The following is an editorial.
From time to time, The Free Choice E-zine takes a closer look at news events that deserve more attention than what can be devoted to them within our WEEK IN REVIEW feature. This post is just the latest in that series.
*Barry Bonds' perjury trial continues over whether or not the former major league baseball player knowingly took performance enhancing drugs/steroids and lied about doing so to investigators.
Meanwhile, instead of facing an investigation for taking performance enhancing drugs during spring training this year as a recent urine test claims, Manny Ramirez has decided to retire from playing baseball professionally.
THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE'S POSITION ON THE ABOVE?
It is the same as it has always been.
No matter what the sport, THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
Major League Baseball, as well as every other sport around the world, has got to start taking a much stronger position on the use of performance enhancing drugs than it already has. It is not just enough to make players sit out games and face possible fines.
PLAYERS (NO MATTER WHAT SPORT) MUST START FACING MORE SERIOUS ACTION, INCLUDING POTENTIAL JAIL TIME, and the stripping of any titles/awards earned while using!
Never having been a professional athlete myself, I will be honest and admit that I have absolutely no idea what goes through a player's mind to even consider, let alone actually introduce such substances into one's body.
But besides the obvious questions of what such actions does to the player's health, let alone the team's morale, what about the fans who look up to such players to some extent?
Are younger athletes, let alone children, thinking "since (fill in the blank) did it, it must be okay?"
I certainly hope not!
It is not just the professional athletes who must set good examples. High school and collegiate sports officials must be vigilant about preventing the usage of these substances.
Once might be foolishness.
Twice might be considered stupidity.
More than that is a dependence that should be addressed and treated like any other substance abuse.
On a personal note...
While I cannot speak for all sports, I love baseball.
I watch every moment I can from the first pitch of preseason training to the last out of the World Series.
But the actions of the Bonds and Ramirezs of the world tarnish the game, just as it would in any other sport.
If Bonds is found guilty, I honestly think that the home run record should revert back to Hank Aaron and the single season home run record should revert back to Roger Maris until somebody honestly (in other words: cleanly) breaks and legitimately earns the titles.
Lee Houston, Junior
Editor-In-Chief: The Free Choice E-zine
The above was an editorial.
And for those wondering why there was no closer focus upon the United States budget situation at this time, technically that is still an ongoing story that we are keeping an eye on.
From time to time, The Free Choice E-zine takes a closer look at news events that deserve more attention than what can be devoted to them within our WEEK IN REVIEW feature. This post is just the latest in that series.
*Barry Bonds' perjury trial continues over whether or not the former major league baseball player knowingly took performance enhancing drugs/steroids and lied about doing so to investigators.
Meanwhile, instead of facing an investigation for taking performance enhancing drugs during spring training this year as a recent urine test claims, Manny Ramirez has decided to retire from playing baseball professionally.
THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE'S POSITION ON THE ABOVE?
It is the same as it has always been.
No matter what the sport, THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
Major League Baseball, as well as every other sport around the world, has got to start taking a much stronger position on the use of performance enhancing drugs than it already has. It is not just enough to make players sit out games and face possible fines.
PLAYERS (NO MATTER WHAT SPORT) MUST START FACING MORE SERIOUS ACTION, INCLUDING POTENTIAL JAIL TIME, and the stripping of any titles/awards earned while using!
Never having been a professional athlete myself, I will be honest and admit that I have absolutely no idea what goes through a player's mind to even consider, let alone actually introduce such substances into one's body.
But besides the obvious questions of what such actions does to the player's health, let alone the team's morale, what about the fans who look up to such players to some extent?
Are younger athletes, let alone children, thinking "since (fill in the blank) did it, it must be okay?"
I certainly hope not!
It is not just the professional athletes who must set good examples. High school and collegiate sports officials must be vigilant about preventing the usage of these substances.
Once might be foolishness.
Twice might be considered stupidity.
More than that is a dependence that should be addressed and treated like any other substance abuse.
On a personal note...
While I cannot speak for all sports, I love baseball.
I watch every moment I can from the first pitch of preseason training to the last out of the World Series.
But the actions of the Bonds and Ramirezs of the world tarnish the game, just as it would in any other sport.
If Bonds is found guilty, I honestly think that the home run record should revert back to Hank Aaron and the single season home run record should revert back to Roger Maris until somebody honestly (in other words: cleanly) breaks and legitimately earns the titles.
Lee Houston, Junior
Editor-In-Chief: The Free Choice E-zine
The above was an editorial.
And for those wondering why there was no closer focus upon the United States budget situation at this time, technically that is still an ongoing story that we are keeping an eye on.
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