Originally Posted by
blue_nose
The problem with this argument is that taking steroids is without a prescription is against the law. When he juiced, he was in fact commiting a crime.
Yeah, but he(nor anybody else) still wasn't breaking the rules of the game at the time. And even with testing now HGH isn't tested for. My problem with everyone knocking the Bonds situation is that we have no idea how many players were juicing at the time. It was sure more than just Bonds and Big Mac. And there are plenty of pitchers out there in their late 30's having career years too. To rip on just Bonds like he's the only guy is wrong. Because he wasn't/isn't the only guy doing it. And again, the league didn't care. So you really can't blame the players. Who's to say that A-Rod isn't taking HGH. He's bigger than he was when he came up with the Mariners. And he's the likely candidate to break whatever number Bonds puts up. Or Albert Pujols too. He ain't no little dude either.
Its difficult to compare NFL, MLB, and NBA drug use to sports like cycling and track & field. While being bigger, stronger, and faster is always an advantage, in football, baseball, and basketball the results of performance enhancing drugs aren't necessarily a direct advantage to performance in the sport. In cycling and T&F, the use has a direct recordable impact on the atheletes performance in that sport. In baseball, more pitchers have tested positive for steroid use than any other position. Primarily for recovery purposes. In football, being bigger and stronger doesn't necessarily translate to being a better player. Anybody remeber the colassal bust of Tony Mandarich?
Everyone seems to get all wrapped up emotionally into this issue of performance enhancing drugs. In the end we'll never know all of the atheletes who are doing it. But the sports will survive. They'll do what they can, but there will always be the cloud of suspicion.