I think Mike nailed it on the head here. The testing protocols, the list of banned substances and the penalties meted out are quite a bit more stringent in cycling than they are in the USA's big-three ball sports. To assume those sports are cleaner because fewer athletes are busted is simply false. Call it the power of the players' union.
Your implication that cheating is more common in cycling is an error created by a selection bias. Cycling tests for doping far more frequently and has tested for much longer. This alone creates the appearance the there is more doping in cycling. In other sports "if you don't look you don't find".
------Original Message------
From: chris
Sender: obra-bounces@list.obra.org
To: OBRA remailer
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Does the $$ lead to cheating??
Sent: Oct 9, 2010 10:40
Pro Cycling Tour Minimum Salary - $46,200
NBA Minimum - $457,588
NFL Minimum - $325,000
NHL Minimum - $450,000
MLB Minimum - $400,000
Obviously, salary is not going to make the big money. But with bonuses, endorsements and prize money, that figure can skyrocket. True with all sports, but one could argue the incentive to cheat would be less if you are making a bigger salary.
Does the current pro cycling structure promote the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in hopes of a big payout?
Discuss....
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Mike Murray - Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Google "A-rod drug use" as well as McGwire drug use'. Eachone has
different explanations
for the path that led them to use PEDs' The rationale for Cycling is no
different than
the rationale for other sports.
Part of it can be explained by a 'drug-based' culture that we live in.
Have a weight problem? Go get a pill.
Erectile Dysfunction? Get a blue pill.
Depressed? Get (any one of the many) prescriptions available in a pill.
This is the message that is broadcast on TV daily. There is also the
performance
issue. They used to be handled every Saturday morning by advertising
'PF Flyers'.
Who didnt want to run faster and jump higher? It is also an ego problem
(read A-Rod,
wanting to feel the need to 'justify' his inflated contract) or McGwire
wanting just
a little bit of an edge.
A Google search shows that there is a mixed-message about PEDs in other
areas of life
as well as sports. Quite simply, everyone is looking for an 'edge' over
their competitor
(face it: whether you are a baseball player, cyclist or a
stock-broker), everyone is
after that little bit to put them over the top. To beat out that person
immediately
ahead of you. Some options are legal: Hard work in the gym, classroom,
research lab. Some
are not: Steroids, Creatin. Others are being called in as
'questionable': i.e. nutritional
supplements (that contain additives such as ephedra, andro, and
others).
The Supplement Industry is a Billion Dollar/Year cash-cow. Whether it
be the form of vitamins,
sports nutrition. or even 'daily performance' additives (i.e. Red Bull,
Monster Energy Drinks).
The bottom line, IMHO, is that people want the quick fix. The path of
least resistance. As
a result, they will use a 'nutritional additive' in addition to normal
diet/exercise regimens
to improve their performance/outcome.
To answer the leading question if $$ leads to cheating? I respond 'Yes
and No'. Those who
respond in the 'Yes' fashion may have the type of personality in which
regardless of their
career, they would do whatever they can to be successful regardless of
the consequences.
Others, if given the "Sophie's Choice" - You can take 'nutritional
supplements' and win a
race/get a high draft position/win a championship but you will lose 10
years off your life.
will say 'No thank you'.
The question as well as the answer is as varied as that of Human
Nature.
Okay, putting my asbestos underwear on as I KNOW I will get flamed over
this.
Joe
On Sat, 9 Oct 2010 11:20:11 -0700, mohair wrote:
> I never heard of A-rod, McGuire, and all the other MLB drug users who
> got caught as having injuries that started them down the drug path.
>
> It's quite simple, really. Professionals are paid to win. The
> performance differences between pro athletes at the top of the pyramid
> are small. When you're competing against the best of the best, any
> edge, chemical or otherwise, is worth millions. Add the simple fact
> that the super-elite athletes are by definition competetive and you
> have a formula for drug abuse.
>
> On Oct 9, 2010, at 11:08 AM, Mike Kerkmann wrote:
>
> I think injuries start most athletes down the road of using
> "performance enhancing drugs" (aside from those trying to gain big
> muscles and bulk). I am not sure that $ and doping are as simply
> related as saying that bigger buck causes more or less use/abuse of
> banned substances.
>
> --- On SAT, 10/9/10, CHRIS __ wrote:
>
> From: chris
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Does the $$ lead to cheating??
> To: obra@list.obra.org [2]
> Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:40 AM
>
> Pro Cycling Tour Minimum Salary - $46,200
>
> NBA Minimum - $457,588
>
> NFL Minimum - $325,000
>
> NHL Minimum - $450,000
>
> MLB Minimum - $400,000
>
> Obviously, salary is not going to make the big money. But with
> bonuses, endorsements and prize money, that figure can skyrocket. True
> with all sports, but one could argue the incentive to cheat would be
> less if you are making a bigger salary.
>
> Does the current pro cycling structure promote the widespread use of
> performance enhancing drugs in hopes of a big payout?
>
> Discuss....
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I never heard of A-rod, McGuire, and all the other MLB drug users who got caught as having injuries that started them down the drug path.
It's quite simple, really. Professionals are paid to win. The performance differences between pro athletes at the top of the pyramid are small. When you're competing against the best of the best, any edge, chemical or otherwise, is worth millions. Add the simple fact that the super-elite athletes are by definition competetive and you have a formula for drug abuse.
On Oct 9, 2010, at 11:08 AM, Mike Kerkmann wrote:
> I think injuries start most athletes down the road of using "performance enhancing drugs" (aside from those trying to gain big muscles and bulk). I am not sure that $ and doping are as simply related as saying that bigger buck causes more or less use/abuse of banned substances.
>
> --- On Sat, 10/9/10, chris wrote:
>
> From: chris
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Does the $$ lead to cheating??
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:40 AM
>
> Pro Cycling Tour Minimum Salary - $46,200
>
> NBA Minimum - $457,588
>
> NFL Minimum - $325,000
>
> NHL Minimum - $450,000
>
> MLB Minimum - $400,000
>
>
> Obviously, salary is not going to make the big money. But with bonuses, endorsements and prize money, that figure can skyrocket. True with all sports, but one could argue the incentive to cheat would be less if you are making a bigger salary.
>
> Does the current pro cycling structure promote the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in hopes of a big payout?
>
> Discuss....
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
I think injuries start most athletes down the road of using "performance enhancing drugs" (aside from those trying to gain big muscles and bulk). I am not sure that $ and doping are as simply related as saying that bigger buck causes more or less use/abuse of banned substances.
--- On Sat, 10/9/10, chris wrote:
From: chris
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Does the $$ lead to cheating??
To: obra@list.obra.org
Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010, 10:40 AM
Pro Cycling Tour Minimum Salary - $46,200
NBA Minimum - $457,588
NFL Minimum - $325,000
NHL Minimum - $450,000
MLB Minimum - $400,000
Obviously, salary is not going to make the big money. But with bonuses, endorsements and prize money, that figure can skyrocket. True with all sports, but one could argue the incentive to cheat would be less if you are making a bigger salary.
Does the current pro cycling structure promote the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in hopes of a big payout?
Discuss....
_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
Pro Cycling Tour Minimum Salary - $46,200
NBA Minimum - $457,588
NFL Minimum - $325,000
NHL Minimum - $450,000
MLB Minimum - $400,000
Obviously, salary is not going to make the big money. But with bonuses, endorsements and prize money, that figure can skyrocket. True with all sports, but one could argue the incentive to cheat would be less if you are making a bigger salary.
Does the current pro cycling structure promote the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in hopes of a big payout?
Discuss....
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