Steroid usage in sports has been a controversial issue since it began sometime around the 1940’s. The conflicting opinions of how steroids in sports should be managed has eventually created what can be accurately described as a whirlwind of confusion. In the two articles “Destroyed” by Peter F. Martin, and “The Designer Player” by Rodrigo Villagomez, the authors differ in their opinions about steroid usage in sports. While Martin believes that steroid users are ruining the game and their bodies, Villagomez thinks that living itself is harming our bodies and that steroid users are heroes for making the game more interesting. However, both authors are attempting to persuade their audiences into believing what they think. That being said, both …show more content…
He believes that doing things that are bad for our bodies is simply inescapable. Villagomez says that “Living is unhealthy. We all do things that are not good for our bodies, whether it be smoking or drinking or whatever. These players are no more ruining their bodies than those people who have a smoke break every thirty minutes” Villagomez believes that steroid users should not be singled out as being more egregious than people like smokers, as all of us do things that are less than ideal for our bodies. Villagomez, in this instance, is stating his opinion and giving reason for his belief in an attempt to persuade his audience. The author furthers his thinking by stating: “Fans should not be let down because their favorite players used steroids to make them watch. They should thank them. Without those players, there might not even be a game to watch” (Villagomez). Villagomez thinks that steroid users in sports are worthy of praise and admiration as without those players, the game would have been far less interesting, and far less popular. Once again, Villagomez is asserting his opinion, providing reasoning for said opinion, to persuade his audience that his opinion is undeniably right and valid. Villagomez provides a differing argument, but with the same author’s purpose as
STEROIDS IN BASEBALL 2 Steroids in Baseball Steroids have been used a lot longer than some may realize. Steroids have even been dated back to Ancient Greece, where Greeks used testicular and plant extracts to get an edge on their opponents (Walker,2008). Major League Baseball has been around since 1869, which is why baseball is considered America’s pastime. Recently, those players have looked for an edge on other players, and will do anything to get that edge. This is why performance-enhancing drugs became a problem in Major League Baseball.
Through his years of research, Howell’s research question went from how many are to how many aren’t due to the amount of players who use steroids. He also had personal experience with his son talking him about how many boys are using steroids for an easy way to achieve the body they want. Through this article, Howell used the rhetorical appeals Ethos, pathos, and logos to strengthen his argument.
In “Cheating and CHEATING” by Joe Posnanski, he is responding to Pete Hamill and arguing against him, unlike Moller’s article that is a personal experience. Posnanski tells facts on cheating in the baseball games such as “Leo Durocher and the Giants, who rigged an elaborate sign stealing system”(556).He mentions drugs and tells just what he’s read about which is the good and the bad side of them. His article is centered on Willie Mays as it should be as a response with him being the focus. Moller on the other hand, author of “We, the Public, Place the Best Athletes on Pedestals” had actually taken Ritalin a handful of times to study with and personally felt the effects kick in “hypersensitized, stuffed-up, sweaty, wide-eyed mess, but I studied until I heard the birds chirping. And I aced my test” (Moller, 545).He sees personally the pull of drugs to perform better in scholarly work for himself and understands personally why the baseball player’s would do the same.
A step in this direction is the new drug testing program that was negotiated and approved by the owners and players for the 2005 season. It is far more comprehensive, intrusive, and punitive than the 2002 program that it replaced. Time will tell whether the new program will rid the sport of the blight which allows juiced-up players to achieve phony records that overshadow authentic accomplishments (Staudohar. 2005).” All players work hard everyday, but the ones who are taking steroids to get ahead faster are just cheating themselves. Although, there could be a brighter side to steroid use.
In 1889, Bud Galvin became the first man to use steroids in american sports when he tried to inject hormones from animals into himself. “Charles Brown-Sequard's "Elixir of Life," which became the earliest known performance enhancing drug in American professional sports when Pud Galvin of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys used it in 1889” (VICE). Since then steroids have been a staple in american sports, especially the game of baseball. When people think of the best player in baseball many people will say without even thinking about, Babe Ruth, the great yankee slugger who hit close to 720 homeruns in what people will call the dead ball era. Babe Ruth, however may have been using some sort of performance enhancing drug when he was still playing with
The steroid era in baseball referred to a period of time in the MLB when a number of players were using performance enhancing drugs, in which resulted in a increase in offensive numbers. Even though steroids were banned in the MLB since 1991, the league did not take league wide performance enhancing drug testing till 2003. The lack of testing in earlier years allowed many players to get away with taking steroids. During the 2001 Major League baseball season, Barry Bonds hit a MLB single season record of 73 homer runs.
