Can someone please explain to me how Congress has so little to do that they can begin yet another inquiry into steroid use in professional sports? From the moment I heard President Bush talk about it in his 2004 State of the Union address, I’ve been puzzled by this oddity.
It is unbelievable to me that they allocate their time to worrying about whether Roger Clemens was juicing instead of doing something about an economy spiraling toward recession, a criminally-induced mortgage meltdown, a complex war on many fronts, broken social security, porous national defense, exhaustion of our community resources from illegal immigration, rising energy cost, an infrastructure in decay, a budget to pass, and, oh yeah, a president to elect.
Am I alone in asking, who cares? Records schmecords. I don’t want a guy to be paid millions of dollars for doing something slightly better than I can. I want to see 110 mph fastballs and 600-foot home runs. I want guys running 100-meter dashes in 7 seconds and 450-yard drives in golf. Do you really think Babe Ruth saw a flame-throwing closer come in or a left-handed specialist? He saw the same noodle-arm pitcher all day.
Every era is different and can’t be compared with other eras. The ’60s and ’70s had rampant amphetamine use. The ’80s and ’90s were the steroid era. Now it’s human growth hormone. Pro athletes will always look for an edge. We should embrace technology and regulate it. Steroids would be much safer if each team had a doctor administering them.
OK, while I may be swinging the pendulum too far to the opposite end of the spectrum, what I am saying is less absurd than our federal government spending time and money regulating professional sports. Please, a little perspective, people.
John Burke
Lake Stevens
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