TD4LT
05-04-2005, 06:47 PM
http://www.examiner.net/stories/050405/spo_050405025.shtml
Sports Commentary
Panel results in lively talk on steroids
Bill Althaus
The Examiner
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- When I received an e-mail from the director of communications at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics on the campus of the University of Kansas, I was puzzled.
Why would one of the most respected political institutes in the country be contacting a sports columnist?
Well, as it turns out, the Dole Institute's speakers' series, which has included a few individuals you might have heard of like former President Bill Clinton and anchorman Tom Brokaw, has a wide scope of topics.
Tuesday night, I joined former University of Kansas and San Diego Chargers quarterback John Hadl and Bill James P the stat guru who is to baseball geeks what Darth Vader is to Star Wars clones P in a lively panel discussion about steroids.
Hadl, a member of the University of Kansas athletic staff, poked some fun at himself before he talked about the horrors of steroid abuse he witnessed while playing in the old American Football League.
"I'm the dinosaur of the group," Hadl said, "and I can tell you that I was introduced to steroids in 1966.
"Our strength coach (with the Chargers) was a guy named Alvin Roy. We called him the medicine man. He gave guys little cups with these pills in them.
"None of us knew what they were, but I later found out they were steroids. About 10 of us didn't take them P and I'm happy that I was among that group.
"They weren't illegal back then, but I know a lot of guys who did take them, and they're really having problems today.
"But two months after taking them, they were huge. The guys who didn't take them, well, they weren't huge. And that's the problem. Do you risk your health to succeed in your sport?
"Now, back when I played, I'd say no. But today, you have guys looking at $12 million contracts, and if they think steroids will help them get the big money, they might be willing to take them."
I agree with the former quarterback legend, who didn't pull any punches in his presentation.
James, the man who made baseball stats cool, said, "All the talk in the (Congressional) hearings has been about steroids. Steroids, steroids, steroids. What about greenies? What about stuff that hasn't even been invented yet?"
I love baseball, and I believe the recent steroid scandal has cast a shadow over the sport that will linger for years.
Does anyone really want Barry Bonds P a great, great player P to break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record? Hammerin' Hank didn't need to jam a needle in his fanny to smack 755 bombs, and I'm not saying that Bonds needed 'roids to become the best player in the game, but his association with BALCO's Victor Conte and personal trainer Greg Anderson has to raise questions.
What's even more disturbing is the fact that countless thousands of prep athletes might be willing to risk the use of steroids to succeed in their respective sports.
Let's face it P steroids are illegal. If you want to succeed, don't mess with dangerous shortcuts. Work hard to earn your success.
Your organs and body will thank you for it.
To reach Bill Althaus send e-mail to bill.althaus@examiner.net or call 350-6395.
sup with this?
Sports Commentary
Panel results in lively talk on steroids
Bill Althaus
The Examiner
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- When I received an e-mail from the director of communications at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics on the campus of the University of Kansas, I was puzzled.
Why would one of the most respected political institutes in the country be contacting a sports columnist?
Well, as it turns out, the Dole Institute's speakers' series, which has included a few individuals you might have heard of like former President Bill Clinton and anchorman Tom Brokaw, has a wide scope of topics.
Tuesday night, I joined former University of Kansas and San Diego Chargers quarterback John Hadl and Bill James P the stat guru who is to baseball geeks what Darth Vader is to Star Wars clones P in a lively panel discussion about steroids.
Hadl, a member of the University of Kansas athletic staff, poked some fun at himself before he talked about the horrors of steroid abuse he witnessed while playing in the old American Football League.
"I'm the dinosaur of the group," Hadl said, "and I can tell you that I was introduced to steroids in 1966.
"Our strength coach (with the Chargers) was a guy named Alvin Roy. We called him the medicine man. He gave guys little cups with these pills in them.
"None of us knew what they were, but I later found out they were steroids. About 10 of us didn't take them P and I'm happy that I was among that group.
"They weren't illegal back then, but I know a lot of guys who did take them, and they're really having problems today.
"But two months after taking them, they were huge. The guys who didn't take them, well, they weren't huge. And that's the problem. Do you risk your health to succeed in your sport?
"Now, back when I played, I'd say no. But today, you have guys looking at $12 million contracts, and if they think steroids will help them get the big money, they might be willing to take them."
I agree with the former quarterback legend, who didn't pull any punches in his presentation.
James, the man who made baseball stats cool, said, "All the talk in the (Congressional) hearings has been about steroids. Steroids, steroids, steroids. What about greenies? What about stuff that hasn't even been invented yet?"
I love baseball, and I believe the recent steroid scandal has cast a shadow over the sport that will linger for years.
Does anyone really want Barry Bonds P a great, great player P to break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record? Hammerin' Hank didn't need to jam a needle in his fanny to smack 755 bombs, and I'm not saying that Bonds needed 'roids to become the best player in the game, but his association with BALCO's Victor Conte and personal trainer Greg Anderson has to raise questions.
What's even more disturbing is the fact that countless thousands of prep athletes might be willing to risk the use of steroids to succeed in their respective sports.
Let's face it P steroids are illegal. If you want to succeed, don't mess with dangerous shortcuts. Work hard to earn your success.
Your organs and body will thank you for it.
To reach Bill Althaus send e-mail to bill.althaus@examiner.net or call 350-6395.
sup with this?