I’ll put right up front that I am not a sports fan – particularly pro sports. I’ve always derisively referred to athletes – “jocks” – as “steroid mutants.” I know a lot of men like sports, so I generally keep quiet in order to stay out of arguments.
But, once in a while a case comes along that puts my hype and hypocrisy aversion into overload. Tiger Woods only got me to the yellow zone, but the pictures of Mark McGwire simpering and sobbing as he Oprahfies himself and seeks sympathy for lengths he went to in his pursuit of fame and money just made me want to puke.
There is much to admire about a man pushing himself toward excellence and achievement. A good challenge will stir up a man’s blood and spirit like nothing else. Setting a record, being “the best” at anything, can create a sense of pride that nothing else can.
Unless he has to “cheat” in order to do it.
And then no matter how great the public praise, the accomplishment really means nothing to the person who did it. Oh, how the high and mighty do fall. In the past month we have witnessed the public spectacle of not just one, but two, larger than life, record breaking, superstars be reduced to pathetic groveling.
Personally, I believe there is much wrong with the famous Vince Lombardi-ism “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” In McGwire’s case, “winning” seems to have been so important that he was willing to do anything in order to do so. And now, whatever he did accomplish is being discounted due to the fact that he didn’t actually accomplish it on his own, but with pharmaceutical help. ”Winning” for him isn’t “everything”, or “the only thing”, or now even anything.
In both McGwire’s and Woods’s cases, we see men who sell out their integrity in exchange for an image – and a bit of wealth. But those images were both fragile, and based on lies. And, when those lies were finally exposed, both of them crumbled into pathetic heaps of apologetic Jello.
In a quavering voice, McGwire apologized and said he used steroids and human growth hormone on and off for a decade, starting before the 1990 season and including the year he broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record in 1998.
I could have some respect for him today if he had stood up, either then or now, and say “Yeah, I juiced. So what? Most of the guys who are any good do it. If you want to be at the top of the game, and everyone else around you is giving themselves an edge, then you have to give yourself that same edge.”
I think there are a whole lot of important issues in these cases for men. First, is the trade-off between honor and competition. Is there any pride to be had in winning without honor? Is being “the best” by cheating the best really something that can make a man hold his head high? And, the “fans” who make these guys what they are… do they admire ruthlessness and cunning more than honest achievement?
For some reason, the strains of Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” are running through my head. McGwire and Woods had theirs, but they are over. And everything they worked to achieve has been eclipsed now by their feet of clay being exposed. Public adoration is fickle. In 20 years I can easily imagine a couple of golf fans talking about great golfers – “Palmer, Nicklaus, and that guy who was boinking all those bimbos.” Or a couple of baseball fans talking about home run kings – “Ruth and Maris… they did it without ‘roids.”
Truly, what does it profit a man if he gains the entire world, or just fame and money, but loses his soul? How many of us would go for 10 years as a sports hero knowing that at the end of it we would have to make humiliating public spectacles of ourselves?
These guys are only a couple of examples, but they are the reason why fame and wealth do not interest me all that much. I would not trade all of both of their money for the ability to look anyone in the eye, including myself in the mirror, and have no fear of a lie I have been living being exposed.
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
McGwire’s stupidity and arrogance reflects the majority of contemporary sports fans. They deserve each other.
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Well said.
The juicers are lucky *I’m* not the Commissioner. I’d wipe the Record Books clean back to Reggie Jackson or whoever it would take to get to the men who didn’t cheat.
I’m also bothered by the example this sets for boys who dream of sports success. If McGwire used ‘roids,why shouldn’t they?
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It’s not just in the world of sports that this is happening.
It seems to me that everywhere you go, you have to be on your toes more, and everyone is trying to rip you off. Maybe I’m just getting more jaded as time goes on, but, I don’t even remember it this way 15 or 20 years ago.
Businesses you work for are trying to remove benefits left, right and centre, and are trying to squeeze every last nickel of profit they can, even by jerking around their own tools: their employees. Customers are now treated like products themselves, coming down the conveyer belt…
Friends are often quite quick to jerk eachother over for often trivial reasons, and failing to remember that a little give and take often leads to greater benefits for all parties in the long run…
Loyalty is no longer a virtue, but a weakness. Honesty is not seen as refreshing, but as stupidity. Happiness is your next new car…
But, maybe it’s just me… who cares, I still want to say “bah humbug!”
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I don’t think McGwire should be shown leniency by baseball. His records are crap.
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Fedrz,
I think I know what you are talking about, and I think it has to do with the fact that many people these days do things mainly to say they did them.
