There are No Shortcuts in Life, or in Baseball

Ruth Ryan

Recently Nolan and I were discussing the changes that we have seen in baseball over the years, and he made the comment, “Baseball is just an extension of our society.” The problems that we all face today are the same problems found in the world of baseball, and because athletes are generally looked up to as role models, their problems tend to get magnified by the media. In the old days, some of baseball’s problems were caused by alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and gambling. Today’s culprit and cause of national scandal also involves anabolic steroid use. Just turn on the television or read the newspapers and you will probably see or hear some reference to steroid abuse in sports.

Steroids have been around a long time. Nolan first suspected that some players were using steroids to enhance their physique in the late 1970s. Certainly there are benefits to using some steroids for medical reasons, but 25 years ago the general public had little knowledge of the negative side effects of taking steroids. Today that is not the case. The physical, emotional and mental side effects are well-known and widely publicized.

Since the ‘70s, the problem of steroid abuse has worsened, especially in professional and non-professional athletics. Some of the contributing factors to this growing menace include greed, laziness, pressure, and the desire to keep up with others. The root of all this evil does seem to involve money—baseball players use steroids to enhance their abilities to make more. Baseball owners do nothing because they benefit from higher attendance and bigger interest in the game. The commissioner does not act because he is controlled by the owners. The problem trickles down to colleges and high schools where coaches have pressure from schools to win, and they risk losing their jobs if they don’t produce winners. Simply put, they are forced to compromise their standards. The impact filters down to high school and junior high school players leaving kids feeling like they have to use steroids in order to keep up with their competition. Society has turned its head rather than deal with these issues and the vicious cycle continues.

Pressure, competition and greed can be deadly combinations. Just ask Don Hooten whose son, Taylor, a 17-year-old high school baseball player from Plano, committed suicide from depression brought on after using steroids. Taylor’s high school coach told him that he needed to get bigger in order to improve his chances of making the varsity team. I can only imagine the terrible pain and suffering this family has endured. Don now spends his time trying to educate young people, parents and coaches about the dangers of steroids with his nationwide campaign.

In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, Nolan played on the Texas Rangers with Rafael Palmeiro, who testified last year before a televised Congressional hearing on steroid abuse in baseball, and with Jose Canseco, who wrote a book in which he openly admitted to using steroids as a player. Maybe this type of negative publicity will force the industry to make changes. Ignorance of a problem is one thing, but knowing the consequences and continuing to make poor decisions is just plain stupid.

Taking steroids is cheating. Unfortunately, in our society today, cheating has become the norm, and laziness and greed have become more prevalent. Generating personal numbers in sports has become more important than team effort. Taking shortcuts has become acceptable—why work out in a weight room three hours a day when one can apply cream or take an injection or pill for desired results? Compromising standards is also rampant in the business world. Just ask some former Enron employees!

I believe that it is our duty as parents, teachers, educators and caring citizens to speak out. Our first responsibility is to teach right from wrong. Then we must teach our children to be responsible and to accept the consequences of their actions. Third, we must stress that the quality of life…physical, emotional, and mental well being…is more important than money. Our two sons are now in the Minor League Baseball business, and their goal from the beginning was to bring wholesome and affordable family entertainment to their communities and to instill pride in their teams. They have certainly instilled our pride in them for being hard-working, productive and caring people who also give back to their communities. Baseball and life are “team sports.” Let us all work together to restore integrity to the game.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to look for Ruth Ryan’s thoughts and perspective as a contributing writer in upcoming issues of The Buzz.