Teaching Kids To Cheat

So this week brings news that yet another Major League home run hitter failed a steroid drug test during his hey day. Great. This whole steroid controversy is starting to really bug me, primarily because of what it is teaching our youth.

I don’t care how you slice it, using steroids to improve your game is CHEATING. It is no different than using crib notes on your Math Regents Exam. Some try to make excuses for it such as “How can you blame them when the stakes are so high, when there is so much money to be made.” I say HOGWASH to that. It still is the same as cheating on your math test. A teen being motivated to cheat because he doesn’t want to go to summer school is just as real as a ball player wanting to make 10 million instead of 2 million a year.

Others say, “Who does it hurt? If a guy wants to put that stuff in his body it is his decision.” Well it does hurt other people. What about the players who don’t take drugs and try to make it on their own talent and hard work? They are hurt when they get passed over every step of the way to make room for these drugged up fools. The young fans are hurt too, when they have to somehow understand that their heroes, the guys whose posters hang in their rooms are really just cheaters.

Another good one is, “That is what the fans want. They want to see the homeruns!” Does anybody think that the fans are any more loyal now or any more willing to come to games than back in the pre-steroid days?


It is disturbing to me that the players, the managers, the Commissioners, the players’ unions all conspire to allow this to go on. The message to our youth gets through loud and clear. This is the message, “ Lots of players take steroids. You really need to if you want to be competitive these days. The fans don’t really care, they just want you to hit. And if you get caught, what is the worst they are going to do, suspend you for some games. Look at how much money Manny Ramirez, A-Rod, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens have made in their careers. Its worth it.”

As parents, we are the only ones that are talking to our kids about respect for the game, and respect for themselves and their teammates. I really wonder if it will be enough.