Lead Ins and Commentary

Main Thesis: Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru and Lance Williams they illustrate how performance enhancing drugs use in sports have been caused by social pressures and how cheating has evolved into a science.

Support Thesis: Social pressures influence athletes into taking performance-enhancing drugs. The constant examination of their lives puts a lot of pressure on the daily decisions they make that others would carelessly make.

Lead In: Laura Egendorf, a young adult book writer who writes about adolescents issues states how athletes are the apex of the social pyramid.

Concrete Detail: “Few people are more admired in today’s society than successful athletes. Adolescents view them as role models, adults clamor for their autographs and companies seek them out to endorse products (Egendorf 8).

Commentary: Egendorf states that athletes are the pinnacle of social status in America. Adolescents wish to be them, adults wish they were them and companies want to use them. With all this commotion over this elite group of people athletes must sustain an elite status. In order for some athletes to be at this status day in and day out they turn to PED’s. 

Lead in: The pressures of sports have led to many mental disorders to the athletes. Beverly L. Stiles highlights the effects when she says,

Concrete Detail: “Sports participation emphasizes competitive success.  There are often social expectations and pressure to achieve and to win.  Likewise, those with eating disorders and body image disturbances are often subject to external pressures to achieve as well as pressures to appear a certain way” (Stiles).

Commentary: Sitles statement uncovers the effects of emphasis on competitive success. She states how these pressures lead to eating disorders and body image issues. Athletes with body image disorders are subject to the pressures to be a certain way and improve their body image. In the pursuit of this success athletes may turn to drugs in order to meet the expectations of themselves and others around them.

Lead In: Laura Egendorf a young adult’s writer who writes about the struggles of teens states how if steroids were legal that it would be a legitimate reason to become a better player.

Concrete Detail: “One important consideration should guide our condemnations: Big Time Sport is Big Time Business. The Olympics is the biggest of the big, and the pressures to succeed are nearly overwhelming. Athletes are always seeking some edge over their competitors, and truth of the matter is that the use of steroids, if only they were legal, would be a legitimate reason for performance enhancing as any other” (Egendor 83-84).

Commentary: Egendorf states that the use of performance enhancing drugs is a legitimate reason to gain an edge. A sports team is a business and if the use of PED’s helps the business than athletes should be able to use them. Egandorf explains that athletes already use substances that enhance performance that are legal however the use of PED’s has been banned. The uses of PED’s are used to create business and athletes buy into using the drugs to please the public and avoid criticism. 

Lead In: Judy Monroe, a children and young adults writer of multiple biographies illustrates how young athletes hope to stand out to others. Athletes try to stand out by taking drugs to perform at a higher level.

Concrete Detail: “These drugs may tempt teen athletes at a time when they are looking for a performance edge. Some may want to play well, hoping to earn a sports scholarship for college” (Monroe 9)

Commentary: Judy Monroe describes the situation of young athletes who wish to compete at the college level. High school students are pushed by parents, teachers and others to be at an exemplary level in every aspect of life. When it comes to sports in particular athletes have found a way to make achieving their goals easier. Athletes are tempted to take illegal substances to perform at a superstar level. This is a problem in America that athletic associations are hoping to solve.

Lead in: Judy Monroe a children’s and young adults biographies writer states how steroids are from a mentality in society of getting ahead.

Concrete Detail: “The root of steroid use is society’s addiction to bigger, faster, stronger. The win-at-all-costs mentality[way of thinking] leads to cheating and unethical behavior” (Monroe 15)

Commentary: Monroe’s observation states how the people of modern society always want the edge on their competitors. The society of today has a win-at-all-costs mentality. This mentality hinders Americans ability to cope with failure. This inability to accept failure leads to cheating and unethical behavior in order to achieve goals. In the world of sports it is the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Support Thesis: Cheating has been around since the beginning of sports. Athletes have always looked for an extra edge over their competitors. In this search of the extra edge they have turned to cheating and this cheating has changed over the history of sports.   

Lead In: David Potter a writer for the CNN website talks about the history of cheating in the Olympics. Potter states that the earliest form of cheating was performance suppression.

Concrete Detail: “Some forms of performance suppression were more effective than others. The most colorful was to place a curse on an athlete so he would not do his best (or the gods of the underworld would drive him mad). This often involved the burial of a lead tablet containing the curse in some place that mattered -- ancient racing venues have produced a fair number of these items” (Potter).

Commentary: David Potter states how cheating was done in the ancient times. Athletes during the time use suppression tactics to effect performance of athletes. He then gives an example of the most interesting way that athletes were subjected to performance suppression. His example shows the earliest forms of cheating which has escalated to the cheating of today of performance enhancing drugs.

Lead In: Ida Walker a young adult writer who reports the problems in society that interests young adults narrates that PED use in sports is not a new thing.

Concrete Detail “Although steroids have often been in the news during the past few years, they are not a new discovery, and neither is the desire to perform and look better. Some researchers have suggested that even the athletes of Ancient Greece took a little something to give an added boost to their performance level and to heighten their masculinity” (Walker 15).

Commentary: Ida’s quote narrates how steroids have been around since the Ancient Greeks. The media has portrayed steroids as this completely new way of cheating. However this is untrue, steroids have been around since sports themselves and people have been using them for the same reasons of looking and feeling better. The mixture of steroids has changed to accommodate more enhancements for athletes. This quote emphasizes that even through all the advancements in society we still have the same mentality of thousands of years ago and have only tweaked the drugs of the past.

Lead In: ESPN.com which is the worldwide leader in sports reports the top 10 biggest cheaters in baseball. The top spot went to the “Black Sox” World Series.

Concrete Detail: “Corked bats -- hey, the batter still has to make contact. Loaded balls -- the pitcher still has to get the ball in the strike zone or get the batter to swing. There is a certain amount of skill involved in all those cheating practices.

But the 1919 mob buyoff -- that is just reprehensible in every way shape and form. None of the cheaters you mentioned are banned forever from baseball -- the 1919 Black Sox

have several people who will forever be remembered as just what they were ... cheaters” (Biggest Cheaters in Baseball).

Commentary: In baseball history ESPN.com reports that the 1919 World Series was the pronominal in baseball history. The game was this way for 3 reasons loaded balls, corked bats and the mob buyoff. The changing of the equipment changed how the players skills were used while using the rigged equipment. This gives the players a boost on their skills. The mob buyoff effected the games drastically because the players would throw away plays that they would have made if they really tried. The teams were caught; however cheating has not gone away. Cheating has only changed it is now a change in one’s biological make up with the use of PED’s.

