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Let's imagine that someone invents a series of drugs that can increase brainpower. These drugs can be dangerous, if not used properly.
Would we "ban" engineers or scientists who turn out to be using these performance enhancers instead of merely using their own inborn "natural" intelligence?
From these comments, I get the impression that you're not much of a sports fan. Is it fair to demand that an athlete rely on his or her natural abilities? I should say so--in fact, I thought that was the basis for sports!
Of course, here in 21st century America, the name of the game isn't sports for the sake of athleticism. It's sports for big money. Therefore, you must win (since Americans do not tolerate losing teams). Therefore, you must do whatever it takes to win. And if that means destroying yourself through drugs--does anyone remember what Lyle Alzado looked like shortly before he died?--then that's what you have to do, sports and competition be damned.
From these comments, I get the impression that you're not much of a sports fan. Is it fair to demand that an athlete rely on his or her natural abilities? I should say so--in fact, I thought that was the basis for sports!
Of course, here in 21st century America, the name of the game isn't sports for the sake of athleticism. It's sports for big money. Therefore, you must win (since Americans do not tolerate losing teams). Therefore, you must do whatever it takes to win. And if that means destroying yourself through drugs--does anyone remember what Lyle Alzado looked like shortly before he died?--then that's what you have to do, sports and competition be damned.
I do! I actually saw him in vegas about six months before he died!I walked past him in the tropicana casino and he looked like death! At the time i never knew he was ill or anything!Then i heard it on tv he passed away.....I wasnt shocked after thinking about how he looked? A friend had to point him out because i didnt know it was him he was so frail looking!
From these comments, I get the impression that you're not much of a sports fan. Is it fair to demand that an athlete rely on his or her natural abilities? I should say so--in fact, I thought that was the basis for sports!
Of course, here in 21st century America, the name of the game isn't sports for the sake of athleticism. It's sports for big money. Therefore, you must win (since Americans do not tolerate losing teams). Therefore, you must do whatever it takes to win. And if that means destroying yourself through drugs--does anyone remember what Lyle Alzado looked like shortly before he died?--then that's what you have to do, sports and competition be damned.
How right you are! Now we see this type of pressure at college and even high school and below level play. It is flat WRONG. Love of the game and heart for the play has been replaced by a 'win at all costs' attitude. The results of the latter are plain. I regularly see parents and coaches berating kids for 'poor performance' etc and it sickens me. The damage being done by this type of attitude toward athletics is staggering. It also has bred a new class of 'role models' at the pro level that are anything but. Sad and tragic. This is what we are telling our kids they need to aspire to? . I feel that professional athletics needs an overhaul. I have seen many very good coaches as well at the lower levels of play, unfortunatly they teach good attitudes, but don't seem to have the most winning records, so they gat canned. How dare they play that so and so kid instead of that so and so allstar super stud in the championship game. So what if Mr. superstar failed two classes and got busted for drugs, IT's THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Very very sad.
Hey, that is a good solution. Teach every player to have some loftier goal than winning. Then, they will be so easy to beat, you won't even need to take steroids in order to win. Your opponent won't even want to win. They will have some other goal, like keeping their uniform clean or something.
Is there any way sports can extricate itself from this drug problem, or is sports as we know it going to cease to exist because of drugs?
I don't think that using technology or in this case medical technology called drugs to get a performance edge is inconsistent with America's true values. In fact it is more in tune with our true values which view those who play by the rules as chumps. Americans teach our young not to let a few rules stand in the way of what we want.
The way the games are played today i think we would be better off to play sports arcade style.lol..It would be cheaper and people wouldnt be putting crap in there bodys to kill themselves for the $$$
Hey, that is a good solution. Teach every player to have some loftier goal than winning. Then, they will be so easy to beat, you won't even need to take steroids in order to win. Your opponent won't even want to win. They will have some other goal, like keeping their uniform clean or something.
I'm not sure exactly what your point is, but, a loftier goal than winning seems OK to me. How many are actually going to be cut out for professional level sports, in reality? Those who excel in athletics will still have the opportunity to play irregardless of who they played for in high school, without their academics having to suffer, if the 'win at all costs, sports are EVERYTHING, attitude was toned down. At the pro level, and higher college level of play, I can see things being more serious on the playing field, thats why college athletes are there, for the mot part. Athletics have become a major for many. My problem is with high school and below level players being farmed for an athletic future, and their real schooling getting set aside so they can make a coach look good. Teams can still be competitive without such blatant BS. When these lower levels of play are starting to use performance enhancing drugs to get an edge, something needs to happen. Perhaps real athletes will take back over one day instead of steroid stallions, I sure hope so
At the pro level, and higher college level of play, I can see things being more serious on the playing field,
At what age is a player with professional aspirations supposed to start thinking about winning? Winning is a mindset, and you can't win without it, and you can't suddenly switch on that mindset at age 18. I know at least one junior-college baseball program that uses wooden bats. The coach says if you don't think you will ever be good enough to play professionally, what are you doing on my team? I see nothing wrong with that approach.
Every game has scoring rules, and you don't even want to keep score.
At what age is a player with professional aspirations supposed to start thinking about winning? Winning is a mindset, and you can't win without it, and you can't suddenly switch on that mindset at age 18. I know at least one junior-college baseball program that uses wooden bats. The coach says if you don't think you will ever be good enough to play professionally, what are you doing on my team? I see nothing wrong with that approach.
Every game has scoring rules, and you don't even want to keep score.
Do you just like to mess with me bub? Read my whole post and try to pay attention please. I said that being competitive does not require players use performance enhancing drugs and put EVERYTHING else in life aside to play. At high school level play, and even lower now, the 'winning' mindset encompasses nothing but the sport being played. The pressure on these kids to win win win is out of control. Athletics are great, don't get me wrong, but I see far to much emphasis being placed on them at to young an age. Teaching them to work as a team, and win on the field is great, but to push them so hard they feel they need dope to keep up is out of line, but hey, the pros do it right? And, life is all about winning the game. I compete in a sport myself, I almost went pro back in 98. But I never compromised my principals to win the match, if I lost I practiced more for next go. Some coaches these days feel the need to punish their players for losing. They tear them down but they have no clue as to how to build them back up. From the sounds of it, I'm glad my kid doesn't play on one of your ball teams. I'm afraid we would end up having a serious disagreement. The hell of it is that kids are looking at whats happening in pro play in the name of winning these days, and trying to emulate it. Not such a good thing. Winning is a not always reflection of whats on the score board. There is way more to it than that. But, thats just my take on it. Where are you getting that I want all sports to be like T ball? Methinks you are looking for a reason to go on the prod. Lighten up man.
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yes
. I feel that professional athletics needs an overhaul. I have seen many very good coaches as well at the lower levels of play, unfortunatly they teach good attitudes, but don't seem to have the most winning records, so they gat canned. How dare they play that so and so kid instead of that so and so allstar super stud in the championship game
. The hell of it is that kids are looking at whats happening in pro play in the name of winning these days, and trying to emulate it. Not such a good thing. Winning is a not always reflection of whats on the score board. There is way more to it than that. But, thats just my take on it. Where are you getting that I want all sports to be like T ball? Methinks you are looking for a reason to go on the prod. Lighten up man.
