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The atheletes aren't in the sport for the entertainment.Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
Some are in it for money.
Some are in it for fame.
Some are in it for the thrill of competition.
Some are in it for the pure pleasure of pushing themselves to the limit.
Some are in it for lots of other reasons.
OK, yea, but their all entertainers. Musicians don't record albums just to be entertainers either, Actors don't act just to be entertainers, etc... (well, most don't anyway. The best don't). Their professionals at their craft, but the product that their crafting is all ultimately entertainment.
All 3 of these can be considered "for entertainment", and so can money and fame to a lesser extent.Quote:
Originally Posted by filihok
Yeah, i made up the part about you being a tree hugger :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ohms_law
I'm not, but only partly because of the "integrity of the sport". Granted, I like a level playing field, too, but the issue of most concern would be the long-term damage that the users are doing to their health.Quote:
Originally Posted by ohms_law
Should that be YOUR concern though? Shouldn't that be the concern of those considering taking such drugs, and those that monitor the usage?
It should be the concern of anyone who doesn't want to see people faced with the choice of take this potentially damaging substace or not participate in the activity.Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
In 10-15 years, I think we'll have a much better understanding of these drugs, as well as probably having newer, different, perhaps better and less damaging drugs, and we can make a more informed decision then.
YES!! That should be all of our concern, and I know ohms hates it when it goes down this road because it shoots his argument out of the water....but there is no doubt that the use of PED's at the proffessional level translates to the use at the ametuer level and all the way down to our youth. A few years ago, half the football team at one of the high schools in my state (CT.) were found to be users.Quote:
Originally Posted by HoustonGM
Athletes aren't role models...but their use of PED's, when perceived by our youth gives them an edge...is detrimental to our society and a danger to our kids. Look at what the drug testing program in Texas high schools alone is costing!!! Our society has to curb its use of this stuff, because there are in fact concrete medical studies that shows the negative effects even small doses can have on children.
You'll be hard-pressed to ever convince me that any drug is safe
When taken in appropriate doses and monitored, many drugs are safe. Any drug, or any THING, when used recklessly, can be unsafe.Quote:
Originally Posted by filihok
Additionally, with a legal "go ahead" and the vast increase in research that would bring, I highly doubt that the consequences of proper, monitored use would be any more negative than bad diet. Granted, I'm not medical professional (as far as I know, no one here is), but I'm assuming that additional research would lead to acceptably "safe" usage.
In that sort of environment the "level playing field" goes out the window as well, since all MLB (and NFL, NBA, and NHL) players would have much more equal access then they currently do. If you're really worried about competativeness, it seems to me that allowing supervised drug use would lead to better balance then the current system of disallowing it and driving it all underground.
That does not necessarily have anything to do with use of it at the professional level. I'd say that it more likely has to do with the unnecessary importance assigned to high school sports and the pressure put on kids by their parents and coaches that lead them to trying to seek an edge by any means possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by dickay
And how's this prove a connection to use at the professional level?Quote:
A few years ago, half the football team at one of the high schools in my state (CT.) were found to be users.
Yeah, very true.Quote:
Originally Posted by ohms_law
I find it difficult to believe that any doctor will ever be willing to prescribe any sort of steroid to a teenager.Quote:
and all the way down to our youth.