Lead in: Gillis and Charle writers from Maclean’s a Canadian weekly news magazine state

Concrete Detail: “No longer content to build on what the genetic lottery gave them, athletes are increasingly eager to reprogram and redesign themselves down to their molecular building blocks, drawing on a range of scientific advancements that, by comparison, make old-school performance enhancers like anabolic steroids seem down-right primitive. At the conventional end of this spectrum are "cognitive training" tools like the NeuroTracker: its calisthenics for the brain are safe, non-invasive and relatively inexpensive. At the other lies the long-feared threat of genetic doping, technology that remains decades off due to recent setbacks in clinical testing.

And in the space between are technologies and procedures close enough to commercial viability that athletes might already be using them. New drugs that block the protein that suppresses muscle growth, for example, are currently being tested to treat muscular dystrophy. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has added them to its list of prohibited substances. Also in the pipeline are so-called HIF stabilizers, which activate genes responsible for producing red blood cells. They're being developed to treat anemia, but could conceivably boost the performance of athletes in endurance sports such as cycling” (Gillis, Charlie ).

Commentary: This protestation of drug use in sports explains how athletes of today are using more drugs than the conventional anabolic steroids that were used by past cheaters. The athletes are using the drugs because they are unsatisfied with their god given abilities and amp themselves up with drugs. Anabolic steroids have become an old style of cheating and athletes are using protein muscle growth and drugs that activate genes. These are the small steps moving closer to a new form of cheating outside of muscle growth hormones. 

Lead in: Judy Monroe a biography writer for young adults and children reports the first use of steroids in sports

Concrete Detail: “In 1954, reports of steroids used by athletes in a sport hit news. World weight-lifting champions were reported to be using the drug” (Monroe 16).

Commentary: Monroe’s statement shows the first involvement of the media’s fascination with the use of steroids. At the time using PED’s was not illegal. However, through the years society has found the dangers of using steroids. This constant documentation of the use of PED’s has frowned on using PED’s. However, these constant reports on PED’s have also advertised and influenced young athletes to use PED’s.

Works Cited

"Cheating is as old as the Olympics." http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/opinion/
     potter-olympics-cheating/. David Potter, 29 July 2012. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/opinion/
     potter-olympics-cheating/>.

Egendorf,Laura,Steroids.Detroit,Greenhaven press,2006.Print.

Monroe,Judy,Steroid Drug Dangers,Springfield New Jersey, Enslow Publisher,1999.Print.

Monroe,Judy.Steroids,Sports,and Body Image. Berkley Heights New Jersey: Enslow            Publishers,Inc.,2004. Print.

"Eating Disorders in Athletics: Pressure from Parents, Coaches and Appearance
     Expectations Play Role Read more: http://www.momsteam.com/nutrition/
     eating-disorders-in-athletics-external-pressures-and-societal-expectations-play-l
     arge-role#ixzz2x6d4TN3p." http://www.momsteam.com/nutrition/
     eating-disorders-in-athletics-external-pressures-and-societal-expectations-play-l
     arge-role. BEVERLY L. STILES, 1 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/
     Relationships-Among-Body-Satisfaction-Social/77384743.html>.

Egendorf,Laura,Performance Enhancing Drugs. San Diego Ca, Reference Point Press, 2007. Print.

Fainaru-Wada, Mark and Lance Williams, Game of Shadows.375 Hudson Street NY:            Penguin Group Inc., 2006. Print.

GILLIS, CHARLIE. "How To Build A Better Athlete."Maclean's 126.41 (2013): 55-57.Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2014

Monroe,Judy,Steroids,Sports and Body Image The Risks of Performance-Enhancing Drugs, New Jersey, Enslow Publishers,2004.Print.

"Readers: Biggest cheaters in baseball." http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/ 
     readers/baseball/cheaters.html. ESPN, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

Walker,Ida,Steroids Pumped Up and Dangerous,Bromal Pennsylvania, Mason Crest Publishers,2008.Print.

Dr King vs Malcolm X

Martin Luther King Jr.’s method of combating African American discriminations through non-violence was an effective way on gaining equal rights. Dr King said “The method of nonviolent resistance is effective in that it has a way of disarming the opponent; it exposes his moral defenses it weakens his morale, and at the same time it works on his conscience” (¶ 1 pg 16). This philosophy is effective because in the philosophy blacks are using the conscience of the white people. No human is fundamentally evil and born with hate. When white people realize the teachings of degrading and segregating African Americans is wrong America will see change.

When Dr. King said “When he seeks to initiate violence he provokes questions about the necessity for it, and inevitably blamed for its consequences” (¶ 7 pg 17). This statement shows how initiating violence is self defeating. If blacks initiate violence then whites will say that they are a problem and kill them off. If they use a diplomatic way of solving the problem African Americans can enlighten whites and show them the error of their ways. In fist to fist combat blacks will lose. The military is far more equipped and experienced in fighting and the bloodshed of the masses will be for nothing. One of two things will happen. Conditions for African Americans will get worse or the nation will be divided. This is not the goal of African Americans. They hope to keep a single nation with equal rights for all the citizens. A divided nation doesn’t do that.

“Our powerful weapons are the voice the feet and the bodies of dedicated united people moving without rest toward a just goal”( ¶ 10 pg 17). The use of a voice is far more effective than the eye for an eye method of Malcolm X. There is a saying “An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind”. This method spreads violence instead of seeking equality. The ultimate goal of both these men is the seeking of equality for all races. Fighting is not seeking equality it is seeking war and death. Diplomacy and civil disobedience is the only way to end racial inequality while keeping America as a whole country and preventing a second Civil War.

Junior Paper Book Work Cited

Junior Paper Book Work Cited

Fainaru-Wada, Mark and Lance Williams, Game of Shadows.375 Hudson Street NY:           Penguin Group Inc., 2006. Print.

Lead In: In Mark and Lance’s book Game of Shadows they tell the story of a series between the St. Lois Cardinals and San Francisco Giants and how the media was reacting to the two star players of the team.  

“But Bonds was sulky and brooding. A three-time winner of the National League Most Valuable Player award, he was one of the most prideful stars in baseball. All that weekend, though, he was overshadowed by Mark McGwire” (Fainaru-Wada and Williams ix).

Commentary: In the narrative of this series between the two teams the center of the attention was on Mark McGwire. Bond’s had accomplished a lot in his career however in the presence of another great player the media did not care. This lack of attention on Bond’s career could case the feeling of inferiority. When an athlete feels inferior to his opponent this creates a fire in them which causes them to desire to become a better player. This desperation of hoping to be the best may have led to the use of performance- enhancing drugs by Bond’s. This overshadowing in the series was the beginning of pushing Bond’s into using PED’s to discontinue the perception of McGwire being better than Bond’s.

