What about the NBA and NHL?
With the recent news of Manny Ramirez's suspension another blow to baseball, I got to thinking about the 4 major sports, MLB, NFL, NHL and the NBA, and the role steroids has played in each.
With the NFL, steroids were an early subject and it in turn implemented testing much earlier than the other sports. Each year we learn of a handful of players getting suspended. One cannot say their system is flawless, but it does yield tangible results.
MLB has received by far the most scrutiny based on the fact that we are slowly but steadily piecing together the number of the modern day power records were aided by steroids. Baseball was slow to acknowledge and react to steroids and as a result it is paying the price.
The NBA and NHL have largely avoided the fray. I wonder why that is and if we need to take a closer look.
The NHL was embroiled in a minor controversy when it was learned many of the players took Sudafed prior to games back in the '90s. The active ingredient in Sudafed acting as a stimulant. But I cannot recall one NHL player being nabbed for steroid use. How can that be?
A quick search reveals that as of December 2007, only 1 NHL had been caught using steroids all the while the NHL refusing to believe steroids could be an issue with NHL players.
NBA commissioner David Stern said he doesn't think steroids are a concern in the NBA. The idea being NBA players prefer leanness and athleticism, not bulk or power. Well, have you seen Dwight Howard? He looks to be both powerful and athletic all in one. One can't help but wonder how NBA players can have such developed deltoids and biceps without some kind of aid.
NHL players are protected by the equipment they wear, not only from physical harm, but judgment by the fans as we cannot see their physical appearance beyond broad assessments.
The fact remains that athletes in all sports, especially sports that reward play with hefty salaries, will and do try to gain any competitive edge possible. To think NHLers will stop at Sudafed and smelling salts is naive. And to think a fringe NBA player wouldn't be tempted to use steroids and HGH all the while trying to cover his tracks is laughable.
I wonder if we will ever get inside these 2 leagues to learn the truth. I find it hard to believe we are seeing a drug free NBA and NHL when nearly every other sport, both professional and amateur has had to deal with the issue.
Your thoughts?
Comments
fair enough questions, I think it is likely that there are some in Hockey and Basketball using, goes to reason I guess.
Baseball has the obvious advantage or reason for high use, the distance factor. None of the other sports reward a feat that results in distance (forget the place kickers, nobody would mind if they were juiced, probably cheer them for doing it in fact)...
The homerun can be a long out if not for a little more power behind it. The other sports would benefit from more power but not directly like baseball.
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 11, 2009 10:17 PM
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I imagine there are players in both the NHL and NBA juicing, for strength and stamina. A couple of months back Peter Gammons (ESPN) had a link to a fascinating SI article from the 1960s. Bottom line: Baseball players were experimenting with steriods back then. Steroids were not, as commonly believed, introduced to baseball in the late 1980s/early 1990s. But nobody made a big stink about it then. This is an interesting commentary on the power of the media to shape opinions. Another article I read (or was it the same?) stated that there is a fair degree of suspicion that the great Steelers teams of the 1970s were all juicing. If that is true, then much of the NFL must have been doings so at the same time, as it is hard to believe that only one one team would have done so. I regret not having passed that link on to you guys.
Posted by: Greg | May 11, 2009 11:16 PM |
I've got thoughts!
1- I talked about this! http://yankeesredsox.com/blog/2009/02/why_is_it_just_baseball.html
2- Didn't Rodney Harrison get busted for HGH use? I have no idea why that wasn't a bigger deal.
3- It's interesting you choose to pick on Dwight Howard, I am sure it has nothing to do with his current playoff series opponent....
As for steroid use in the NBA, look at this photo http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0710/nba.larry.bird.magic.johnson/content.1.html
and look at this one
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/steve_aschburner/03/11/prep.pros/garnett-bryant.p1.jpg
Hmmm...something seems different.
And as for hockey, you are as big or bigger a fan than I am. I think we both assume they were using this crap, let's just hope it doesn't come out like it has in baseball because that would end the NHL.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 11, 2009 11:24 PM
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