NFL anonymous steroid survey

[JayC]

Results from a comprehensive health survey of 2,552 retired NFL players from the 1940s to the 1990s:

"In the anonymous survey, 20.3 percent of the players from the 1980s answered yes when asked "During the time in which it was acceptable to use performance-enhancing steroids, did you use steroids?"

Of all of the retired players, 9.1 percent answered yes to the question."

That 9.1% figure, of course, includes players from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, so the number from that group would be zero.

So why all the attention to baseball?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3920603

[HoustonGM]

Because football's leaders don't actively wage a war against their players like Selig and Co. do.

And also because football/its fans don't give undue importance to records and give them sacred qualities.

I think the more pertinent question is...we know steroids have been around for roughly half a century. We know of at least one admitted user from the early 1970's in baseball, and that person claims that there were 6-7 pitchers per team experimenting with the stuff. We know that football teams like the 1970s Steelers were juiced up. We know that 20% of 1980s football players admit to using it. Why do people still act as though it's only been in baseball since 1998?

[etothep]

Because football's leaders don't actively wage a war against their players like Selig and Co. do.

And also because football/its fans don't give undue importance to records and give them sacred qualities.

[200tang]

how long you been saving that pic etothep?

[Wassit3]

Results from a comprehensive health survey of 2,552 retired NFL players from the 1940s to the 1990s:

"In the anonymous survey, 20.3 percent of the players from the 1980s answered yes when asked "During the time in which it was acceptable to use performance-enhancing steroids, did you use steroids?"

Of all of the retired players, 9.1 percent answered yes to the question."

That 9.1% figure, of course, includes players from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, so the number from that group would be zero.

So why all the attention to baseball?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3920603

not necessarily zero since steriods have been around since 1930's, Hitler experiemted with his olympic atheletes, so conceivably players in the 40's could have used.

[Pavelb1]

Because football's leaders don't actively wage a war against their players like Selig and Co. do.

And also because football/its fans don't give undue importance to records and give them sacred qualities.

I think the more pertinent question is...we know steroids have been around for roughly half a century. We know of at least one admitted user from the early 1970's in baseball, and that person claims that there were 6-7 pitchers per team experimenting with the stuff. We know that football teams like the 1970s Steelers were juiced up. We know that 20% of 1980s football players admit to using it. Why do people still act as though it's only been in baseball since 1998?

Because it's only been around that time period athletes used 'experts' on steroids combined with serious regimental exercise programs?

Does this guy look roided up?

http://www.vintageseattle.org/wp-con....thumbnail.jpg

I just read some thread by a nimrod that suggested Hank Aaron, Davey Johnson and Darrell Evans did roids all because of a concurrent power spike. Maybe they did, but i seriously doubt popping a steroid pill, eating some wheaties, and curling five pound weights is going to help you hit a homerun.

[HoustonGM]

Because it's only been around that time period athletes used 'experts' on steroids combined with serious regimental exercise programs?

Does this guy look roided up?

http://www.vintageseattle.org/wp-con....thumbnail.jpg

I'd link to a bunch of steroid users from this era and say "Does this guy look roided up?", like this guy, as well, except I'm too lazy to. The point is you absolutely cannot make any judgment of steroid use simply by looking at a person.

I just read some thread by a nimrod that suggested Hank Aaron, Davey Johnson and Darrell Evans did roids all because of a concurrent power spike. Maybe they did, but i seriously doubt popping a steroid pill, eating some wheaties, and curling five pound weights is going to help you hit a homerun.

Whose to say that Aaron, Johnson, and Evans didn't have their own strict exercise regimes? Just because weight-training wasn't widely accepted doesn't mean that there weren't players doing it.

Speculating on whether or not someone did steroids based on power spikes, though, is ridiculous as well, just like speculating based on physical appearance is.


But, to get back to this point:

Because it's only been around that time period athletes used 'experts' on steroids combined with serious regimental exercise programs?

So, simply using steroids isn't bad. Using steroids and doing what every other athlete of your time in every sport does (work out) is bad?

[JayC]

not necessarily zero since steriods have been around since 1930's, Hitler experiemted with his olympic atheletes, so conceivably players in the 40's could have used.

"Conceivably," granted. But "realistically," no.

[Pavelb1]

I'd link to a bunch of steroid users from this era and say "Does this guy look roided up?", like this guy, as well, except I'm too lazy to. The point is you absolutely cannot make any judgment of steroid use simply by looking at a person.


Whose to say that Aaron, Johnson, and Evans didn't have their own strict exercise regimes? Just because weight-training wasn't widely accepted doesn't mean that there weren't players doing it.

Speculating on whether or not someone did steroids based on power spikes, though, is ridiculous as well, just like speculating based on physical appearance is.


But, to get back to this point:

So, simply using steroids isn't bad. Using steroids and doing what every other athlete of your time in every sport does (work out) is bad?

No, taking illegal drugs in a manner that very very likely helping you perform as if you were 15 years younger (Clemens and Bonds) is....popping 'whatever pill (which i think wern't even illegal then) you could get your hands on' isn't. It's dumb, but it's not bad.

That's my moral judgement and I'm sticking to it. I don't expect or even think anyone else will concur nor do I make any kind of moral judgment of anyone who disagrees. (that's NOT a jab at you, just saying where i stand)

My head hurts.

[ragecage]

I think its more serious during the 90's because of the fact there is more knowledge on how to get the best workout for your body. Knowledge about the body during the 70's and prior you can say were non existent. Heck you can see ads of cigarettes where it shows doctors smoking.

Also I read a book on a boxer that fought in the 50's and before his match he would eat a steak dinner. Nowadays fighters load up on carbs because thats what fuels the body for energy.

So in essence with the lack of knowledge you really cant say steroids enhanced their performance as much as the players of today, because simply we know more about the human body.

[Pavelb1]

One more thing: anyone in the 70's who has a mindset of 'pop any pill you can get your hands on' is probably living a lifestyle that negates any possible positive effect the steroids could have given them. No wonder greenies were so popular.

[HoustonGM]

No, taking illegal drugs in a manner that very very likely helping you perform as if you were 15 years younger (Clemens and Bonds) is....popping 'whatever pill (which i think wern't even illegal then) you could get your hands on' isn't. It's dumb, but it's not bad.

That's my moral judgement and I'm sticking to it. I don't expect or even think anyone else will concur nor do I make any kind of moral judgment of anyone who disagrees. (that's NOT a jab at you, just saying where i stand)

My head hurts.

So, because past players lived at a time when they did not have access to the drugs of today (because those drugs didn't exist), but nevertheless still used the "best" drugs they could get their hands on, they're better people than the people of today who used the best drugs available to them?

[HoustonGM]

So in essence with the lack of knowledge you really cant say steroids enhanced their performance as much as the players of today, because simply we know more about the human body.

Saying that is fine, and I wouldn't disagree, but that's different than making a moral judgment about the players.

[ragecage]

Saying that is fine, and I wouldn't disagree, but that's different than making a moral judgment about the players.

True, what benefits players from back then too, is the fact a lot of time has gone by before it was discovered that they used amphetamines to keep them playing everyday. So much time, that now the greats are considered heroes or immortal and its hard to accept they did any wrong.

But with the steroids, memories of a lot of these guys are still fresh in peoples minds and its easier to come to the conclusion to dislike em and say steroids is what helped them achieve greatness. I think if a lot of time went by when these players were long retired, I think the reaction would be a little different.

[etothep]

how long you been saving that pic etothep?

haha, just typed truth into google images & it was my favorite one from the first page of results