Fainaru-Wada, Mark and Lance Williams, Game of Shadows.375 Hudson Street NY: Penguin Group Inc., 2006. Print.

Lead In: In Game of shadows written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams the authors illustrate how people who were close to Bond’s perceived him.

“Some who were close to him thought his drive to be acknowledged as the premier flowed from an intense sense of rivalry with his father, a baseball player whom Bonds seemed to emulate and resent in equal measure. Indeed, many of the quirks in Bonds’s complicated personality-including the impulse that led him to use banned drugs that would transform him” (Fainaru-Wada and Williams 24). 

Commentary: The perception of Bonds was a very competitive person with his father. Bonds were very impulsive on his decisions which may have led him into taking performance-enhancing drugs. This obsessive rivalry with his father blinded Bond’s from seeing the true talent inside him. The pressure he put on himself was from a constant worrying of how people perceived him. These troubling thoughts of his own social status caused him to be insecure about his own talents. So this pressure influenced Bond’s into taking PED’s

Fainaru-Wada, Mark and Lance Williams, Game of Shadows.375 Hudson Street NY: Penguin Group Inc., 2006. Print.

Lead In: With San Francisco’s struggles in baseball Game of Shadows describes how the general manager for the Giants hoped that Bond’s was their answer to the struggles that they had encountered.

“In 1993, Magowan signed him to baseballs biggest contract: six years guaranteed at 43.75 million, with two option years as well. Magowanwas convinced that Bond’s problems in Pittsburg were cause by the Pirates’”(Fainaru-Wada and Williams 36) .

Commentary: In this statement the general manager of the Giants was looking for a miracle to bring back baseball to the city of San Francisco. He believed he had found that in Bonds. This is a lot of pressure to put on the young Barry. The team offered him a lot of money in the hopes that he would uphold the team. With this kind of pressure of lifting the team up single handedly turning to performance-enhancing drugs seems like a logical resolution. This extra pressure pushed him past the edge into using PED’s in order to lift himself up and make a proclamation of being the best player.

Fainaru-Wada, Mark and Lance Williams, Game of Shadows.375 Hudson Street NY: Penguin Group Inc., 2006. Print.

Lead In: Fainaru-Wada and Williams illustrate how Barry’s Bonds teammates felt about him. This statement shows how Barry’s attitude toward his teammates.  A coach of his college team shows his observations of the team towards Bond’s.

“I never saw a teammate care about him, his coach the late Jim Brock told Sports Illustrated in 1990. Part of it would be his being rude, inconsiderate, and self-centered. He bragged about the money he had turned down and popped off about his dad (Fainaru-Wada and Williams 28).

Commentary: Bond’s believed he was better than everyone else because he was offered a contract by the Giants. This high status got to Bonds’ head and he then treated his teammates like dirt. However, when Bonds got to the majors he soon realized that he wasn’t the best player and had competition. With this new realization of the competition of his peers Bonds felt that he could not reach their level under his own will power. Bonds resorted to using performance enhancers to be at the same level as the player around him.

Fainaru-Wada, Mark and Lance Williams, Game of Shadows.375 Hudson Street NY: Penguin Group Inc., 2006. Print.

Lead In: Game of Shadows written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams highlights how the media followed McGwire in the 1998 season. 

“A media pack the worthy of a presidential candidate on election night tail McGwire across the country, recording his every word and action” (Fainaru-Wada and Williams xii)

Commentary: In the 1998 season the media followed McGwire everywhere he went and examined everything he did and said. If McGwire ever messed up it would be on the fronts of papers all over the country. McGwire tried to prevent messing up and the use of performance-enhancing drugs kept the media in the belief that he was still a phenomenal player. With these pressure by the media McGwire turned to PED’s so his name would not be talked about in an ill manner.

.

Game of Shadows script

Narrator: Barry Bonds is called into GM Brian Seaban’s office to talk about the Giants past 3 declining seasons

GM: Listen Barry the tem has been slipping the past 3 seasons I need you to help bring a surge to the team

Barry: Ok Brian I will work really hard this off- season to perform better

(Next scene)

Narrator: In the offseason Barry Bonds was working on becoming a better ball player so he went to a NFL trainer to become stronger 

Barry: Hey I am happy you could help me out in becoming a stronger player

Nfl Trainer: I usually train football players but you seem to want to be the best and I can always have someone who is working at a high caliber in my camps.

Narrator: A few weeks later Bonds was doing a bunch of football drills and soon questioned if they were really helping his game

(Next Scene)

(Barry Bonds is doing squats)

Nfl trainer: C’mon Barry 10 more squats (Screaming)

(Barry stops doing squats)

Barry: Man I am sick and tired of doing these squats and drills you keep having me do. Its not helping me become a better ballplayer I am outta here.

(Barry Bonds storms out pissed off)

(Next scene)

Barry: Man how am I gonna help the team out the team and become an elite player

Narrator: Bonds was sitting on the couch pondering on how he could become an elite player. He goes to Greg Anderson a weight guru in the hopes of finding the secret formula.

(Next scene)

Barry: Hey Greg

Greg: Hey Barry I know you have been trying to find a program that will increase your game. I think I have the program that will do that.

Barry: sounds great can’t wait to get started

Greg: I want you to get that weight and start turning your hips

Barry: Ok coach

(Barry gets weight and starts turning hips)

Narrator: At the end of the work out Greg is talking to Barry Bonds about how to improve nutrition

Greg: Listen Barry working out is only half of it you need to have a good diet too. Also take these supplements to help give your body what it needs to perform at a high level.

Barry: Ok Greg thanks for helping me out

Greg: Listen Barry if you stick with my program the sky is the limit

Narrator: Barry did become a great player after working with Greg Anderson, but little did he know abut the supplements he was taking. Barry soon broke the all time home run record. However this accomplishment was a fraud.  

(play home run video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbkHiIQj-Mw

 

Narrator: Press found out about Bond’s supplement taking and a press conference was held as soon as word got out.

Reporter: So Barry, How long have you been taking performance enhancing drugs?

Barry: I was never aware of using any of these types of drugs. And that’s all I will say about that.

( Barry walks out of the press conference)

The End

Books Works Cited

 

Works Cited Books

 

Egendorf,Laura,Performance Enhancing Drugs. San Diego Ca, Reference Point Press, 2007. Print.

 

Lead in: Laura Egendorf, a young adult book writer who writes about adolescents issues states how athletes are the apex of the social pyramid.

