professional athlete to do everything they can – even if it stretches the rules a bit – to succeed, how can we tell kids that steroids are beyond the pale?
If we tolerate multi-million dollar athletes and their agents who play fast and loose with their own integrity in order to wring the last cent out of their sport, how can we expect kids not to believe they should do everything within their power for the big payday?
True, steroids are dangerous to an athlete’s health. But how many people honestly wouldn’t risk their own health if the payoff is fame and fortune?
In the final analysis, the real reason steroids are wrong is that they are cheating. And, cheating is wrong, period. Any kind of cheating, anywhere, any way.
I believe pro sports must take a much harder line on steroids use. All players should be tested, weekly. First-time use, lifetime ban. No excuses, zero tolerance.
If we can’t do that much to send a message to our kids, to everybody, that cheating is not okay, then what does that say about us?
Around the horn…
- It seems to be nearly a foregone conclusion that the San Jose Earthquakes are headed to Houston. Recent news reports have Quakes owner AEG in serious negotiations with the University of Houston about providing a temporary home for the Quakes until a stadium can be built.
While the reaction from most people in San Jose ranges from ennui to resignation – even the grassroots booster group Soccer Silicon Valley seems to have accepted the apparently inevitable relocation, the Quakes’ exodus will have far-reaching effects on San Jose’s attempts to attract any kind of major sports team in the future.
If the city can’t support a title-winning franchise (the Quakes won two titles in three seasons from 2001-03) in a relatively minor sport, why would anyone believe they can support an MLB team?
(Especially an expansion franchise that would have to compete against the Giants and A’s? If anyone in San Jose really still thinks either of those established franchises is going to end up in San Jose, they’re kidding themselves. That includes you, Mayor Ron Gonzales.)
As an aside, despite losing their head coach, general manager and best player since the end of last season, the Quakes are in first place and headed to another playoff berth.
- Speaking of pro sports in San Jose, from Sept. 7-11 local ice hockey fans will get to assuage their Sharks jones at the third annual Pacific Division Shootout at Logitech Ice in San Jose.
The event features pro prospects from the Sharks, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Sharks fans will be able to see first-round picks Milan Michalek, Lukas Kaspar, Devin Setoguchi and Steve Bernier, as well as other top minor leaguers.
Right after the Shootout, the Sharks will begin their 2005 training camp, which will also be held at Logitech Ice. Veterans will arrive on Sept. 12, and begin drills and workouts on Sept. 13.
The Sharks’ preseason opener is against the Kings at HP Pavilion on Sept. 18. San Jose opens its regular season at Nashville on Oct. 5.
Jim Johnson is the Morgan Hill Times Sports Editor. He can be reached by phone at (408) 779-4106 (ext. 203) or by email at jj******@*************es.com
