Steroid Paper

Steroid Paper

The use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs have taken over the world of sports, especially in baseball. Today, many professional baseball players have taken steroids to enhance their game play. Steroids are ruining the game of baseball and what it stands for. Baseball is America's national pastime and the players should treat the game with some respect. Steroids give the player a better advantage then the other hard working players that do not use the illegal drug. Steroids can make you bigger, faster, and stronger. President Barack Obama had this to say about the steroid era, "If you're a fan of Major League Baseball, I think it tarnishes an entire era, to some degree," Obama said. "And it's unfortunate, because I think there were a lot of ballplayers who played it straight." The "Mitchell Report" was released in 2007 stating that 89 Major League Baseball players were accused of using steroids. Three players whose careers were affected by the "Steroid Era" were Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez. These three men will never make it to baseballs Hall of Fame because of the mistake they made by taking steroids.

Mark McGwire is in the top ten of all time in home runs with 583. That record will always have a star next to it because of his steroid use. Mark was one of the best hitters of his time. He averaged one home run every ten at bats. He broke the single season home run record with 70 home runs in the 2001 season. These records are all shadowed by his use of steroids. In 2005, McGwire was among 11 other baseball players who had to testify at a congressional hearing on steroids. Mark declined to answer questions while under oath. Five years have passed and Mark came clean by saying, "I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era." Mark admitted to using them during the 1889 offseason. McGwire became eligible to make the Hall of Fame in 2007, but has failed to receive any votes because of his use of steroids.

Barry Bonds story is very similar to Mark McGwire's. Barry Bonds is the all time leader in home runs with 762 of them. He passed Mark McGwire's single season home run record with 73 home runs. Barry holds numerous records and achievements for his career, but all of those records have a star by them. Bonds began using steroids after the 1998 season. Bonds wanted to be like Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. He took the steroids for five years. Barry was faced up to 15 to 21 months of jail time. Barry said this in 2002 before he was accused of using steroids, "No. I don't have to [use steroids]. I mean, I'm a good enough ballplayer as it is. I don't need to be any better. I can't get any better at this age". Barry had lied to all of the reporters