My two cents…
The reason I chose this paticular topic was because living in Vancouver and seeing how crazy Cancuks fans get during the playoffs has made me realize how big of role sports plays in everyone’s lives. It’s almost as if we’re living vicariously through these athletes. We choose them as role models and most of us would trade lives with them in a second. But the downside to all of this is the question of whether it’s clean or not. We dump so much of our hard-earned money into attending games and we spend so much time watching the games on TV. In a recession, every penny counts and time is money. Fans also can become so passionate about their teams that they can come to blows with one another, or even destroy part of a city (the 1994 riots in Vancouver). These two reasons alone would classify this issue as a social problem. Most importantly, young athletes who are watching these pros and who emulate every move may also pick up the negative things. The most common response would be to say “they made it all the way by taking steroids, so we should do it too”….well, this is why it’s a social problem…..it can evoke such different emotions and bring about such unique problems…..
Interesting point – what have you found about how some atheletes seem to resist these pressures while others do not? Is this an issue of individual difference or are their differences in training, sponsorship etc? Have you found anything in the Sports Medicine field on this topic?
I can speak for this one on their behalf….for me, it was more of an issue of taking the easy way out. I would never have been able to look at myself as complete player if I had cheated. In my mind, it would be like “great, I’m at the top, but if only these people knew I cheated….” It just really depends on the sport and where that athlete is in their career. notice that a lot of younger athletes have been targeted in recent years (see info for that on my blogroll). We just saw an example of an athlete in Lebron James who had the spotlight on him and couldn’t deliver. It’s not entirely his fault because now we have all of these sponsors putting money into the games and its not about winning anymore, it’s about money….and some athletes will do anything for money
That’s a good point you’re bringing up, I am myself a hockey fan and it’s quite amazing how much confidence and devotion we put in some hockey players. The other day, I was joking and saying Luongo should play for Montreal since that’s the city he’s from, and my BC friend replied very seriously, why would he go to Montreal, he is a god here. That made my think about how true her comment was and just like you I’m afraid that people put to much confidence in sport players in general. This may lead to think that well if this player is doing it and most players are doing it, what’s wrong with it?
I was wondering whether the players are under pressure from coaches and Directors to use steroid especially when their performance is going down or when they get hurt? Or is it something that is totally the player’s decision?
I’m sure that coaches never explicitly say to athletes that they should put this crap in their bodies….it’s something that they probably turn a blind eye too. The same goes for sponsors and directors. After all, who would want to be caught encouraging such behavior? I think it’s more the athletes themselves wanting to put on a good show. By taking steroids, they can come back from injury sooner, put up bigger numbers and earn a higher paycheck…so it’s pretty much a no-lose situation for them….and that’s the problem because someone needs to show them that they can lose something-their future health.