Steroid story a case study of situational ethics

Miami Herald ^ | Wed, Mar. 08, 2006 | DAN LE BATARD

[Perdogg]

We're so arbitrary with our judgments in sports. Kirk Gibson hits a famous home run doped up on cortisone, a steroid, and we cheer for the artificial courage that muted his body's screaming. Not a performance-enhancer? Well, it certainly enhanced that performance, which wouldn't have been possible without medical help.

Jim Haslett claims the 1970s Steelers were on steroids, but that doesn't seem to bother us so much. We care about baseball's sacred numbers more, and we don't like so much that polarizing Barry Bonds is chasing gentleman Hank Aaron, so we scream about the integrity of one game being contaminated while shrugging

[Perdogg]

I don't agree with this 100%, but interesting none of the less.

[Ditto]

Let's say you are an accountant, mailman or secretary. And there are two people in your business who aren't as good as you are (Let's call them Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa) getting a lot more rewards because of some secret potion, powder or pill that isn't against the rules of your workplace.

Now we know why they go "Postal" ---- The Roids did it!

[Perdogg]

What abour pitchers who get laser eye surgery?

[gate2wire]

"You aren't going to go looking for that secret elixir that might make you better and add five years of money to your career? You are going to fall behind your competition by applying ethics? If so, good for you. You are a noble person. And, rather literally, a loser."

Complete drivel. If you don't cheat you're a loser?
Guy's gotta be a 'Rat.

[NYCVirago]

Is there any sportswriter who is more of a suckup apologist for athletes, particularly minority ones, than Dan LeBetard? I can't think of one. Besides, how ridiculous is it for him to complain about people "judging athletes"? Dude, you're a sports columnist -- your entire profession is based on judging athletes!