 

“ Few people are more admired in today’s society than successful athletes. Adolescents view them as role models, adults clamor for their autographs and companies seek them out to endorse products (Egendorf 8).

 

Commentary: Egendorf states that athletes are the pinnacle of the social pyramid. Adolescents wish to be them, adults wish they were them and companies want to use them. With all this commotion over this group of people athletes must sustain an elite status. In order for some athletes to be at this status all the time they turn to PED’s.  

 

 

Egendorf,Laura,Steroids.Detroit,Greenhaven press,2006.Print.

 

Lead In: Laura Egendorf a writer to young adults and children reports how society has create an image that athletes are perfect. However, this is untrue. 

“Athletes have enough trouble taking care of themselves. It would be great if they led perfect lives that we could hold up as shining examples for our kid, but that’s not the way it works for anyone in the real world” (Egendorf 41).

 

Commentary: Egendorf’s statement informs readers that athletes are only human. They make mistakes even though the public thinks they do not and are shocked when they do. Kids hope to be like their favorite athletes and parents influence their kid to be like athletes. This adds pressure to athletes to not only perform well in their sport but also be exemplary citizens. Athletes are expected to be above the general population in every aspect of excellence. This pressure on athletes is unfair to them and the scrutinizing of athletes by the media is blasphemy.     

 

Egendorf,Laura,Steroids.Detroit,Greenhaven press,2006.Print.

 

“One important consideration should guide our condemnations: Big Time Sport is Big Time Business. The Olympics is the biggest of the big, and the pressures to succeed are nearly overwhelming. Athletes are always seeking some edge over their competitors, and truth of the matter is that the use of steroids, if only they were legal, would be a legitimate reason for performance enhancing as any other” (Egendor 83-84).

 

Commentary: Egendorf states that the use of performance enhancing drugs is a legitimate reason to gain an edge. A sport is a business and if the use of PED’s helps the business than athletes should be able to use them. Egandorf explains that athletes already use substances that enhance performance that are legal however the use of PED’s has been banned. The use of PED’s are used to create business and athletes buy into using the drugs to please the public.  

 

Egendorf,Laura,Steroids.Detroit,Greenhaven press,2006.Print.

 

Lead in: Laura Egendorf, a young adult writer who writes about teen problem informs the public of what athletes really are.

“Athletes are, in the end, entertainers; nothing more and nothing less. Because we buy tickets that pay their salaries, they owe us their best effort” (Egendorf 41).

 

Commentary: Egendorf gives readers and understanding of what athletes really are. Athletes are simply entertainers. When athletes do not perform well like any other art they are scrutinized by the public. In order for athletes to cope with this criticism they either ignore it or improve. The publics standard for athletes is extremely high. Egendorf says they should give the public their best. However their fans who pay their salaries do not want their best they want wins. With this standard of an athletes best is not good enough if they do not win leads to steroid abuse. The caliber of talent is so hig in order to get an edge an athlete must turn to PED’s.

 

Landis Floyd,Loren Mooney Positivley False,Simon Spotlight Entertainment, New York,2007.Print.

 

Lead In:  Former cyclist Floyd Landis and young adult writer Loren Mooney show the mindset of athletes.

 

“I don’t want to get eleventh, I told him. I want to win. And if I don’t, I don’t care if I am eighteenth” (Landis and Mooney vii).

 

Commentary Landis and Money illustrate how cyclists always wanted to be first. If cyclists got anything less than that that would be like getting last place. With that much expectation on oneself this may lead to thoughts of cheating. If cyclists want an edge every time the use of PED’s can be an easy fix.   

 

Monroe,Judy.Steroids,Sports,and Body Image. Berkley Heights New Jersey: Enslow         Publishers,Inc.,2004. Print.

 

Lead In: Judy Monroe, a children and young adults writer of multiple biographies illustrates how young athletes hope to stand out to others. Athletes try to stand out by taking drugs to perform at a higher level.

 

“ These drugs may tempt teen athletes at a time when they are looking for a performance edge. Some may want to play well, hoping to earn a sports scholarship for college” (Monroe 9)

 

Commentary: Judy Monroe describes the situation of young athletes who wish to compete at the college level. High school students are pushed by parents, teachers and others to be at an exemplary level in every aspect of life. When it comes to sports in particular athletes have found a way to make achieving their goals easier. Athletes are tempted to take illegal substances to perform at a superstar level. This is a problem in America that athletic associations are hoping to solve.

 

Monroe,Judy,Steroid Drug Dangers,Springfield New Jersey, Enslow Publisher,1999.Print.

 

Lead in: Judy Monroe a children’s and young adults biographies writer states how steroids are from a mentality in society of getting ahead.

 

“The root of steroid use is society’s addiction to bigger, faster, stronger. The win-at-all-costs mentality[way of thinking] leads to cheating and unethical behavior” (Monroe 15)

 

Commentary: Monroe’s observation states how people in society always want the edge on their competitors. The society of today has a win-at-all-costs mentality. This mentality hinders Americans ability to cope with failure. This inability to accept failure leads to cheating and unethical behavior in order to achieve goals.

 

Monroe,Judy,Steroids,Sports and Body Image The Risks of Performance-Enhancing Drugs, New Jersey, Enslow Publishers,2004.Print.

 

Lead in: Judy Monroe a biography writer for young adults and children reports the first use of steroids in sports

“In 1954, reports of steroids used by athletes in a sport hit news. World weight-lifting champions were reported to be using the drug” (Monroe 16).

 

Commentary: Monroe’s statement shows the first involvement of the media’s fascination with the use of steroids. At the time using PED’s was not illegal. However, through the years society has found the dangers of using steroids. This constant documentation of the use of PED’s has frowned on using PED’s. However, these constant reports on PED’s have also advertised and influenced young athletes to use PED’s.  

 

Monroe,Judy,Steroids, Sprinfield New Jersey, Enslow Publishers, 1999,Print.

 

Lead in: Judy Monroe a young adult’s writer articulates how parents pressure their kids to take steroids to be better athletes.

 

“Sometimes parents push their teens into taking steroids. Phillip Halpern, a San Diego lawyer said, I’ve uncovered numerous examples of fathers getting steroids for their kids because they wanted their kids to be better athletes” (Monroe 26).

 

Commentary; Monroe exhibits how parents pressure their kids to take steroids to become good athletes. Parents always hope for the best for their kids and will do anything to help them achieve their goals. However, some parents push too far and pressure their kids into doing things they might have not done if not influenced by their parents. In this case it is using steroids to become a good athlete. Parents hope to see their kid become the next great athlete and when they watch how hard they work and when they fail parents will do anything to help them achieve their goals. Parents have become the greatest influencers of young athletes to use PED’s.  