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I don’t remember the same level of cynical opportunism in the past either, but then I read something like Dostoevsky’s ‘The Idiot’ (published in 1868) and I see the same thing at work. The central character is called an idiot everywhere he goes in the Russia of his time precisely because he’s honest, has integrity and isn’t motivated by material gain.
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At the risk of saying it here in a man’s house. screw baseball. And all other pro sports as well.
Pro athletes have become the sniveling, entitled prima donna’s that they are because they are financed by legions of morally unemployed fans that don’t mind steroid pumping jerks as long as they can bat over .300 or throw a 96 mph fastball. Even if they were dosing with I.V. plutonium.
Everyone and their brother watched Barry Bonds put on muscle as fast as David Banner turning into the hulk and they still lined up, shelled out big bucks and cheered him on as he approached his fraudulently attained record.
I don’t say any of to argue with anyone, and I won’t argue with anyone about it. It’s a no brainer. McGuire was guilty the whole time, lied like a cheap rug and bawled like a toddler who lost his pacifier when he was forced to tell the truth.
I’d rather watch little league baseball.
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this article is beta
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Taking steroids is not “cheating”.
These sportsmen have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and should not be apologizing to anyone.
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McGwire is a drug-abusing cheater.
He deserves dishonor.
In the past, this was obvious.
But, today, the fact a discussion even takes place shows how corrupt we’ve become.
Solutions are quickly vanishing.
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Serena Williams will be the next big one exposed!
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I’d rather watch little league baseball.
I find the WHL (Western Hockey League) far better than the NHL.
The guys only get chicken feed for playing, like spending money, and are billeted to people’s homes. And they are hungry and play like their lives depend on it. They are usually highschool age, and are playing their hearts out for the scouts. It’s exciting. Plus, tickets are dirt cheap – most often under $20. While going to an NHL game between two good teams can now easily run you $200!!! No thanks to that. Plus, it’s true, they are becoming whiny. One more strike, and it’ll be only the WHL for me. Shitheads.
No offense to you Americans, but the worst thing that ever happened to hockey was when the NHL tried to sell it to the Americans. You guys don’t really like it anyway, except for in a few areas. Our hockey is your baseball, and I don’t know of a single boy who wouldn’t give his eye teeth to be able to play professionally, for an average mill worker’s wage, but when we “sold it” the game deteriorated badly. It’s all about the money now. I say we take it back and make it like it used to be. Bring back the Jets! (& the Nordiques, for Rebel).
Plus, too many women are whining and snivelling about it being too “rough” now. You’re damn right it’s rough. That’s why you wear a helmet. We Canuckleheads might be a peaceful people, but we like – and demand – our hockey played “our way.” Like this: Go Wendel! I’m no Leaf’s fan, but YO! Little Wendel played his heart out! The best bruiser I knew in college was studying to be a minister! Friggin’ NHL, trying to increase revenue by trying to sell it women. They’ve got figure skating, so leave us men alone! Pretty soon it’ll be back to pond hockey.
Sigh.
Sports Rant Off.
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I don’t understand why McGwire admitted taking real steroids, not just steroid precursors like androstenedione. It doesn’t get him a pass to the Hall. It doesn’t improve his public image. Such an admission is so beta.
Since the pitchers were presumably taking steroids too, how does taking them help McGwire? More to the point, claiming Ruth and Maris were clean is pure speculation. Neither were ever tested, and it’s not as if performance-enhancing drugs, like stimulants, were either unknown or hard to get back then.
There is also the matter of McGwire’s contact lenses. Yes, contact lenses. His corrected his vision to 20/10. They had a special yellow tint that “allows me to see the ball crisper and sharper and reduces glare”. In a game where being a 1/2 cm off means the difference between a home run and a high fly ball, if that’s not a monster advantage over Ruth and Maris I don’t know what is.
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Doesn’t women’s hockey forbid checking? I know women’s Olympic hockey does. If so, how can it be too rough?
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Doesn’t women’s hockey forbid checking? I know women’s Olympic hockey does. If so, how can it be too rough? — Bob Smith
It’s a bad example for boys.
If there is anything that is Canadian culture, it must be hockey… and beer.
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It’s hard to respect any man who cheats and lies consistently for two decades and only admits the truth when he has no more “skin in the game”.
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The roughness, I mean. Women’s hockey is really only the Olympics. You couldn’t fill a backyard rink with spectators to watch women’s hockey. But, the NHL wants more women buying tickets, and the women are complaining that the roughness of hockey is bad for their boys when they learn to play, so they are always trying to push for it to be changed around.
Hockey played rough has been the way it has been since, well, we started playing hockey! Talk about the emasculation of Canadian men if we let the women change our favourite pastime to be sissified for their liking. Like I said, they’ve got their figure skating, and you couldn’t get 10 men together to watch that. Nice toe picks! (snicker)
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Oh, and add: adopting Haitians.
