Debating the Controversy of Steroid use in Major League Baseball

The people of this great country all have very passionate, yet many times different beliefs regarding the usage of steroids in professional baseball. For many and most, the use of PED’s (performance enhancing drugs) in Major League Baseball is and should be illegal, as well as shammed and looked down upon as well. For others, using steroids in MLB (Major League Baseball) is gracefully accepted and believed to have actually aided or “boosted” the sport in general.

Background/Pre-Analysis

Steroids or “Anabolic steroids” were concocted in the 1930’s and then became relevant in sports from the 1940’s to 1950’s. In 1958, Anabolic steroids were developed in the U.S. and thus quickly engulfing the entire sporting nation. During the 1980’s, the professional usage of steroids became more and more common as well as easier to attain and utilize. Before long, professional athletes all over the country, and world, were “doping” in hopes of increased performance, stamina, and professional results.

Content Analysis

Here are numerous terms pertaining to the world of steroids and the use of them in Major League Baseball:
PED- PED’s are known as “performance enhancing drugs” such as all different types of steroids and hormones used illegally in professional baseball.
Doping- “Doping” is a term used for the actual use itself of the steroids and thus the cycle and/or steps of doing so.
The Juice- another nickname for steroids.
Roids- aka:steroids

Problems of Fact

The organization that regulates the use of performance enhancing drugs by professional baseball players themselves is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball himself, Allan H. (Bud) Selig. Although the United States Congress did get involved concerning the ‘Mitchell Report,” which was a legal investigation regarding steroids in MLB and the actual players who used them and how apparent they actually were at that time in the league itself.

Problems of Value

Steroids are for the weak. The weak minded and physical together. Steroids are simply a cheating tool used for personal gain in a league and era full of natural talent. Players are found “doping” because they are scared. Scared that they will be overplayed by a younger, better, and more talented player thus riding them of the “job” they love so much. Some say they can’t blame the players for wanting to an edge, wanting to perform better in hopes of keeping their job that extra season or breaking that record that would probably be unattainable without the help of the juice. Both sides to the argument are valid to say the least, but who should have the final say and pick that final straw?

Meta-analysis

Baseball is America's pastime plain and simple. It has been enamored and adored by fans and players alike for years upon years. So who is to say that the game has been tainted in some way by all of the players and issues regarding steroids? Who has the right to say that a player who has broken a historical baseball record while being on "the juice" should then have an asterisk next to both his name and record together. For one thing, every single player out there in the MLB who has NOT used PED's feels cheated and betrayed by their fellow teammates and players alike who have used Steroids to gain that "edge."

Summary

I have been competitively playing baseball since the age of 5. I have traveled across the country and state playing in tournaments for numerous teams and leagues. I played for a 4-A high school thats baseball team was ranked 8th in the United States for 5 years, 4 years of which I attended and played for. My knowledge about the game is abundant from the 13 years of playing it and almost 21 years of being constantly surrounded by it. Steroids can be an easy way out of hard work, practice, and can also cheat many people out of what was rightfully and legally theirs. In the MLB alone, not including minor league baseball and players from European and International teams as well, there are five to seven percent of the players who are using "Steroids" who tested positive for them. Steroids can give a MLB player an advantage over other players who do not use them by decreasing their recovery time, making them stronger and faster than the other players, and by making it possible to break historical famous records that would not have been attainable if not for the use of Steroids. An individual's personal view regarding steroids in the MLB can go either way, but it is crucial to fully know and understand all aspects and information pertaining to this issue/topic before jumping to a conclusion and choosing one viewpoint stance over the other. So you be the judge, should Steroids be banned from professional baseball for good, or do they give the game what it had always needed as well as benefit the MLB? You decide!

References

1.) http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/ster01.htm