 

Walker,Ida,Steroids Pumped Up and Dangerous,Bromal Pennsylvania, Mason Crest Publishers,2008.Print.

 

Lead In: Ida Walker a young adult writer who reports the problems in society that interests young adults narrates that PED use in sports is not a new thing.

 

“Although steroids have often been in the news during the past few years, they are not a new discovery, and neither is the desire to perform and look better. Some researchers have suggested that even the athletes of Ancient Greece took a little something to give an added boost to their performance level and to heighten their masculinity” (Walker 15).

 

Commentary: Ida’s quote narrates how steroids have been around since the Ancient Greeks. The media has portrayed steroids as this completely new way of cheating. However this is untrue, steroids have been around since sports themselves and people have been using them for the same reasons of looking and feeling better. This quote emphasizes that even through all the advancements in society we still have the same mentality of thousands of years ago.

 

 

 

    

Vietnam Letter

Aaron Rodriguez

Vitous

Us History: Period 1

April 17, 2014

Vietnam Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

I have been in Vietnam and I am sick of the place. During the nights all you hear is gunshots. No one can sleep; I have gone 4 nights without closing my eyes. On patrols we go through villages burning down suspected Viet Cong homes. It’s terrible to see the look at the women and children’s faces when the homes are ignited. It’s hard to tell who the real enemy is the farmers look so innocent but our troop knows that they could open fire on us at any moment. I wish I could just go home. The people her don’t seem to want us here. They give us dirty looks and scowl at us. We just stay on our toes and react. Other than gun shots we hear bombs hitting towns. The bombings were so loud my ears were ringing for a week. The jungles here are so thick. We try to cut through them but we seem to be getting no where. I can never tell where left, right, up and down are. When I hear gunshots I kind of guess and hope I hit something. The guys here are just counting the days to go home. Every day we hear the countdown. I can’t wait to see you guys again and have your amazing home cooking. The food here sucks but I still eat because I know I have to keep my energy up to stay alive. I hope to see you all soon

Love your son,

Aaron    

Websites Lead Ins and Commentary

Rodriguez 1

Aaron Rodriguez

Calver

American Literature: Period 5

April 14, 2014

Websites Lead In and Commentary

"Cheating is as old as the Olympics." http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/opinion/
     potter-olympics-cheating/. David Potter, 29 July 2012. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/opinion/
     potter-olympics-cheating/>.

Lead In: David Potter a writer for the CNN website talks about the history of cheating in the Olympics. Potter states that the earliest form of cheating was performance suppression.

“Some forms of performance suppression were more effective than others. The most colorful was to place a curse on an athlete so he would not do his best (or the gods of the underworld would drive him mad). This often involved the burial of a lead tablet containing the curse in some place that mattered -- ancient racing venues have produced a fair number of these items” (Potter).

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Commentary: David Potter states how cheating was done in the ancient times. Athletes during the time use suppression tactics to effect performance of athletes. He then gives an example of the most interesting way that athletes were subjected to performance suppression. His example shows the earliest forms of cheating which has escalated to the cheating of today of performance enhancing drugs.

     .

Dan DeIuliis & David DeIuliis, Mar. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jsas/6776111.0004.102/
     --under-mounting-pressure-a-history-of-media-influence?rgn=main;view=fulltext>.

Lead in: Dan and David DeIuliss writers for Journal of Sports Administration and Supervision a sports website who covers all aspects of sports.  

“Congress has repeatedly targeted adolescents, citing a link between use by professional athletes and subsequent abuse among teenage populations. Investigations by Congress have raised questions regarding the legality of government intervention with MLB, a private enterprise. This research analyzes whether Congress was indeed within its legal means to investigate baseball. It then outlines patterns of media coverage, legislation, and adoption of tougher penalties, and examines an example of

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proposed legislation in attempt to identify its specific goals and target populations.” (Dan DeIuliis & David DeIuliis)

Commentary: The quote made by Dan and David DeIuiis shows readers that congress is involved in sports. The writing also demonstrates how important sports are to society. The cheating in sports is very serious. This issue is such a big problem that breaking rules in sports is basically breaking laws. This puts a whole new aspect to cheating when it becomes part of the law.

"Eating Disorders in Athletics: Pressure from Parents, Coaches and Appearance
     Expectations Play Role Read more: http://www.momsteam.com/nutrition/
     eating-disorders-in-athletics-external-pressures-and-societal-expectations-play-l
     arge-role#ixzz2x6d4TN3p." http://www.momsteam.com/nutrition/
     eating-disorders-in-athletics-external-pressures-and-societal-expectations-play-l
     arge-role. BEVERLY L. STILES, 1 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/
     Relationships-Among-Body-Satisfaction-Social/77384743.html>.

Lead in: The pressures of sports have led to many mental disorders to the athletes. Beverly L. Stiles highlights the effects when she says,

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“Sports participation emphasizes competitive success.  There are often social expectations and pressure to achieve and to win.  Likewise, those with eating disorders and body image disturbances are often subject to external pressures to achieve as well as pressures to appear a certain way” (Stiles).

Commentary: Sitles statement uncovers the effects of emphasis on competitive success. She states how these pressures lead to eating disorders and body image issues. Athletes with external disorders are subject to the pressures to be a certain way. This may lead to drugs in order to meet the expectations of others around them.

Failure’ and ‘Disappointment’: have we lost perspective? Grace May,
     1 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. <http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/
     media-pressure-olympic-athletes/>.

Lead in: Grace May a writer for Mammia, a website which reports the popular topics in America gives an insight into the mind of the athlete.

“I know I haven’t let anyone down but I let a little bit of myself down and it was really tough last night, I’m sorry… The emotions are really high and there is so much pressure on the Olympics, and you put so much pressure on yourself. All you want to do is just go out there and represent your country and do a good job, and I was just trying to do that” (May).

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Commentary: In her quote Grace reveals the mindset of athletes. The athletes emotions run high when the competition is stiff. When athletes surmount to the pressure given by outside persons they submit to using PED’s in order to fulfill the expectations. The athletes want to always do their best and sometimes it is not good enough so the subjugation to drugs is normal. The pressure on athletes is so high and the media always makes stories seem bigger than they really are in order to sell papers. This business tactic for news reporters may affect the self-esteem of athletes. Which may lead to the use of PED’s to perform at the highest level and please the media’s expectations.

