Steroid debate

Aggies sound off on performance enhancers

By: Brad Cox

Posted: 4/10/08

George J. Mitchell has spent his life in the political world, but on Dec. 15, 2007, the sports world had its eyes on him. On that day, Mitchell released a 409-page report that contained the names of 89 professional baseball players who allegedly used steroids.

Among those names were award winners, all-stars, World Series victors and even former Texas A&M students.

"I can't be na've about it," A&M junior first baseman Luke Anders said. "There are people out there using steroids. But I was surprised."

Steroids are a synthetically produced testosterone that fosters muscle growth and increases muscle mass. It is believed that professional baseball players were taking substances to improve their ability as far back as the 1970s.

In the book The Cheater's Guide to Baseball by Derek Zumsteg, former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom House is quoted as saying: "We didn't get beat, we got out-milligrammed. And when you found out what they were taking, you started taking them."

However, the advantage one might gain from the use of steroids is offset by the side effects. Along with psychiatric problems, users can expect cardiovascular and liver damage.

"I think it's sad that people have to put their health at jeopardy to gain an advantage at some point in their career," A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said. "It's sad that the pressure of trying to be successful has made people make the decision that could affect the rest of their life. It's disappointing."

Former Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report with specific examples of injections by personal trainer Brian McNamee. Since the release of the report, Clemens has adamantly denied the claims, even during a congressional hearing in February.

"I love Clemens, and I think he's one of the best," said Aggie pitcher Blake Rampy, a devout Astros and Nolan Ryan fan. "I hope he's telling the truth. I don't know what to think about it all. I think it's a problem in baseball. So many people have done it. They just need to move on and play the game again and get to where their testing is good."

Anders said he was interested to find out who would be named, but was still surprised when the report was released. He agreed that the steroid issue is a problem in baseball.

"I think it's something they have to fix," Anders said. "It's just not good for the sport and shines a black light on it."

Childress is in his 18th year as a collegiate coach and third year as head coach at A&M. He said that young players look up to the major leaguers and that when the major leaguers take steroids, it reflects badly.

"It all rolls downhill," Childress said. "We always tell our players that little eyes are on you. Everything that you do, kids' eyes are on you whether you think so or not. Whether you want them on you or not, you're a role model and a hero to younger people."

Rampy said that getting away with steroid use at the Division I NCAA level would be nearly impossible.

"I've been tested quite a few times in five years," Rampy said. "We have random school testing, random Big 12 testing and random NCAA testing. You're available to get tested at any time during the year."

Rampy said that the school testing is the most frequent. They are tested at the beginning of each semester, then randomly throughout the rest of the semester. He said that a player has to sit out an entire year if he is caught - no matter what."It's very strict," he said. "Even being injured, I was still available to be tested."