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Vol. 6 No.3 OCTOBER 12th, 2006, Page 10 COMMENTARY: In defense of steroids with their bare hands. Once tors and nutritionists. KEN BUERGER Albert Spalding introduced Athletes are always looking STAFF WRITER the glove to the game, many to gain an advantage over Barry Bonds is at bat, 23 baseball veterans chose not to their competition. It is only homeruns shy of . breaking wear them. Those who had logical that steroids are the Hank Aaron's all-time home- grown up playing barehanded next step on this evolutionary run record. The blazing San called the use of padded process. Truth be told, games Francisco sun reflects off gloves "sissy" and accused are more exciting and fun to Bond's oversized helmet. those who used them as watch. The 1998 home run Sweat glistens on his massive, cheaters. Eventually the use of chase of Mark McGwire and tree-trunk forearms as Bonds a baseball mitt was accepted Sammy Sosa captivated the connects on a belt high fast- and became commonplace in nation and reinvigorated the ball, sending it eight rows the game of baseball. Today, popularity of baseball. deep into the right field" player's use gigantic, webbed Watching 250~pound behe- bleachers. Bonds drops his bat baskets to play the game. moths crush a baseball over ALYSE HOLLOMON EDITOR FEATURES and shuffles his colossal, In 1903, the first partici- 500 feet is entertaining. injury-ridden frame around pants in the Tour de France Barry Bonds will inevitably Tailgating is a long tradition on the Hill' for football the diamond. rode fixed-gear bikes that break Hank Aaron's record. games. Faculty, students, and alumni alike all come out to the Suddenly, bobbleheads weighed over thirty pounds. Many people want an asterisk Hill hours before the game to eat, drink. and reminisce about don't seem as unrealistic. Imagine the look on the 1903 placed by his name in the football pastimes and their lives now. You 'may even see a few Professional athletes these winner Maurice Green's face record books. These people people rolling down the hill! days with their huge muscles as today's peloton speeds by are hypocrites. They say Hank "My morn (who is an alumni) and I usually come up to and bloated heads will do on their fifteen pound, carbon Aaron did not take steroids. the area the Friday night before the game to spend the night at anything to gain the slightest fiber multi-speed racing bikes. Well, Hank Aaron and Barry a friends place so we can get an early start Saturday moroing." edge on heir opponents. Sports evolve. Athletes use Bonds played a 162 game said junior Sociology major Caroline Gannon. "We meet my There was a time where ath- technology to innovate the schedule, while Babe Ruth uncle who went here as well. We park our SUV in the end zone letes talked of hot dogs and game, finding new and excit- played only 154 games each area. We watch the parade, walk around campus, then we beer after a game. Nowadays, ing. ways to play. There was a yeah. Had Babe Ruth eight return to the car to watch the game. We walk around and talk words like "herbal supple- time that football players more games every season ov~r to people that they knew when they went here and that I ment", "protein shakes", "vit- wore padded leather helmets. a 21 year career, he would know. My uncle usually visits his fraternity tent." amins" and "steroids" are Now, football players wear have hit at least sixty more Letters of different college organizations are put on the commonplace in the locker. suits of armor that allow them homeruns. hills of the stadium. There is a competition for the best letters And what's wrong with to play with unprecedented The athletic community during the Homecoming game. that? If your favorite baseball speed and recklessness. needs to forget about banning "As for putting letters on the Hill, there is no real poli- player or cyclist were injecting Opponents of steroid use pe rfo r mance-e n h a nc ing cy," said Amanda Rose, Assistant Director of College themselves with elephant hor- argue that the practice is dis- drugs. They are impossible to Activities. "The expectation is that only college sponsored mones, how much would you honest and disrespects the his- test for and this entire anti- organizations will paint their letters on the field. Whatever is care? Is it unethical for ath- tory of the game. Babe Ruth doping process is frustrating painted must be appropriate and tastefuL As for the awards, letes to enhance their bodies did not use human growth and annoying. To say that an it currently is the Spring ICC dues that will be paid for the with chemicals and supple- hormones; Hank Aaron did athletes putting steroids in c~apter that wins the contest. To qualify for best letters on the ments? not have his own personal their body is wrong, but corti- hill, groups must also have a float in the homecoming parade." The answer is no, and his- trainer or take "ell-natural sone shots and vitamin sup- Homecoming is a time for alumnae to come back and tory will prove that. Steroids supplements. " plements are ok is contradic- check up on organizations they were in. This way the alumnae and artificial enhancements Where does one draw the tory and gives the public a c~ meet .the new members and catch up on what has been are part of the evolution of liner-Critics accuse athletes of mixed message about what is gomg on 10 these organizations. sport. cheating when they inject right and what is wrong. "To get ready for homecoming, the Omegas have a baby In baseball's early days, themselves with a chemical, Maybe next year I'll actual- blue and white tent," said junior Social Work major and mem- players played the game with- but nobody questions teams ly watch a baseball game if the ber of Alpha Nu Omega Angela Brudis. "But this year our tent out a glove, catching the ball for hiring their own chiroprac- Incredible Hulk is at bat. was missing a few legs so we had to put our heads together an~ try to make it work. We used duck tape all over the poles Students paraded down the street, ate mass quanti- w~ch ended up working but we had a rough morning trying to figure out how to put this tent together." in the wildness you got to partake Hopefully ties of weenies on the Hill, and Homecoming Homecoming this year! If not, make sure you catch of proved to be a mix of old and new traditions. ~~~;:~~~t!on the Hi.IInext year and all the preparations