Index 
Human Nature Morality (sports doping)
Drugs in Athletics: Rick Telander, sports columnist for the Sun Times blares hate with his words, especially for Joe Paterno and now Lance Armstrong.see note below Lance’s crime which “earns” such hate, it seems to me it seems to Rick, is that he cheated, and I guess cheaters are to be loathed with no explanation necessary. Fairness in competition is paramount, so “we” and, more importantly, the competitors themselves “really” know who is best each day and who is not”. According to Rick, Lance used “performance enhancing” drugs (chemical, usually steroids either ingested orally or, more efficiently, injected into muscles). These chemicals aid in building muscle and quickening metabolism thereby providing an advantage over competitors not “so enhanced”. Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire (neither ever ‘tested” positive and both have denied it) and now Lance, who despite public anecdotal evidence and “private” but “overwhelming” evidence claimed by organized “sports authorities”; all three deny such allegations. Rick believes the “authorities”. No, Rick KNOWS the authorities are right. So not only is Lance as are Sammy and Mark cheaters, but are also liars and hypocrites, as he so blaringly shouts to the world. Such hate, such righteousness, such absolute certainty in areas where I see much confusion. ISTMRN much of that confusion swirls around the question, “What’s wrong with performance enhancing drugs?” To give my conclusion first because I am running out of writing steam, maybe we should endorse chemistry as a way to “enhance” human experience as well as to “restore” it, as the pervasive medical drug sector is now strongly encouraged to do. Drugs to “restore normalcy” (i.e. greater “health”, lack of pain, lack of disease, lack of “bad” thoughts (mental “illness”). These “performance enhancing” drugs are not only tolerated but often legally mandated, as well as strongly encouraged and recommended by almost everyone I know. ISTMRN to “elevate” experience above the normal (the norm), whether with steroids in sports or alcohol or marijuana in thought, is considered “evil”. We can use chemistry to “fix” but not to “enhance”. Strange, that idea. Given that scientific principles are rigorously consulted in all athletic training regimes now, including control of “natural chemicals” in diet and drink to “optimize” i.e. enhance performance. But, I have heard it said, “Such enhancement by chemicals is bad for long-term health and may even increase overall “aggressiveness” in “users”. Yes, perhaps. But sports injuries received while following strict regimens of training are already a leading cause of emergency room hospital visits and a leading cause of long-term, often permanent physical and mental damage (football concussions, e.g.; Note: Rick is a leading herald for this issue). So I don’t think the adage “it’s bad for kids” hold water unless you are basically willing to give up “sacrifice” for “achievement”, especially in sports. My suggestion to solve the “problem” of drugs in sports is to open up competition to all. Let’s see where this chemical thing can take us. Scary, isn’t it? But no coercions (plus even on the “health” side, like now, vaccines included). Of course people can maintain drug free “leagues”, but I don’t think most spectators will want to watch the “best”, drug enhanced athletes. Note: For the Joe Paterno case, Rick, along with another Sun Times columnist, racist Mary Mitchell, said the boy who was “abused” was ‘ruined for life”; what a terrible thing to say to someone, must worse than taking a cock up his butt, which he seemed to enjoy, coming back weekly for more than a year, and never “spilling the beans” Added August 30, 2016 |