The calendar says 2012, but with all of this Performance Enhancing Drug and “Doping” talk over the last two weeks, I swear it feels like 2010 … or 2008 … or even 2006.

1992 Impel US Olympic Hopefuls “rookie” card

Haven’t we been here before?  I know I am not the only one sick of this stuff.

Last week San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera received a 50-game suspension after testing positive this season for high levels of testosterone.  Two days ago, Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon was hit with the same suspension for the same type of violation.

And on Thursday, news came out that Olympic Champion and Cycling Legend Lance Armstrong essentially gave up his fight against allegations that he “doped” during his career.  Armstrong maintains that he has been clean, but says the fight is taking a toll on his life and he doesn’t care what people say.

My stance?

I’m not sure I can say it more simply than this:

I DO NOT CARE IF THEY DID ANYTHING.

My stance on this issue of performance enhancing drugs or related activities has been the same since Day One.

Athletes didn’t physically hurt anyone other than themselves.

I still enjoyed their performances in the moment.

I’ll still remember their performances even if their names are stricken from record books or appear with an asterisk.

My personal views are mine.  That’s how I process all of this information and cope with the way this dope stuff has affected the way we view sports.

I understand and respect the opinions that are in contrast of mine.  I get that people are outraged, that athletes themselves are upset, especially those who did it “the right way.”

But sports have changed. Period.

It’s no longer one person against another in a pure battle of strength or wits.

People don’t compete simply for the love of their sport.

I choose to enjoy the performances for what they are in the moment.  Sure, I’d like to compare the stars of this generation with those from the past, but that can’t be done accurately in any sport for various reasons. The sooner we come to terms with this, the quicker we can stop focusing on the negative aspects and just enjoy these sports as forms of entertainment.

Want good, clean sporting competition?  Watch Little League Baseball.

Oh, wait…

This entry was posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:15 pm and is filed under Newspaperman with tags Bartolo Colon, baseball, Doping, Lance Armstrong, Major League Baseball, Melky Cabrera, performance enhancing drugs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.