Let me first say that I'm a big sports fan, and a fan of baseball in particular.
But seriously, could the media be making a bigger deal of the whole A-Rod steroids story?
Hell, I'm even a Yankee fan living in the Boston area, but I JUST. DON'T. CARE!
Of all of the things I worry about as a dad, talking to my kids about anabolic steroids is soooooo far down the list it might as well not be on the list at all.
And to be honest, I can totally understand why some athletes choose to take them and I DON'T condemn them for doing so. I went to high school with a very gifted athlete. Good enough to get a scholarship to a football factory college. While he was there he put on almost 50 lbs of muscle mass, which while I don't know it for a fact, I firmly believe that steroids played a part.
The result? An 8 yr NFL career, 3 trips to the Pro Bowl, and a $2million per year salary, for several years. Good for him.
After all, it's just a game. I think we as society put athletes too much on a pedestal as role models. Do we really need to care as much as we do about sports?
Shouldn't we as dads be the best role models for our kids?
[Yes, I recognize that my views on steroids is in contract to the principle of fair play. I'm ignoring that for now. Maybe some other day...]
Posted by Hubman
The Boy and the Pine Forest
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One day, his parents drove him several hours outside of the city and the
place that he knew as home. They passed by meadows, farms and forests on
the way t...
15 comments:
::steps on soapbox::
In this country we put the WRONG people on pedestals, if you ask me. Rock stars, sports stars, actors... Don't get me wrong, I love all that shit but I hate hearing about how they've "let us down" because they f-ed up somehow. They are freakin' human people.
::steps off soapbox::
I agree with you and T!
The only thing I'd say is if they are going to have rules then have them and enforce them, if not then don't have the rules!!!!
I could give a shit if A-rod (who is a phenomenal player) took roids or crack or eats smokes peyote!
But come one, this is baseball! Baseball: the all American sport. It's like mom and apple pie. You can't get more American than that!
Seriously though, I think that is the real reason why people are freaked out. They haven't worried about it in baseball until the last 6 years, I think. And, now it's coming out that (gasp!) baseball players used steroids too.
I don't quite understand this epiphany - I mean I remember the whole Sosa & McGuire home run slug fest when afterward it was revealed that both were using some for of performance enhancement drug (legal, at the time). It's been happening for quite a while. Why we are wasting time on this now is beyond me.
Professional athletes should not be role models for anything, but maybe as what happens when you thrust an immature, undereducated adult into the spot light and throw gobs of money at them. They make plenty of bad decision. But I digress.
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I haven't followed the story (cause unless it's a story about hockey or cycling, I really don't care much about sports) but I think, like some have said, that we should stop making athletes idols. If they were getting there on their own merits and strengths then they should be looked up to. And I know, I love cycling. A Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, Giro de Italia loving fool. And that sport has gotten so screwed up with doping.
It's scary when there are no role models left for kids these days. Oh wait, there are, PARENTS!
I agree sweetie. I think we all have bigger things to worry about than A-Rod.
I couldn't care less about A-rod or what he snorts, injects or screws. That being said...
Cheating is cheating. Whether these athletes are your kids idols or not...watching a cheater succeed sucks for everyone.
Taking steroids and winning a game is like losing weight using weight loss pills.
It pisses off all the fat bastards of the world.
I love sports and love competitions of all kinds (I'm a guy....you know)
I could really care less about what athletes take...or experiment with. I guess my concern is their side effects. Many of the guys taking roids and other drugs..end up doing some outlandish shit. That is the message that I send my kids...how the drugs effect those around you.
I will say that I don't wnat the NFL to be full of 'string beans.'
Totally agree that we need to stop looking up to athletes and actors and whatnot as role models. WE should be the rold models for our kids....not people that make a crapload of money for basically talent.
My husband could have spit those exact words out of his mouth. And he is a pure yankee fan. Who F'in cares??? I've got more important things to worry about like the gypsy that barged into our house last night and my 9 year old thinking the F bomb is funny after hearing it at soccer practice. Perfect.
Not that I know much about this...but, well, I think media puts a lot of unnecessary people on a pedestal!
It's funny what they drag out as news!
AMEN! Seriously, first of all, was there honestly any doubt that he did? If you didn't think so you need to wonder about your own IQ. Second, we shouldn't idolize athletes. We expect so much from them that they in a way are forced to go to extreme measures to make it in the pro leagues. I'm not saying I will take the blame, they did make their own choices, but come off your high horse if you think that all of your own decisions are perfect!
A Yankee fan in the Boston area? And you're still alive? :)
My husband is a Sox fan living in the NY area and he's barely survived.
:) Robin
cinnamon & honey
I agree- WHO are these people we are having our kids look up to????
I am in full agreement with you Hubman. I am not a sports fan at all, I mean I'd rather play for fun than go all crazy over the watching part so I couldn't care less what who's doing what and where.
And I agree with everyone else, society put too much emphasis and way too much attention on these people. They are no different than us and I sure don't want them to be role model to my kids, too.
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