"Point-Counterpoint: Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned in Sport?"
     http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih9/bioethics/guide/teacher/
     Mod1_drug-sport-ethics.pdf. Thomas H. Murray, 16 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih9/bioethics/guide/
     teacher/Mod1_drug-sport-ethics.pdf>.

Lead In:  Thomas H. Murray a writer for scienceeducation.gov, a federal website who provides information on federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

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enlightens us to seeing that the use of performance enhancing drugs take away the meaning of sports  

“What gives sport its meaning? We expect the winning athlete to combine extraordinary natural talents with exemplary effort, training and technique. These are all forms of human excellence” (Murray).

Commentary: Murray’s view is useful because it questions the meaning of sports if athletic organizations allow performance enhancing drugs. If they allow PED’s in the sports the “human excellence” is taken away from the game. Athletes will rely on the drugs instead of hard work and abilities. The use of performance enhancing drugs is

degrading to the sport because it takes all of the aspects of talent, hard work, training and technique away and puts a reliance on a drug to do all of the work.

Pressure and the pro: Why do so many of our top athletes suffer from stress?
     N.p., 19 Nov. 2006. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/
     life-style/health-and-families/health-news/
     pressure-and-the-pro-why-do-so-many-of-our-top-athletes-suffer-from-stress-424937
     .html>.

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Lead In: Dr. Cripps reported to the Independent company which reports news in the UK and around the world that athletes are under a lot of stress. 

"Stress-related illnesses are extremely common in professional sports, and they are becoming more so as the pressures on athletes increase. The expectations are enormous and sometimes people cannot handle it" (Cripps).

Commentary: Cripps analysis on the athlete’s minds illustrates that athletes are under a lot of stress. This stress is caused from the enormous expectations by others. When athletes submit to the pressure this may cause them to take drastic measures to reach the expectations. These pressures can lead to the use of PED’s to perform at the highest level and meet expectations.

Lead In: ESPN.com which is the worldwide leader in sports reports the top 10 biggest cheaters in baseball. The top spot went to the “Black Sox” World Series.

Corked bats -- hey, the batter still has to make contact. Loaded balls -- the pitcher still has to get the ball in the strike zone or get the batter to swing. There is a certain amount of skill involved in all those cheating practices.

But the 1919 mob buyoff -- that is just reprehensible in every way shape and form. None of the cheaters you mentioned are banned forever from baseball -- the 1919 Black Sox

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have several people who will forever be remembered as just what they were ... cheaters. (Biggest Cheaters in Baseball)

Commentary: In baseball history ESPN.com reports that the 1919 World Series was the pronominal in baseball history. The game was this way for 3 reasons loaded balls, corked bats and the mob buyoff. The changing of the equipment changed how the players skills were used while using the rigged equipment. This gives the players a boost on their skills. The mob buyoff effected the games drastically because the players would throw away plays that they would have made if they rally tried. The teams were caught; however cheating has not gone away. Cheating has only changed it is now a change in ones biological make up with the use of PED’s.

Lead In: Leary who wrote for biomed search.com, a comprehensive medical search engine states how women are self conscious on their physique.

“Self-presentation appears to be significant in sport and exercise environments. In both settings, women may perceive that others are evaluating their physique and skill level. This compels self-presentational concerns. Women often engage in exercise to acquire the ideal female body (or one as close to the ideal as possible) suggesting self-presentation concerns as a motive for exercise” (Leary).

Commentary: Leary states that women are conscious of how others perceive them. Women feel that they are being constantly evaluated on their physique and skill level.  They use exercise to achieve the ideal body type. However, if they can not achieve their goal through hard work they may turn to PED’s. The use of PED’s has become a

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scapegoat from hard work. All the work will become easier and one will get the same result. People looking for the ideal body turn to these drugs because it is easy however, it can cause drastic effects to their bodies in the future.

The Wide World of Sports Cheating. Jeffrey Katz, 15 Jan. 2008. Web. 26 Mar.
     2014. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/
     story.php?storyId=14428316>.

Lead In: Jeffery Katz a writer for the National Public Radio, a station who reports various topics all over the world shows how early in peoples lives cheating begins

“A native of the Dominican Republic, Almonte threw the first no-hitter in Little League World Series history in 2001. His feat was erased from the record books after it was discovered that he was 14 at the time, two years older than what rules allowed” (Katz).

Commentary: Katz reveals how in 2001 the Dominican Republic team used an older player to get the edge on the other team. Almonte a 14 year old was competing against a team with players 10-12 years old. This was an unfair advantage because the pitcher had more experience and more growth. This was not only unfair to the other team but someone could have been severely injured. This is a sad instance in sports history. To think that as early as 14 children are convinced that cheating is okay. This is a gateway to cheatings in different forms and to continue cheating. 

UNDER PRESSURE. N.p., 11 June 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
     <http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/50291646/>.

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Lead In: Matthew Kory a writer for Sports on Earth, a group of sportswriters who report the news in the sports industry.

“It seems the Blue Jays themselves don't know. On April 21, Jays manager John Gibbons was asked whether the pressure was getting to his team. He said, "They know what's at stake. They're all giving it their best, we just haven't performed the way we hoped. That doesn't mean we're going to, and to be honest, we've run into some good pitching along the way, too." Later in the same interview he admitted, "There have been times when we've been over-aggressive." The first quote sounds like Gibbons is saying the pressure wasn't a problem, they've started slowly, they've faced better-than-average pitching, and it's early things will get better and on and on. The second sounds like, weeeeeell just maaaaaaaaybe the pressure is getting to us a little bit” (Kory).

Commentary: Kory’s investigation shows how the media is pushing so hard for answers. Kids are always told always do your best and everything will be ok. John Gibbons managers for the Jays said their team is trying their hardest to win games things just did not happen for them. The pressure is getting to his team. Sports have become way more than just playing a game. There is billions of dollars put into this industry and athletes are expected to perform at a very high level. If athletes do not perform at this level they will be scrutinized for their performance. This causes a lot of pressure on athletes. This causes them to strive enhance their performance and when they still can not reach the expected level they turn to PED’s for help.

   

Databases lead in and commentary

Database Lead-In and Commentary

BISSINGER, BUZZ. "WINNING. (Cover Story)." Newsweek 160.10 (2012): 26-33. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.

Lead in: The media has slandered the reputations of athletes. However, the general public may think differently. Bisner of Newsweek, the international magazine which publishes the news and opinions of the events worldwide state.

“Until I spoke to my son, I was all set to declare Armstrong yet another fallen sports idol, so many at this point they could fill the national cemetery.

To hell with that.

