Episode 37 – Summer Break is nearing an end…
The first few weeks of August are interesting times in the life of nearly all American sports fans. Regardless of which sport (or sports) you follow, there is likely something to capture your attention. Among other things, the playoff races are beginning in earnest in Major League Baseball, the PGA Championship is contended, and most European soccer leagues begin their seasons. Football fans start to see preseason games and news reports, and basketball fans can watch the off season trades and summer hoops leagues.
This has also been an interesting summer outside of the competition, on both the national and international stages. The subject of cheating in sports has been a major topic in the past weeks, between Barry Bonds chasing a hallowed record, the free-fall of the Tour de France, and the game-fixing of at least one NBA official. PGA legend Gary Player even said he believed some tour players were taking steroids. My reaction was probably similar to others’: I first laughed at the idea that pro golfers would take steroids, and then stopped and realized it was not as outrageous as I would like it to be.
I am afraid this will be a tip-of-the-iceberg situation. The Tour de France was an embarrassment to the world of competitive road racing, but the governing body is doing the right thing by being aggressive against cheating. I wonder how the NFL would fare if they adopted a Tour-style program with regards to blood testing. If all the players on the various winning teams were tested each week, how many suspensions would the Commissioner have to hand out each round? Would the National Football League – the most financially successful sports league in the world – survive the purging that would inevitably follow? Would Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association (the number two and three most financially successful leagues in the world) endure any better?
It could be that we, as fans, are not concerned that athletes are accelerating their muscle development and growth with illegal and dangerous drugs. I wonder how many people watch a balloon-headed home run hitter or a lightning-fast defensive back and really care whether they come by that skill naturally. I know most of us wish steroids and blood doping was not a part of sports, but we have a hard time summoning outrage about it (and I am as guilty of this as anyone). Does our dislike for Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s record have more to do with his admitted doping or his dislikable personality?
I am not sure if the steroid conversation will dim as football season approaches, but it wouldn’t surprise me. There is enough of an issue now that it won’t disappear, but soon there will be more results to discuss.
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posted by Nate and Zach @ 12:37 PM
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