Major League Baseball in known as America’s Favorite pastime. Many people including children, college students, and the elderly fill baseball stadiums regularly, but do these people know the truth behind the success of their favorite player? This question is what Zev Chafets discuses in his essay “Let Steroids into the Hall of Fame.” Chafets argues that the regulations set in major league baseball should no longer ban the use of performance enhancement drugs. Chafet says “Fans will accept anything except the sense of being lied to” (245), therefore if the fans don’t care about the drugs players use why should the Hall of Fame?
They believe that PEDs should not be banned by the governing bodies of sports. In the article the present both arguments, they talk about the spirit of the sport and how PEDs are ruining it, they talk about the ethical conundrum of fair play and honesty. They also mention the possible health complications that could arise from PEDs, they mention all this but they also provide us with an argument against it. They counter the claim of fairness by eluding themselves to fairness they mention that sports are rigged from the beginning with an unfair advantage to the genetically superior athlete, so using PEDs is just a way of catching up.
Introduction: One of the largest industries in the United States is the professional sports industry; it brought in $63 billion in 2015 1. Professional athletes are seen as strong and talented, but how much of their strength and talent is achieved naturally? Performance-enhancing drugs have been increasingly used in professional sports and are prohibited from being used, but should they be prohibited?
A recent display of hubris was the controversial Alex Rodriguez and his doping scandal. Alex Rodriguez was a great baseball player, hall of fame worthy, but he got caught doing something should not have done. Alex’s pride blocked him from thinking that he would be caught, but he was wrong. He tested positive for a banned substance by the MLB, and received a major punished from the higher ups in the Major League Baseball Organization. Commissioner Bud Selig of the MLB suspended Rodriguez 162 games, and still to this day Alex denies all claims even though there is irrefutable
Lastly (transition), many athletes that use steroids are better than their opponents, by cheating. Athletes that use steroids should have bigger consequences. First of all (transitions), reports show that athletes that use steroids have a number of health issues. According to www.drugabuse.gov , all steroid users could get liver damage, heart disease, changes in cholesterol, and weight loss. While (conjunctions) males will develop breast, have shrinking testicals,
Picture this every athlete in sports using drugs no one depends on skill anymore everyone depends on performance enhancing drugs like adrenaline and steroids. Many athletes today use drugs to enhance their skills in all sports. This is a problem because some athletes use their own skills and are getting beaten by athletes who use drugs. Performance enhancement drugs create an unfair advantage over those athletes who choose to rely on their own skill. Banning drugs in sports can make a difference in the athlete 's health Drugs like steroids could decrease the user 's lifespan Performance enhancers, like steroids and other forms of doping have a negative effect on long term health ¨Gary Becker, PhD Professor in the Departments
Research Paper Professional athletes have a tremendous influence on youth and society, largely because almost everyone looks up to them from toddlers to senior citizens, but in one way or another; everyone is influenced by professional athletes. Some think that athletes should be able to live their lives however they please, not worrying about how their actions may affect other people; however, it is important for athletes to understand that many people are watching them and that their actions do have large impacts on society. Professional athletes’ image affects today’s society and youth because they influence drug use, attitude on and off the field, and contribution to the community. Not only can athletes jeopardize their careers with drug use, but in doing so, they also send a message to youth and society that using drugs is okay. “But athletes themselves must put forth the physical effort of training and practice—they must still build their skills even in the murky area of legal and illegal drug use” (Jenkins D11).
Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Allowed in Professional Sports Performance enhancement drugs used by professional athletes who strive, or want to separate themselves from mediocrity and desire super stardom these athletes should not be penalized. Furthermore, athletes who are willing to take the journey down the path of using foreign substance on their bodies they should be allowed. Therefore professional athletes, functioning on their own recognizance, they have the monetary means, and it’s their body which is their own property. Consequently no athlete, or professional organization sets out to finish second or doesn’t attempt to win the highest honors in their respective sport. The athlete hands should not be tied because others haven’t
AS91101 - 2.4 Writing Portfolio Piece Two - Cooper Title: Drugs in sports Drugs have become an integral part of any modern day sporting event. Drugs give an unfair advantage to the user and the competitors that are using enhancements are not using their own full abilities to win the Olympic medal or championship. This makes it unfair to other competitors that are not using a drug or other enhancements to compete. Athletes like Lance Armstrong and Nadzeya Ostapchuk not only give sportsmen and women a bad reputation but influence the way the public think about sports and run the risk of addiction and long-term health issues.