The recent steroid abuse accusations against USA cyclist Lance Armstrong is just another reason why sports of today will never be as exciting and entertaining as sports of yesterday.
Who can the American sports fan trust? Are there any real sports heroes left in today's society? The answer to these questions will never be known.
Steroids should only be acceptable in one form of competition: body building. Body builders have to have ripped body's with defined muscles. The only way to win is to have the most defined, toned, and built body.
All across the sporting world we are finding players that are either confessing to or getting caught using steroids. Names such as Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and Lance Armstrong are either accused of or have confessed to using steroids. What does it do to the sport?
Think about this. Albert Pujols is possibly one of the greatest Major League Baseball hitters of all time. Before you even look at his numbers you can tell by looking at him that he has some power. Do you believe that his shape and muscle mass is all hard work? Then you take a look at his numbers. Some of the best ever. His statistics rival those of Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco. How can we be so sure that Pujols does not use steroids?
Athletes that competed in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are the perfect model for the true American athlete. Pick one. Those men and women took to their respective playing surfaces and were successful because they put their heart and soul into what they were doing. Today, however, we can never be so sure of who is really giving their all and who is just letting the "juices" flow.
With today's athletes, I find it very hard to actually believe that what they are accomplishing is real. Are they really putting as much time into the weight room as they say they are? Whenever I see an impressive athletic feat accomplished the thought always crosses my mind, is this guy for real?
Because of a select few of "sports heroes" that have been suspected of steroids, athletes that aren't even associated with that person are affected. Fans are sometimes skeptical because of the simple fact that somebody else accomplished the same feat but they were accused of using steroids.
So how do we go about eliminating steroid use in our sports? Stricter penalties. I don't mean a 1 year suspension. Athletes found guilty of using steroids, and cheating, should be banned from ever competing in that sport in any shape or form ever again. Furthermore, that athlete should be wiped clean from the record book. Any award, any record, any stat should completely erased from the archives.
You think I'm being to tough? I don't endorse cheating. In order to eliminate steroid use, and cheating, the abuser must be eliminated.
Sports fans across the world need the truth. Until we get the truth, sports will continue to spiral into a dark world of conspiracy, lies, and cheating.