I still believe in Lance Armstrong. I believe his decision had nothing to do with fear of being found guilty in a public setting before an arbitration panel, but the emotional and mental toll of years and years of fighting charges that have never been officially substantiated -- despite stemming all the way back to 1999.” (Bisner)

Commentary: Bisner gives a justification of Lance Armstrong’s PED scandal. He commends Lance for showing no fear to the public and admitting his wrongs. This admittance was due to fighting the charges. The excerpt is a representation that the athletes aren’t fundamentally born cheaters. The athletes are just pushed passed the edge which makes athletes feel the need of PED’s to pull the up from their breaking point. 

Duncan, David Ewing. "The Cyborg Olympic Games." Newsweek Global 162.8 (2014): 110-114. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2014.

Lead in: Duncan and David Ewing writers for the Neewsweek Global a popular magazine sold worldwide gives their opinion on the use of performance enhancing drugs and what they could ultimately lead to.  

“Some wondered if Vonn would have recovered more effectively if she had taken human growth hormone and steroids -- both banned by the International Olympic Committee and the International Ski Federation. After all, research has suggested that these meds help injured athletes to better heal.

That leads to an intriguing question, one that has been playing out with Major League Baseball's steroid situation. What if fans don't care if a player is using performance-enhancing drugs? In fact, maybe that's what they want. After all, Vonn's withdrawal was a huge disappointment to skiing fans, who hoped to see her defend her gold medal win in 2010. Why not let Vonn take human growth hormone, or whatever she needs, in order to recover quickly?

In fact, why not push this thought experiment even further? What if Vonn decided not to repair her torn ACL, but opted instead to replace her entire leg -- or both legs -- with advanced prosthetics better than her originals? She might add attachments allowing her to jump higher, ski faster and perform stunts that are impossible with legs made out of flesh, muscle and blood. Her legs would never suffer an injury again.

Such a RoboCop twist would, obviously, change the nature of Olympic competition. If Vonn was allowed to use prosthetic legs, pairs figure skating competitors, for example, might be assisted by low doses of Adderall. This stimulant is prescribed for patients with ADHD to focus their attention, but is also used off-label by millions of healthy people to improve their concentration and performance. Speed skaters could be allowed to utilize low dose steroids to boost strength and recovery time. Sports authorities could establish rules governing the dose and safe use of these and other drugs just like those that set the strict parameters for size, weight and composition of skis, bobsleds and other equipment.” (Ewing )

Commentary: This foresight into the future of sports if they allow players to use performance enhancing drugs is interesting. The author states that if we let athletes use performance enhancing drugs that should lead to prosthetic body parts and then that will lead to bionic body parts. This is an interesting statement to show how bad using performance enhancing drugs could be. He makes his statement simple into saying that cheating is cheating no matter how insignificant it may be. Webster’s dictionary defines cheating as, to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something. The beginning of the quote refers to Lindsey Vonn’s injury and how some think it should have been dealt with. He states that some believe that she should have taken steroids to get better. He questions if this is wrong then answers it by saying that is the same as being bionic. The athlete has an unfair advantage in both cases so the author is stating that both are basically the same. He uses the example to show how these forms of cheating would drastically affect the games. He then states that the Olympic committee could regulate the use of drugs in the Olympics and when it is acceptable and when it is not.

Elliot, Diane L., et al. "Definition And Outcome Of A Curriculum To Prevent Disordered Eating And Body-Shaping Drug Use." Journal Of School Health 76.2 (2006): 67-73. ERIC. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

Lead In: Diane Elliot a writer for the Journal of School Health, A magazine for the American School Health Association depicts the different struggles of temptations that male and female athletes wish to avoid.

“Almost one half of male and female students participate in high school-sponsored athletics, and high school also is a time when classroom health promotion curricula are less effective. The Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids is a sport team-centered drug-use prevention program for male high school athletes, which have been shown to reduce alcohol and illicit drug use. Just as anabolic steroid use is associated with male athletes, female sport participants may be at a greater risk for disordered eating and body-shaping drug use” (Elliot).

Commentary: In Elliot’s writing Elliot points out that male athlete are prone to turn to anabolic steroids to become better athletes while women turn to eating disorders and body-shaping drugs. These insecurities are all caused by the media. The media makes adolescents believe that the perfect male is this tall and muscular figure that is great at all sports. The image that the media is giving to women is this thin porcelain looking figure whose skin is flawless. These stereotypes on men and women make young adults believe that they should be like people in the media. When an individual does not reach the depicted “perfection” they turn to extremes (usually drugs) to become the ideal male or female.  

GILLIS, CHARLIE. "How To Build A Better Athlete."Maclean's 126.41 (2013): 55-57.Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2014

Lead in: Gillis and Charle writers from Maclean’s a Canadian weekly news magazine state

“No longer content to build on what the genetic lottery gave them, athletes are increasingly eager to reprogram and redesign themselves down to their molecular building blocks, drawing on a range of scientific advancements that, by comparison, make old-school performance enhancers like anabolic steroids seem down-right primitive. At the conventional end of this spectrum are "cognitive training" tools like the NeuroTracker: its calisthenics for the brain are safe, non-invasive and relatively inexpensive. At the other lies the long-feared threat of genetic doping, technology that remains decades off due to recent setbacks in clinical testing.

And in the space between are technologies and procedures close enough to commercial viability that athletes might already be using them. New drugs that block the protein that suppresses muscle growth, for example, are currently being tested to treat muscular dystrophy. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has added them to its list of prohibited substances. Also in the pipeline are so-called HIF stabilizers, which activate genes responsible for producing red blood cells. They're being developed to treat anemia, but could conceivably boost the performance of athletes in endurance sports such as cycling” (Gillis, Charlie ).

Commentary: This protestation of drug use in sports explains how athletes of today are using more drugs than the conventional anabolic steroids. The athletes are using the drugs because they are unsatisfied with their god given abilities and amp them up with drugs. Anabolic steroids have become an old style of cheating and athletes are using protein muscle growth and drugs that activate genes. These are the small steps moving closer to a new form of cheating outside of muscle growth hormones. 

Kotler, Steven. "Juicing 3.0." Popular Science 273.2 (2008): 38-41. Health Source -        Consumer Edition. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

Lead in: Steven Kolter a writer from Popular Science, a magazine that reports technology, science, gadgets, space and green tech addresses the early uses of drugs in sports.

