By Staff
I don't know about you, but quite frankly, I am sick of hearing about American athletes who are using or are accused of using performance-enhancing drugs.
For months we have had to listen to the accusations and denials of Barry Bonds.
Now it is Floyd Landis and Justin Gatlin.
It's a shame really. Perhaps I am just totally off base on this one, but I can remember a time when performance enhancing drugs were not an issue at any level of sports.
There were the heavy drinkers throughout sports history and our athletes have run afoul of the law now and then, but nothing like today's athletes.
It makes you wonder if any of the records that have been set in the modern era are real.
I can remember a day when athletes were held up as role models for children.
As a parent myself, I am not sure we can do that any more.
I know I am painting this picture with a big brush. I know there are athletes out there who are clean and doing things the right way.
But it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference.
I guess it's the old "guilt by association" theory that I am living by these days.
Whenever I read a story about an athlete breaking some record, one of my first thoughts is whether or not he or she is clean.
That's a terrible way to look at the world, but I cannot help myself.
There is no excuse for cheating at any level. We have come accustomed to professional athletes bending the rules to produce results.
I understand the pressure they are under to perform at the highest level because winning is everything in the professional world.
My problem, and concern with the whole deal, is that it is filtering down to the collegiate and high school levels.
I have even heard stories about youth sports athletes who are believed to be using performance-enhancing drugs.
If that doesn't send a chill down your spin, then you better get to the doctor because I think you are dead.
Who is to blame for the situation we are in?
We all are.
We want to see records broken. We want our favorite team to become a dynasty and win championship after championship.
We pay top dollar to watch our "heroes" perform.
So if we are part of the blame, then we need to be part of the solution.
Get on your representatives and congressmen. Demand that they do something about the cheating in sports.
I know we can't put the genie back in the bottle at this point, but maybe, just maybe, we can keep it from escaping completely.
Let's hope that we can put a stop to this problem before it completely destroys all amateur athletes. It already has tainted our professional sports leagues.