Brent Musburger "Here's the truth about steroids: They work"

[n2doc]

Associated Press
Brent Musburger, the play-by-play man for some of college football's biggest games, told a group of college journalism students that professional athletes under a doctor's supervision could potentially use steroids to improve performance.

Musburger, on the lead announcing team for ABC and ESPN, told students at the University of Montana that steroids have no place in high school athletics, but they could be used in the pros under the proper care and doctor's advice.

"Here's the truth about steroids: They work," he said in a story reported by The Missoulian.

"I've had somebody say that, you know, steroids should be banned because they're not healthy for you," he told the students Tuesday. "Let's go find out. What do the doctors actually think about anabolic steroids and the use by athletes? Don't have a preconceived notion that this is right or this is wrong."

Musburger said negative stories about steroids are mainly the fault of "journalism youngsters out there covering sports got too deeply involved in something they didn't know too much about."

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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5656825

[Warpy]

1. You bet they do, but the cost can be huge

which is why their use should be discouraged.

[Johonny]

7. I'm not sure anyone knows the true cost

much of the horrible side effect studies come from studies on people from age groups that aren't in professional sports. Also the way the young use these drugs. The true cycling of drugs that go beyond simple steroids isn't really well known. I think it's pretty clear drugs are still in use in every sport and are used by many non-professional in the gym. In baseball people talked about smaller parks, the balls and the bats. In tennis it's the hard surfaces and the rackets, in golf it's the new balls and the clubs, etc... Seriously it's really hard not to notice the effect the rise of these drugs has had on performance. They work. But at what cost? We probably won't fully understand that until the current 30-40ish athletes go through life. There's already some basic signs (I.E. connective tissue issues), but liver, kidney, heart and cancer issue rate may be more long term issues. My guess is the cost is going to be really bad on a personal level (shorter life expectancy), but possible not horrible on a societal level (no increase in health costs because they die younger and faster). Sort of like people that use tobacco.

[derby378]

2. They work, but only up to a certain point

As medicine, they can be lifesavers. As performance enhancers, I don't see where the short-term benefits outweigh the long-term risks.

If I ever become one of those muscle-men you see on TV, I want to do it right. Exercise, a more sensible diet, and maybe a little help from Muscle Milk and MetRx. But no steroids. If I'm going to seek out organic milk, organic eggs, and organic food in general, why shouldn't my muscles be organic as well?

[tridim]

3. I was a candidate for steroid injections in my bum shoulder..

I passed, and did home physical therapy instead.

It worked, Perfectly.

Is that okay, Doctor Musburger?

[AngryAmish]

6. Different kind of steroid used in those kind of injections

Most likely a cortosteroid - reduces inflammation. Anabolic steroids are just male hormones - like testosterone. Estrogen and progesterone are also steroids but not considered to be performance enhancing.

[tridim]

8. You're right, I'm still glad I passed though.

Keeps my 20-year "No drugs unless absolutely necessary" streak alive. :)

[deaniac21]

11. Pharmacological Calvinist.

[Posteritatis]

12. Hee. (nt)

[Blue_Tires]

4. um...WHUT?

OF COURSE THEY WORK, MASHBURGER, otherwise so many athletes wouldn't have been taking them over the years...

[Javaman]

5. They work until you lose a kidney. Ask Arnold. nt

[Xithras]

9. Yes they work. Under a doctors care, they can even be safe. That's not the problem.

The real problem with steroids is simple: Some people want to play the "My body, my choice" card with steroids, but the argument doesn't work here. People who take steroids get stronger. You are playing in a competitive sport. The people you are playing against will suddenly be faced with a terrible choice...lose, or use steroids themselves to level the playing field. Suddenly, your choice to use steroids has forced dozens of others to use steroids, under the threat of unemployment (no team will put up with a failing player for long). Within a year or two, the entire LEAGUE is using steroids, with many players taking them against their will, because it's the only way to stay competitive.

The problem isn't "health risks", it's "unfair advantage".

[n2doc]

10. +1 n/t

[KittyWampus]

14. Thank You. Maybe we need two leagues in each sport- steroid and non steroid.

[Taverner]

15. +100

[walldude]

13. Yeah so does Arsenic but you don't see me using it...

Cocaine works, so does Heroin, Pot, LSD, Mushrooms, why don't athletes start taking Acid. Doc Ellis pitched a no hitter on LSD, imagine what a whole team of people tripping could do... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[flvegan]

16. Of course they work. One would have to be an idiot to think otherwise.

There is reasonable use and there's abuse. I don't know about other folks, but drop a $100 million contract in front of me and you bet I'd use if I had to.

Also, as I've made note of before, there are ways to use various legal supplements (widely available) that when stacked together will provide the same if not better results than a moderate cycle of anabolics.

[taught_me_patience]

17. Steroids are so 1990's

The new drug of choice is HGH. HGH grows permanent muscle fiber. If I had a choice... labor in triple A for years or get a $10MM contract to be in the big leagues, I'd take the roids.

[PCIntern]

18. BM rears his ugly head...

the biggest putz..(formerly)on......the NBA....onCeeBeeEss