There comes a time in life where each person must make a decision. It isn’t a simple one. It can be asked in different forms, but when broken down they all lead to the same answer choices. Is this the right choice? Is this what I need to do to maximize my potential? The question has two answers. A simple, unsympathetic “yes” or the quiet, confident “no”. The latter of the answers leads to a much simpler life but leaves the burning question of “what could I have become?”. The first answer branches out into two sections. The decision has been made to push one’s skills to the limit. The first option is to increase work effort, devotion, and time spent on this particular goal. The subsequent choice is to cheat one’s way into completing and accomplishing this goal. Each person has an equal opportunity to succeed in their actions, but one of them will have to face the consequences. No one can run and hide forever. Within each choice lies an effect, which is obvious. Those who work must spend more time away from their recreational activities, yet those who cheat will end up coming face to face with their biggest fears. What separates these two types of people is one thin line. Those who cheat will succumb to a burning ambition to be the best in the world, to be “number one”. One who works his/her way to achieving a goal is only functioning to be the best their potential allows them to be. These people will be content with what they achieve, knowing they’ve done the best they can do with their skills and hard work. Each and every person who tries and succeeds in manipulating their way to success will not be content. Their personalities become more contentious than content. This question will arise in all of our lives at one point, and it may occur many, many times. So it’s time to do some soul searching. What is your choice?
The consequences of these choices have now been presented and the effects they can have are substantial. The one major element of it that has not been discussed is its origin. Where did it come from? Why do we ask ourselves this question? The desire to become the best one can be arises from the unstoppable force of competition. When we compete, we want to win. That very thin line is evident again. Will you accept defeat or will you win at all costs? All costs, all consequences, all repercussions be accursed! Money, greed, lies, hatred, fame, false success, and ruined lives is commendable! This isn’t right…this isn’t the way it should be. The truth of the matter is that this is how it really is in our world. Competition drives us to the brink of making absolutely horrid decisions that we will live with for the rest of our lives. The origin of competition is simple though—from the bottom our hearts. It’s obviously not coming from our mind, or we’d be making smarter choices in the act of competition. So, where are the majority of these decisions coming from? It’s a rather straightforward solution. Cheating always has been and will always be a part of the world of sports.
This isn’t about names. This isn’t about pinpointing any one perpetrator or cheater. There are only a select few that can call themselves clean. There is another select few who have washed their hands of the matter and moved on. Then there are the majority that find the topic of cheating as a taboo and rarely speak of it to the public. If I pointed out any one athlete in this situation I would be as guilty as the athlete themselves. In the past I’ve tried to put out the information about a couple of specific players, but I was wrong in doing that. The talk of their cheating only grants them more fame, or in this case infamy. It’s what they want. The answer to this problem isn’t to point a finger at any specific person, because in that case there are three fingers pointing right back at me. To solve this problem in high school, college, and professional sports the specifics have to be thrown out. This dilemma must be addressed as a group. It’s time something is done. No matter what type of cheating is going on out there, whether it be performance enhancing drugs or illegal boosters at colleges alike, it’s up to us, the sports journalists of the world, to fix it.
I’m guilty of it. The whole sports journalism profession is guilty of it. It’s in the news every single day. It’s because we’re putting it there. We’re feeding their greed, and they are very quick to take a bite out of our hand. They want attention, and we are giving it to them individually. What ever happened to the good guys in sports who did their work cleanly? Nothing actually happened to them. It’s as simple as Buster Olney of ESPN: The Magazine puts it:
“The scientific reality is we are at the dawn of the enhancement era, not at the end…We will never again be at a place where baseball enjoys the benefit of the doubt.”
Every athlete that succeeds is going to be under close scrutiny now. It doesn’t matter whether they have not failed a drug test before, because there are certain steroids that do not show up in urine tests. It will soon be catching up to the other major team sports. Baseball isn’t alone in this, it’s just the first sport to be attacked by the media. The NFL and NBA is full of performance enhancing drugs, illegal gambling, and other crimes. It’s obvious! Expect it, and expect it soon. Don’t just sit back and watch either, because all of us will be a part of it. If the Olympics can have everyone tested with the most accurate tests, why can’t baseball? Why can’t football? Why can’t basketball? Why can’t we feel safe to cheer for our favorite athletes anymore, why are we afraid to become a fan and be let down when they are proved to be a cheater? That isn’t right or moral in any way at all…but it’s our reality.
How long will this continue? The truth is that this will continue as long as the media allows it. What makes this whole situation worse is exactly what Buster Olney said. We’ve lost the benefit of the doubt. One athlete is suspected of using the juice, and we all turn on him. One player isn’t suspected of it, but because of his/her success, we are afraid to believe they are clean. There are few…no, there are no professional athletes left that we know are clean. The only person that knows that are the athletes themselves. To correct this will be an ongoing process that may last for many, many years. It will take cooperation from the players and the world of sports journalism. For this to work, it has to start now. This trust must be renewed.
Written by APC Staff Writer Brady Holzhauer