Who Is To Blame?

Well, it was a long time coming. I mean, everyone should have expected it. Pretty much every other sport is doing it. I just don't see why it took the PGA so long to begin random drug testing. They will finally be able to bring upon themselves all the negative media that the MLB, NFL, and other professional sports have attained. The issue of performance enhancing drugs has become as big of a deal as the actual competitions themselves. The fact that our society is so infatuated with these current scandals seems to indicate how we are losing focus on the games themselves and looking for a reason to point out flaws in our heroes. This may be because we want to be able to see that these athletes are in fact just like us, human. No one ever considers why these athletes take performance enhancing drugs. Something tells me they don’t do it for the thrill of risking getting caught. I mean heck, I don’t think half the guys who take it know they are doing something wrong. Of course that could be argued, but something tells me when the riders in the Tour de France are being kicked off the tour for reasons such as having to take antibiotics for an illness just so they will be able to compete, things need to be reevaluated. Society has begun to demand more and more from these icons, causing them to feel pressured to live up to the hype. But yet we still feel the need to find faults, thus creating a hypocritical circle. Many will play with severe injuries and health issues. To the public, it seems like a given. To the athletes, it’s just how they have to live, regardless if it hurts, or even kills them. In no way am I trying to say I agree with the use of steroids. Not in any way, shape, or form. All I am saying is that these people are just trying to be able to perform to the standard their critics have come to expect of them. When they feel it slipping away, most of the athletes have an innate fear failure and will do anything to continue to have that same feeling of importance and necessity to their sport. Some, unfortunately, are even willing to sacrifice their health and character to continue to be an idol. It’s a shame that they are willing to not only compromise themselves, but their sport’s integrity as well. Maybe we should step back though for a moment and consider “how much impact do we as a society have on these athletes and how important is it for us to see them succeed?”