Calling all Athletes

Today will mark the beginning of the end of the modern era of Baseball. Say goodbye to the 100mph fastballs, the 600ft long balls, the inside the park home runs... Senator George Mitchell today released a 409 page report documenting the rampant use of Steroids, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and other illegal drugs within Major League Baseball (MLB) over the past decade. The same decade that has showcased the amazing performances of slugger Barry Bonds, pitcher Roger Clemens, and MVP Miguel Tejada. These three names are included in the report, along with 50 or so of their drug using, rule breaking, cheating teammates. All of this news comes on the heals of 5-time Olympic Medalist Marion Jones' admission to using Steroids over a two or three year period.

The finger pointing and name calling has been incredible this year. Starting with Cycling and the Tour De France (which I talk about in a previous blog entry) we're starting to see a pattern of illegal drug use among all professional athletes. Senator Mitchell and MLB have come forward with this report. Barry Bonds is indicted for federal perjury and obstruction of justice during the Federal steroid investigation. Many other track and field athletes have tested positive for illegal drugs. And, can you imagine what the NFL would be like if they even tested for drugs (other than marijuana?) Seriously, how many 350lb men should be able to run under 5 seconds for the 40 yard dash!? Add to this list the NBA, MLS, and every other professional sport and league in the USA. Oh, I didn't forget you, the Professional Bull Riders, or even you NASCAR drivers. Sure, you're not taking a swing at a 100mph fastball, but you're holding on to a seriously pissed off bull or guiding your 3000lb rocket between a striped line and a concrete wall for 4 hours. You can bet that those guys are gaining strength and endurance through the use of illegal drugs.

It makes me sick to know that this crap is going on, and has been going on for years/decades now. The owners, the commissioners, the players all turned a blind eye to the problem and decided to stay part of the problem, as opposed to part of the solution. As a professional engineer, drugs won't help me improve my performance at work. Hell, it's probably reduce my performance. But what if I stole another engineer's idea, like copying a patent into my designs? What if I lied about the material I used in order to make that part cheaper? Well, that shit happens everyday too, and you know what? People get fired, people get arrested, people die. Heard about that lead paint on your kids toys? How about those collapsed bridges or run-away roller coasters? That shit doesn't happen because a "mistake" was made. Someone bent the rules, fudged the data, or lied about the truth.

Baseball, and all other money racking professional sports, should take a good look at the drug testing involved in Track and Field and Cycling, and follow their lead. Random tests, out of season tests, pre and post competition tests. They also need to properly penalize the athletes who fail these tests. A 15 game suspension (1st offense) doesn't do jack squat to a pitcher who throws once a week. A 50 game suspension (2nd offense) gives the players a nice 2 month vacation. It takes 4 god damn offenses to finally get kicked out of the league. Cycling and Track & Field have a two year ban for just your 1st offense. That's a real penalty.

Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons Football Team, just got 23 months in jail for financing a nation wide Dog Fighting ring. Marion Jones of USA Track and Field had her 5 Olympic medals stripped from her for admitting to the use of illegal drugs. Past CT Governor John Roland spent a year in jail for corruption and conspiracy. People do stupid shit, and they should get punished for it. MLB, Commissioner, Team owners, please do the right thing here and get rid of drug use, and severely punish those who don't follow the rules.

a pissed off BEN...