THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Legal: Is it that big a leap to think that doctors could prescribe steroids to players to allow them to play the game better and longer? After all, using steroids with a prescription (like using Viagra with a prescription) is perfectly “legal.” Is it that big a leap? In a world where doctors will prescribe potentially harmful drugs to allow people to have sex, is it crazy to think that doctors (in only a slightly different environment) might prescribe steroids to help an athlete overcome an injury or play the game at a high level longer or give an athlete a chance to fulfill dreams? After all, we all know doctors will perform surgeries on athletes to accomplish those same goals.

Actually, it was pretty easy to find a doctor that would do this before AAS became schedule III in the early ‘90’s. And it became schedule III against the recommendation of the AMA, DEA, and FDA.

I was just giving thought to this issue the other day. Watching any sporting event, we are told:

Can’t get it up?  Take this pill!

Can’t urinate like you did when you were a teenager? Take this pill!

Depressed? Take this pill!

LOOK HOW COOL DRINKING IS!

The hypocrisy is mind blowing.

If you could take a pill that would regulate your body at all times (meaning that you would never have to exercise right or eat healthy) it would become a daily pill for all human beings.

And if this meant that it would shave 10 years off your life, a large percentage of people would insist on the right to take it.

There is no question at all that every person here would prostitute his body, and it’s just a matter of finding the price.  For example, taking the wonder pill would mean dying one day early.  Would you do it?  G-dd-mn right you would, since you would save yourself 2 hours of exercise a week for the rest of your life.

Ballplayers have made the choice by balancing the pros/cons.  The only reason we don’t make those choices is because we haven’t been put in those places, or that the pros/cons are decidely to one side.

Give everyone the tough choice, and you are not so high-and-mighty any more.