Yet another reason to stop watching football and turn on the NBA

While I've for the most part given up on baseball because of the 10+ years of cheating, I've always been amazed that the NFL, a sport so obviously filled with performance-enhancing drug-users, has escaped the ire of the American public and Congress.

Follow the link to read a list of NFL players caught using performance-enhancing drugs.

about 1 month ago Stop-n-Pop Comment 5 comments 0 recs |

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You think the NBA is free of performance-enhancing drugs?

I wouldn’t put my hand in the fire for some guys, seeing how their bodies changed dramatically from college to the pro level and from rookie year to veteran player. If it’s all due to better nutrition and year-round workouts more power to them. But somehow I doubt that substances such as HGH or at least drugs that help you get through a grueling 82 games schedule are unknown to ball clubs.

Odenied: If you're given lemmings—make lemming-ade (Bow4Meow)

by Norsktroll on Oct 3, 2008 11:27 AM CDT 0 recs

I like your point about the grueling 82-game schedule. I too have always thought the NBA was more immune to drugs than other leagues/sports. But I hadn’t really considered the schedule. That schedule is nothing short of inhuman. Frankly it makes me think that I wouldn’t even be too disappointed to learn NBA players were doping, since it is hypocritical to expect them not to and still compete for that whole inhuman schedule. It reminds me of bicycle racing: racers don’t take drugs simply to help them go faster, but because they’re expected to go fast for 100 days a year, from March through October! (For some perspective: for most of those days they’re expected to spend 5-6 hours in the saddle – more for the important one-day races – and ride between 150 and 250km, again more for the important races.) And if bike racing is the hardest sport in the world because you have to race 100 times per year, basketball can’t be too far behind. I’m surprised someone like KG can still walk.

by plinytheelder on Oct 5, 2008 1:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

I honestly do...

…think there aren’t any performance-enhancing drugs in the NBA. Maybe some players use it during a recovery from a bad injury, but I really don’t see them being widespread during the day-to-day grind of the season. I could be wrong but I just don’t see it like I do with the other sports. Of course, this probably has a lot to do with watching Corey Brewer for the last year ;)

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by Stop-n-Pop on Oct 3, 2008 12:50 PM CDT 0 recs

Does the NBA have a testing policy?

How rigorous is it, if they do?

Like football, baseball and any other elite sport, basketball will attract players who want to succeed beyond the level that the gifts God provided for them allow. I can think of one player who likely used steroids – Dennis Rodman, and I am sure there have been others, too.

I want the League to police for it and test rigorously. That is the only way to prevent it, as baseball has found out. I mean, S&P, lets be honest. If it was suddenly revealed that Many if not most NBA players used performance enhancing drugs, you would not stop watching NBA ball, you’d demand that they clean it up. Because you have a passion for the game. It is the same for baseball fans. Clean the sports up so we can enjouy them with, at least, some small measure that we are watching a clean sport. Baseball is a great game and the best athletes play major league ball. Barry Bonds, Mark Mcgwire certainly tarnished that image, but they did not steal the passion I have for watching the game and enjoying great athletes play it. If there is a problem, then do something about it and I think baseball is.

The NFL needs to clean up its act as well. But, the problem with the NFL is that there is this gladiator type attitude amongst fans. There are too many drunk fans on sunday afternoons sitting in the stands awaiting players to get crunched by 300 lb lineman just like some fans watch the Indy 500 waiting for an accident. Football is a great sport when a player like Joe Montana, Tom Brady or Brett Farve can orchestrate an offense and make passes to great recievers through the smallest of seems in the defense. Its a terrible sport when these same players can have there careers ended by one blind-side tackle by a steriod taking 255 llb blitzing outside linebacker. I don’t watch as much the NFL anymore because it is too dang violent compared to the NBA and major league baseball.

by Andy B on Oct 3, 2008 1:30 PM CDT 0 recs

They have a very good testing policy...

…and they were even testing players during games until Reggie Evans missed 10 minutes of a 1/2 in 2005.

I would stop watching the NBA if it was revealed that there was widespread drug use that was ignored to the effect that it was in MLB. I used to really follow the Twins. I just can’t take the game seriously after everyone looked away from an obvious problem for so long. I was a big baseball fan and I get my kicks now at Saints or Mankato Moondog games.

You can read the program here:

http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles/article-XXXIII.php

I think you’re right about the violence of football. It’s horrible. Also, the drunken idiot factor is enough to keep me and my daughters away. I’ve been to 1 Vikings game and never again. It was horrible.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Oct 3, 2008 2:31 PM CDT 0 recs