In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Steroid uses - good or bad?

(NY Daily News) The University of Miami still plans to rename its newly renovated stadium after a baseball star, despite the star's involvement in a steroid scandal. The naming ceremony slated for this Friday, will see the university name the stadium Alex Rodriguez Park. Amid rumours of steroid use, Rodriguez admitted Monday to taking steroids as a professional baseball player up until 2003, the same year he won the American League's M.V.P. A-Rod, as the baseball star is known, enabled renovations for the stadium after contributing US$3.9 million in donations to the school. The university is facing criticism in keeping the name.

1.

The economy of sports

The Sports Economist
The Sports Economist blog is a commentary on sports and economics, using sports as a way to explain the economy. It was created by Raymond Sauer, a professor of economics, at South Carolina's Clemson University. In this May 12, 2008 entry the writer talks about the use of steroids in baseball and how steroids help the game. Steroids enable players to hit more homeruns and the fans enjoy seeing higher score games. Happier fans equal more people spending money on baseball. The writer suggests owners and managers were slow to enforce the ban of steroids as they hurt the bottom line. The post suggests the negative outcome associated with the use of steroids is far outweighed by the positive outcome, the financial gain, of steroid use.

2.

Helping teens deal with drug abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse
The war on drugs in America has been going on since the 1980s. This website helps educate teens about the dangers of drugs. Put together by the National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA), the site explores what these drugs are, their side effects, how teens use these drugs and even danger stories about steroids. It's interesting to see how the government is trying to appeal to teens. To entice the reader, it features a quiz on drugs, downloadables for iron-on stickers and buddy icons for instant messaging, as well as a glossary. There is also a toll-free hotline to call if you have any problems.

3.

Steroid use made mandatory?

The Bleacher Report
This is a collaboative blog that reports on all things related to sports. It keeps track of all the sports standings and comments on the latest news in the world of sport. The scandal involving major league baseball and steroids generated an interesting satirical post by Liam Liebman in the style of The Onion about the league making it mandatory for all players to use performance enhancing drugs. The post argues that having all players on drugs stops the "witch hunt" of the last few years, because everyone will already know who is using. It would also allow shamed former players such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens come clean and admit their use of steroids. Though satirical, I see a bit of truth here.

4.

Steroids and body image

Science Direct
This journal is a medical journal examining the relationship between medicine and psychology. This 1997 article, titled 'Androgenic-anabolic steroids and body dysmorphia in young men', examines the use of anabolic steroids in those diagnosed with body dysmorphia, a condition describing those with a severely negative body image. Focusing on the use of the drug in young men, the author, Scottish doctor Anna-M. Wroblewska concludes that the use of steroids is increasing in young men and they are not just used among athletes. One reason for this increase use is the social pressure teens feel to fit an ideal image. It's an interesting look at the negative body image felt in men.

5.

Bigger, Badder, Stronger

Google Documentaries
This documentary, directed by Christopher Bell, explores steroid use by himself and his two brothers, Mike and Mark Bell, who aim to achieve the ideal image they saw in men such as Hulk Hogan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film takes a look at steroids from amateur and professional athletes' perspectives, as well as medical and legal perspectives. It compares the use of steroids to other drugs in America, specifically inconsistencies as to what drugs are legal and what drugs are not. It also examines other ways in which people enhance their performance legally. The film takes a skeptical view on the health risks with steroid use.