Tough Questions

After watching the Alex Rodriquez steroid story unfold this week, I began to wonder.

Why do professional athletes feel the need to take steroids? What does it say about the athletes that take them? What does it say to our youth?

I was a dedicated athlete when I was growing up. I used to go out after school to play football and basketball with my friends. I played baseball and basketball in high school and continued in baseball for a year in college. Sports were very important in my life. I was a competitive person. I remember not being a very good basketball player. I made the team, because I hustled (and they needed a tenth guy to make scrimmaging even). But I played to get in shape for baseball. I would work out before and after school to make myself stronger. I even took whey protein supplements to make myself bigger. I saw friends in my school that took steroids. Why didn't I do it? If you want to be bigger and stronger that is what you do. Right?
As a relgular Joe high schooler in Wentzville, Missouri, I knew people that took steroids. If I was seeing it in high school, there is no doubt that this must have been considered normal in professional sports. All of those kids that excelled when I was in school must have gone on to bigger and better athletic dreams. Right?

Why do professional athletes feel the need to take steroids?
Athletes are taking steroids in order to get an edge over the competition. They are doing it, because nobody is telling them it is wrong. And they see the consequences of their actions being more positive than negative.
What does it say about the athletes that take them?
We are beginning to see all of the athletes that I grew up watching coming out and say they took steroids. In essence, THEY CHEATED! When I was in school if the teacher saw you cheating you got a "F"; no questions asked. I don't know if any of these steroid era players are going in the Hall of Fame, but their records are still there. Can't we do the same thing our teachers did when we were in school and give them a ZERO.
On a side bar, if one of these guys get in and Pete Rose (one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and not a steroid user) doesn't I will be very upset.
What does it say to our youth?
Steroid use says to our youth, "Here is a short cut," "There is hardly any negative consequences," "If you want to be any good, you need them," and "It is okay. Everybody was doing it." I could go on and on.

Right and wrong is being totally blurred in today's culture. Truth is being stomped all over. The truth is "God created [us] in His own image." (Genesis 1:27) He created us to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. (Galatians 5:22-23) Steroid use is non of these things. It is selfish, prideful, and deceptive. Being the best at sports isn't what we are suppose to be living for. We are suppose to be living for God. The unnecessary pressure we are putting on athletes to perform is completely uncalled for. It is sending the wrong message to the next generation. There should be serious consequences to these athletes actions. We have all had to pay for something that we did wrong; they should have to pay for their choices.

Labels: athletes, cheating, God, steroids, truth, youth