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Liked seeing ole’ Wendell Clark squaring off against Probert; that was awesome!
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mmmkay…
I’ll “sports it up” for you girls.
McGwire had to squirt – like Wyclef Jean with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
It’s the inexorable progression of 20th century Feminized American Male. Note, I did not write “man.”
Barry Bonds will squirt.
Who wants to wager Tiger squirts when he does his mandatory Oprah Repentance Tour?
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OT, sorry, and maybe mentioned already (I’m new here) but The Spearhead has made “Canada’s Newsmagazine” Maclean’s aaaaaaaaaaaaaangry:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/19/the-politicizing-of-haiti/
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/19/the-politicizing-of-haiti/100118_haitipg_spearhead/
For context, Maclean’s is slightly to the left of the Socialist Worker, so: well done lads! Didn’t ever think this humble website would get that much notice.
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Heh! Cool. McLean’s is the biggest magazine in Canada.
I pissed them off once too!
http://no-maam.blogspot.com/2007/08/kady-omalley-wets-her-pants.html
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Mark McGwire was being a second-hander. It was more important that people think he was the best than to actually be the best. He had always known that he was a fraud, but now that public knew it, he was left with nothing. It’s being excessively concerned with other people’s opinion that causes most people to sell out their integrity.
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@ ferdz
Good rant.
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i believe we should separate sports into two factions, one the “drug leagues” and the other the “clean leagues”. and let things run the course
the distinction would maintain by way of outragously tough penalties, like 25 years gaol, if any of the “clean league” players found positive on drug tests
this would be especially good in athletics (track), who would not want to watch a man run 100 metres in 7 seconds?
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Great idea.
Too bad we can’t even lock up murderers and rapists that long.
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This was not about the Hall or big endorsement deal. McGwire has publicly said he doesn’t care about the Hall and corporate America never gave him the time of day. LaRussa made him do it, so that he could be a hitting coach. He was always a patient, powerful hitter (he’s 6’5″) and probably would of had a good career without steroids. Maybe something like Dale Murphy without the centerfielder speed.
Athletes have always pushed the limits of their sport. Anything they can get away with they do.
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I would argue that it was way too much expansion period rather than necessarily American expansion. I live in DC and the Caps are very popular right now and when I live in Durham, NC the Hurricanes were always well supported. However, too much expansion dilutes talent and there are a lot of teams which are just a pile of crap.
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The tearful, simpering apologies from male public figures makes me sick. If you got caught doing something just admit it with a strong posture, a clear, strong tone of voice, and maybe, maybe, one “sorry about that.” THAT’S IT.
This groveling doesn’t make anyone respect you. And yeah, I used to be a big sports fan but I’m sick of it too. These athletes get too much money and attention thanks to obsessed sports fans. Same thing with the idiots in Hollywood that get 24/7 coverage.
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In a quavering voice, McGwire apologized and said he used steroids and human growth hormone on and off for a decade, starting before the 1990 season and including the year he broke Roger Maris’ single-season home run record in 1998.
I could have some respect for him today if he had stood up, either then or now, and say “Yeah, I juiced. So what? Most of the guys who are any good do it. If you want to be at the top of the game, and everyone else around you is giving themselves an edge, then you have to give yourself that same edge.”
That’s EXACTLY what I felt when I saw him do that. I was thinking the guy should get an Oscar for that performance. I lost all respect for him when I saw that. What a pile of bullshit. I mean really. Are there no real men left?
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Maclean’s isn’t left!!! Steyn writes for them, they like PM Harper….
The Toronto Star and Globe&Mail are LEFT!
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Maclean’s is fuel for starting the woodstove, nothing more.
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It doesn’t bother me at all that these guys took steroids. It’s their bodies and they felt the risk was worth it. What does bother me is exactly what is pointed out in this post, the faux apologetic tone.
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I just gotta tell you guys… I beat up a thief tonight! Stealing shit outside of my place!
Holy adrenaline rush! Yowzers.
Had the police over and everything… the neighbours called them… someone was fighting.
Yeah, that was me!
Pushing 40, and I still gots it!
I didn’t manage to subdue him though. But, I did manage to get him down and pound him in the head several times before he got away from me and ran.
Holy adrenaline rush.
Knuckles are a bit sore. Lol!
Wow!
Good thing I watched that Wendel video tonight!
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It’s taken me, literally, about an hour and a half to come down.
I’ve been walking around a bit phased since it happened.
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You did what you had to do, fedrz.
Now don’t let it get you going too much. One time I knocked a guy out for trying to carjack me, and I felt on top of the world for a little while, until I realized how badly I’d hurt him. Remembering the sound of his bones breaking definitely tempered the feeling of victory.
