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Steroid use has become prominent in practically all sports. Steroid use is illegal in the United States except for medicinal purposes. Many people are not aware of the negative side effects steroids use can cause. Enlargement of the heart, feminization of males and masculinization of females, and creation of chemical imbalances in the body are a few of the more prominent side effects. However, the real question is whether we should revere the statistics these enhanced players produce as much as we do the statistics of the players of old. Also, should these players possess the same ‘hero’ status that players like Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth did?

In baseball, statistics really are not increased all that much by steroids. Hitters may hit the ball farther, but steroids won’t help the player make contact. Steroids may help a pitcher throw harder, but movement on breaking balls and accuracy are areas the pitcher needs to develop himself. Also, because both pitchers and batters are using the drug, the effects cancel each other out. But that’s baseball. Other sports, such as track, are greatly affected by the introduction of anabolic steroids. It can build endurance and increase the speed a runner is capable of. Football players find steroids help build the strength necessary in the sport.

Thus, in some ways performance is enhanced by steroids. In baseball, their statistics can still be revered though. In other sports, I’m not quite so sure.

But the question still remains: should we still consider modern athletes, who we know use steroids, as heroes? Regardless of the steroid issue, many athletes aren’t worthy of ‘hero’ status. Besides taking steroids, many athletes drink excessively and otherwise lead an immoral lifestyle. Are any of them really worthy of this prestigious status? Perhaps a few are. Personally, I don’t believe steroids have any bearing on hero status. I believe today’s culture should change our perspective on potential heroes.

 

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