I saw an part of an interview with Andy Pettitte tonight and I very strongly disagreed with something he said. It's well known that he used HGH only to recover from an injury, and not to "gain a competitive advantage." But isn't using steroids (and I use the term steroid to refer broadly to all substances not acceptable in competitive sports) to recover from an injury in essence gaining a competitive advantage? Some of us are bigger, faster, and stronger than the rest of us, and if I use steroids to become bigger, faster, or stronger by using steroids, that's cheating. Essentially, we each have a certain amount of talent, and using any method to alter or increase the amount of talent you have, is out of bounds. The very spirit of the competition relies on this difference of talent. If every player on the basketball court can play like Michael Jordan, the game becomes pointless. Now, lets look at the injury situation. As far as I'm concerned, injury is part of the game. No athlete is immune from it. If you twist your knee a certain way, you are going to tear your ACL, no buts about it. The rules don't suddenly go out the window when you get an injury. You aren't suddenly allowed to use whatever means you wish to recover from the injury as fast as you can. Some athletes will recover faster than others, and that is part of the game too. Sports are about pitting the fitness of your body and the sharpness of your mind against that of your opponents on the other team. Fitness of the body incorporates the intrinsic talent one possesses that I mentioned earlier. Some are more capable of recovering from injury at a faster pace than others, and that's the way it is. Andy Pettitte, using HGH to recover from an injury is gaining an unfair competitive advantage, and you are a cheater.
19 February 2008
Yes, Using Steroids to Recover From Injury is Still Cheating
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Why This Is So Important
Many an arguement has been made that the example for the youth of our country is of primary importance. The slowness of Major League sports to act on this has already taken it's toll I'm sure. Baseball has finally responded, at least to the extent of it's current status. But all sports must constantly respond on a constant and continuing manner as new methods will be developed and new responses necessary. The various sport leagues not only have this responsibilty but it is beyond me how players and their unions can not be willing and equally responsible.
The example set for the youth of this country is certainly primary for continuing vigil. At the same time the history and integrety of the game is likewise equally important. I choose not to get into naming the so called stars of today that have disappointed by using these various methods of enhancing their performance. On the other hand it is the players of the past that should be revered for their accomplishments and maintaining their integrity and the integrity of the game. Names from Young & Mathews, to Ruth & Gehrig to Dean & Williams to Spahn, Ford & DiMaggio to Gibson, Aaron, Flood, Marichal & Mays, to Jackson, Fisk, & Yount on to players of today such as Jetter. Yes, the integrety of the game and the players that made it what it has been deserve protection as well as respect. Just as youth of today need athletes they can model and look up to, "The Game" and it's stars of the past deserve respect.
Agreed!
Petite's excuse would be like Rosy Ruiz saying "I didn't take the subway to gain a competitive advantage; I just needed to recover from getting lost."
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