“From Roman gladiators hopped up on herbal stimulants to distance runners downing brandy-and-strychnine cocktails (a combination that helped American Tom Hicks win the 1904 Olympic marathon)” (Kolter)

Commentary: Steven’s article excerpt verifies that cheating with drugs in sports has gone on since the beginning of sports itself. The earliest forms of drug use in sports were herbal stimulants which would increase the pain threshold of the gladiators and they would continue to fight instead of replying to the cuts and bruises given by opponents. This piece permits the public to gain an understanding and a baseline to present the uses of drugs used in the past which have evolved into a new form. The final evolution of performance enhancing drugs is the mix of biological redesigning drugs used today.

LaFee, Scott. "Steroids: To Test Or To Educate?." School Administrator 63.6 (2006): 47. ERIC. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

Lead in: Scott LaFee a writer for School Administration, a magazine given to school superintendents all over the United States gives a informational report on how schools are hoping to combat the use of performance enhancing drugs.

“Just months after the newspaper stories appeared, the Grapevine-Colleyville school board approved a random drug-testing plan for students who participate in sports and other extracurricular activities, from drama and debate to cheer-leading and choir. Testing, which began with the 2005-06 school year, includes screenings for illegal steroid use.

What happened to the Grapevine-Colleyville school district was singularly painful, but its reaction -- implementing a drug-testing program -- is becoming increasingly common. More and more educators and policymakers are beginning to consider randomized drug testing as a way to stop student abuse of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, hopefully before it becomes a significant and entrenched problem” (Lafee).

Commentarty: Laffe’s report on how schools are hoping to combat the use of performance enhancing drugs apprises the readers on what measures the schools are doing to suppress the use of performance enhancing drugs. This excerpt also demonstrates the mindsets of the students who are using performance enhancing drugs. The students who are using the drugs are aspiring to be like their idols. Most idols to these adolescents use some sort of performance enhancing drug to stay on top of their game. Young people of today now believe in order to be like their idols they need to be on these same drugs. The use of PED’s is not only a problem in the professional and college world but also in the high school world.   

McEvoy, Dermot. "The Wrongs Of Spring." Publishers Weekly 256.10 (2009): 20-23. Literary Reference Center. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

Lead in: Dermot McEvoy a writer for the most famous sports magazine states that the personal lives of athletes are exploited by the press and they follow around athletes hoping to find an amazing story.

 "Alex Rodriguez is universally regarded as the best player in baseball and his life off the field is often as interesting as his day job," (Dermot)

Commentary: McEvoy’s statement is shows that Alex Rodriguez’s life is in the microscope of the public eye. McEvoy shows how the public wants more from A-Rod than his talent and makes stories that may not exist. He gives a visualization of how Rodriguez’s life is as interesting as the game of baseball. This takes away from his game because the public eye is focused on his life, his flaws and worries about those subjects rather than focusing on his performance and the performance of his team. His stories overshadow the team and the league.

PIORE, ADAM. "CHEMISTS IN THE SHADOWS. (Cover Story)." Discover 33.2 (2012): 36-43. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.

Lead in: Adam Piore a writer for Discover, a magazine who publishes science, news articles, current events and views on topics such as technology, space, environment, health and medicine narrates a story where a young athlete turns to steroids in desperation.

It took months to find the way out, but the path was there in front of him all along. Arnold was an avid weight lifter, cursed with an average build that had a long ago stopped cooperating with his efforts to get bigger. Even so, every night after work he would head to one of the several gyms where he pumped iron and talked shop with muscle heads. The conversation would often turn to anabolic steroids. Arnold had majored in chemistry at the University of New Haven, and those weight-room discussions got him thinking” (Piore).

Commentary: This narration envisions a situation where a man has tried to work as hard as he can and wants to be a weight lifter so bad but can not peruse his dream. This failure has led him to believe that anabolic steroids are the answer. In the gym they were only joking. However, the man in the story believes that this is a realistic option. Athletes of today have turnd to the use of performance enhancing drugs in order to keep up and surpass their competition. The use of anabolic steroids is the cause of many athletes being so good and these same athletes are also accused of using the drugs. Athletes who do use the drug believe they are leveling the playing field when they are really elevating it to their advantage. 

Socher, Abraham. "No Game For Old Men." Commentary 125.3 (2008): 55-58. Literary Reference Center. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.

Lead in: Abraham Socher writer for the Commentary, a magazine on the opinions of American topics   show the advantages of PED’s

“PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING drugs are most tempting to players at the margins of talent, health, and, perhaps most of all, age. A minor leaguer — especially one who is not a power hitter — can muscle up to get to the majors. A good pitcher can move into the superstar category by throwing a faster fastball. With the use of anabolic steroids, a great hitter can build extraordinary muscle mass, increase his endurance, and prolong his dominance. For older players, human-growth hormone (HGH) can speed the healing after an injury, help tired bodies bounce back from workouts, and prevent the muscle deterioration that comes with age.” (Socher)

Commentary: Socher writes about how athletes who are on the border are prone to use performance enhancing drugs. The athletes have some talent but the drugs will give them the boost they need in order be on the next level.  The younger player will use anabolic steroids while the older one will use human growth hormones. These players on the border are using the drugs to reach their potential quicker. Coaches, teammates and other outside influences talk about how they are almost there and to be the athlete they are expected to be they use the PED’s. 

Suggs, Welch. "Deadly Fuel." Chronicle Of Higher Education 49.27 (2003): A36-A38. ERIC. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

Lead In: Welch Suggs a writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education informs readers on the lengths that college athletes go to become successful. 

“The reason colleges and other sports federations ban stimulants, steroids, and other performance-enhancing supplements is simple: Athletes should never believe that they have to risk their health to win.

However, the risks--suspensions, jail time, side effects, and even death--are worth it to players who see drugs as their way to the top, whether that be the professional ranks, the Olympics, or just a conference title.

"It's hard. It's like you're addicted to [steroids]," says Vince Manuwai, who just finished his senior season as an offensive lineman at the University of Hawaii. He's never taken any kind of supplement, he says, but "you see it gives you the strength, and you can't stop. My teammate took them, and it was so hard to get off. You see what steroids do, and you get to where you don't know if it's you or the steroids" (Suggs).

Commentary: Sugg’s report on this issue is informative to readers. This information gives the public knowledge of the mindset of athletes who use performance enhancing drugs. Once athlete are on the athlete is hooked there is nothing that can be done. The athletes love the feeling that the drugs give them and can’t stop using the drugs. The athletes are willing to risk everything to be glorified for only a few moments of life. The statement also informs the readers that colleges do not believe athletes should risk their lives to be great athletes. Colleges want athletes to work hard to become an athlete and not take any shortcuts. Athletes know the risks of taking banned drugs but do the drugs anyways. This shows readers that athletes believe in order to be at the top of the game they need to take drugs.