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Yeah, you’re probably right, Welmer.
This is a first for me. Plus, it’s been a looong time since I’ve gotten physical like that.
What a wierd experience.
For twenty minutes after, my temples were just throbbing, and I could hardly catch my breath.
The cops guaranteed me I wouldn’t be liable for anything, though, and I was well within my rights.
What a strange situation.
I suspect it will be on my mind for the next few days.
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@fedrz
A definite bummer. What a horrible experience.
I’d be freaking out for months over such an episode.
So, I hope that you don’t let it get to you too much.
Besides which, we need your brain to keep concentrating on far more important issues!
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Personally I have no problem with Woods and don’t think any less of him because he had several mistresses. What I do not like is that he apologized for it and confessed to it being wrong. Rather I think he should have been proud of his achievement. I also don’t see why other men feel the need to condemn Woods. To me this just smells of spite and envy and resentment of a more sexually successful.
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From what I’ve heard, I don’t think steroids are very dangerous, if used in moderation.
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All “famous” men owe allegiance to the gynogulag leaded by the O-cow. Hence, their priority is to be liked by women. Everything else is secondary.
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All “famous” men owe allegiance to the gynogulag leaded by the O-cow. Hence, their priority is to be liked by women. Everything else is secondary.
A “wounded puppy” act attracts women to see it, and they are the only demographic that matters to that rotten aristocracy.
And yes, I said act. Fucker is completely unrepentant, but had to bent up against all males by the sacred command of the O-cow. Pathetic.
@ferdz
Fuck yeah, that’s awesome.
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Use the Vulcan Mind Meld.
Transfer your pain to me.
I kinda like that stuff.
Rice Krispie Treats
for the soul
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Male hormones shouldn’t be illegal. If any sports organization wants to ban them, fine. But for most who don’t know, Testosterone is a miracle potion of youth.
Do yourselves a favor and go watch the documentary “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” and learn that you’ve been fed a giant helping of bullshit when it comes to “steroids”.
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Testosterone may indeed, be a miracle potion of youth.
But that’s best used to improve a man’s quality of life or remedy ills,
than achieve something as worthless as a sports record
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It’s amazing how that adrenilane affects your body. I didn’t notice it last night even when I went to bed, but when I woke up this morning, my bad knee from an ACL injury/surgery is all swollen, and there is a bruise on my ankle bone that I feel each time I walk.
The ladies next door, two teachers (yes feminist ones), were over this morning to say thanks. I guess they were the ones that called the cops, who called them back later. The one was, “I’m so glad that a man like you was around, because it just scares me to death that someone is sneaking around our building stealing from us like that.” (They normally don’t like me much). Yes… it was on the tip of my tongue to mention she could also get a husband… but they are my neighbours, so, best to bite my tongue, I figured.
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Testosterone may indeed, be a miracle potion of youth.
But that’s best used to improve a man’s quality of life or remedy ills,
than achieve something as worthless as a sports record
Testosterone: Hormone of the Gods? – By Darren Blacksmith
Darren Blacksmith runs the site CoolToolsForMen
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While I think McGwire’s tears were unmanly, I don’t blame him for doing it: he’s less likely to go to jail for perjury that way.
Juice ain’t cheating at all, in my mind. It’s just part of the game. They weren’t even against the rules in Baseball until fairly recently, nor should they be. Is it “fair” that some people lack myostatin, or have high levels of growth hormone (like Choi in UFC fighting)? Is it “fair” that some people are bigger than other people, or have particularly strong shoulder capsules (pitching)? Stuff like this is technology which makes life better for sportsmen and layman alike. I don’t use, but I am not opposed to doing so in the future if it makes my quality of life better.
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I think a good majority of players have been doing the same thing. if you talk to anyone who trains these athletes or is familiar with that world they’ll tell you it’s not who’s using – it’s who isn’t that’s notable.
One thing I noticed after testing was instituted was the baggy uniforms. The guys looked scrawny like Babe Ruth all of a sudden. Most of these guys dropped a good 15lbs of muscle overnight – easy way to tell a juicer. Sooner or later they have to come off and most of them don’t know how to do it so they keep the muscle.
Let’s face it, they had what’s his face who wrote the book giving them their injections and he knew squat. That’s the funny part, most of these guys get caught doing the dumbest stuff like using a steroid that takes a whole year to clear the system then they fail their test.
Let me tell you guys, if someone has competent help there is no way to prove they are using. There are steroids like testosterone suspension that clear in a day. The ones that get caught are the ones who don’t know what they are doing.
Reggie Jackson? Probably juiced too. This stuff has been around since the 50′s and only recently became illegal
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