They were two of the countries most revered athletes, but within one week of each other Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez were exposed in dual scandals. The choices they made and the actions they took have left the nation, athletes and those responsible for athletics at the high school level considering the fall out of each circumstance.
“When people think of baseball, they think of cheaters now,” said disappointed junior and varsity baseball player Bill Getschman. “It makes me want to be a better player without that stuff.”
“I’m sure those who aren’t involved with baseball just see the sport being dominated by cheaters,” agreed senior and varsity baseball player Tyler Haggerson.
On February 9, 2009 Rodriguez authenticated reports made by Sports Illustrated days earlier saying that he was among 104 baseball player who tested positive in the initial substance tests since the 1991 ban on performance- enhancing drugs.
Until then, however, Rodriguez had firmly denied all involvement in steroid use even as other players mentioned him in their admissions.
“A-Roid is an idiot” said senior and varsity baseball player Garrett Moscow, “using enhancing drugs is the best way of cheating, not only to the sport but also to you.”
Disappointment in Rodriguez is running high, all the way to the highest office in the nation.
“If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball [Rodriguez’s admission] tarnishes an entire era to some degree,” said President Barack Obama, in his first presidential press conference on February 9, 2009.
Because of the 104 athletes on the list, the rest of professional baseball’s players are bearing the back-lash.
“I kind of lost my respect for the players,” said Getschman, “they lose the desire to compete.”
However tainted professional baseball may be by performance- enhancing drugs, administrators to Seaholm agree that it’s highly unlikely in the high school arena.
“I am not naïve enough to say that it has never happened,” said Seaholm athletic director Aaron Frank, “but I think the incidents are few and far between.”
Likewise, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has few concerns about performance-enhancing drugs at the high school level and has deemed testing unnecessary based on studies performed at the University of Michigan.
“Testing is a waste of time, a waste of resources, a waste of money and a waste of everything that goes into it,” said Communications Director for the MHSAA John Johnson.
Moscow, Haggerson and Getschman all agreed that performance-enhancing drug use was not in their best interests and that they have no interest in experimenting, even less so after seeing the shadow recent controversies have cast over baseball.
“Steroids can screw up your body in the long run and I see no real positives it could bring me” said Haggerson.
While baseball observers were let down, others were more focused on Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps’ than Rodriguez’s controversial admission.
“[Recreational substance use] has always been an issue with the general student population,” said Johnson.
With Phelps’ unintentional endorsement of recreational substance use, it’s a concern that students will be further encouraged to experiment.
“My first fear was the impact on young athletes,” said Frank. “I am concerned that many high school students believe something like - He’s the fastest swimmer of all time and he smokes pot, it can’t be so bad.”
“Phelps is the man,” said senior water polo player Alasdair Boyle, warranting Frank’s concern.
Boyle wasn’t the only Seaholm student who confirmed Frank’s fears after Phelps’ marijuana pipe photo op.
“I think that it’s kind of cool,” said junior swimmer Juliana Bada. “It shows he’s like everyone else, he’s just a super fast swimmer.”
Eight other people who were at the party where Phelps was pictured with the bong have been arrested for their involvement, and while Phelps has not been arrested, he has lost his endorsement deal with Kellogg’s and his swimming stipend from USA swimming.
“I’m not very surprised,” said senior swimmer Lauren Nichols. “I just think it’s stupid. He just threw away all his sponsorships.”
Phelps isn’t the only one losing opportunities, either.
“More than a few Seaholm students who have missed out on some of the biggest games of their seasons – or lost the honor of being a captain over this type of poor choice,” added Frank.
In his press conference, our nation’s new president left the country with one thought. While he was speaking of the baseball situation could easily be applied to Phelps and the world’s athletes.
“Your integrity is not worth it,” said Obama.
