WHAT DO WE TELL THE CHILDREN??

The article below outlines a pretty good start. Since we're such a forgiving nation and all (HAHAHAHA ROTFL).

A little bit of perspective regarding the whole "athletes as role models" argument would help as well. Next thing you know, we might be able to talk a little more rationally and a little less hysterically and emotionally.

When we're talking about children the within the age group of those who still believe in the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy and Santa Claus (and bed-wetting sportswriters), this age group is not really at risk of steroid use anyway. They are also more likely to be swayed by the opinions of their parents and teachers than those of their favorite ballplayer.

The young men who are entering the teen years and beyond are certainly able to separate their "role-models" behavior and reconcile it with their own standards of right and wrong. If they can't do that or if their ethical schema is out of whack, then let's face it, no amount of posturing, hand wringing or legislation is going to help anyway.

If kids that age are more likely to be swayed morally by their favorite baseball, football or basketball player then we are really in trouble as a society.

PED drug use would fall somewhere behind alcohol abuse, domestic violence and cavalier attitudes toward gun use, respect for authority and raising children out of wedlock. All of these issues and others would seem to impact society more negatively and might be more of an immediate concern to our leaders. At least in my mind. If we're really concerned about kids and the effect role models have on them.

I thought we learned the lesson about legislating morality during Prohibition. Perhaps we're trying to repeat history with our seemingly endless and hopelessly hypocritical "War on Drugs". Maybe that's the one McCain meant when he said we might be fighting it for a hundred years or more.
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Christian players named in Major League Baseball's steroid scandal
Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008
By Tim Ellsworth

http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5731

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--When former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell released his report Dec. 13, he identified 89 Major League Baseball players as users of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Included on that list are a few players who are professing Christians -- most notably Andy Pettitte, Brian Roberts and Paul Byrd, among others.

That men of faith would be present in the Mitchell Report didn't come as a surprise to Rick Horton, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and St. Louis area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

"Not only have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but they continue to do it after they have a relationship with Christ," Horton said. "It's a continuing battle."

Those accused of using illegal substances fall into one of three categories, Horton explained. The first is the young player who thinks drugs might make him a better player. The second category is the injured player who use substances like HGH in an attempt to recover more quickly. The third group consists of aging players who are trying to hang on at the end of their careers.

Horton stressed that he's not providing excuses for players who cheated, and was clear that the use of performance-enhancing drugs is "wrong and it's illegal. But so is driving 85 in a 55, and I know people who do that," he said.

"The sports world is so competitive and so short-lived, that there are decisions made within that that are hard for somebody not in that environment to understand," Horton added.

Horton said that Christian players are easy targets for criticism because of their presence in the spotlight, and he said fans who look up to them as role models are naturally going to feel disappointed at these revelations. Some fans may even find it hard to be forgiving.

But Horton said sometimes people are guilty of holding others to a higher standard than they hold themselves. It's important for people to realize, Horton said, that Christian baseball players are still men who sometimes stumble in their walk with Christ.

"It's legitimate to say that I'm disappointed, but I do think we have to look in the mirror," Horton said. "I think we need to have an attitude of forgiveness to brothers who make mistakes, and who make big mistakes."

Horton also said that it helps to keep issues like steroid use in perspective.

"Is it really that horrible? Is that as bad as being prideful? Or disrespecting your neighbor?" Horton asked. "I don't have an answer for that, but I think it's worth thinking about."