PED's: Performance Enhancing Drugs

Performance Enhancing Drugs, also known as PED’s are substances used by athletes to improve their performances are a popular topic in sports theses days. More and more professional sports leagues have need taking this problem more seriously in the last few years. The attention has brought about more and better testing and more fines and suspensions. Unfortunately the problem is not only in professional sports, but also in college, high school and amateur sports as well. Every 4 years numerous athletes are disqualified from competing for their countries in the Olympics because of PED’s.

 The drug Adderall which main use was for kids with ADHD to help them focus is the new drug of use. College students have used it to help them with their studies. The prescription drug that can sharpen focus and hone impulse control has become popular in NFL locker rooms. At least seven of the players suspended for the 2014 season received their suspensions from the use of Adderall. It appears some NFL players are using and abusing the drug.

 

PED use hasn’t been more rampart than in the NFL and Major League Baseball. Every year, the NFL is cracking down on more players using PED’s and any illegal substances, including drugs such as marijuana. This year is no different; so far the league has already suspended some of the biggest names in the game for the 2014 season. Robert Mathis, outside linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts has been suspended 4 games, which will cost him over $705,000 in salary. Arizona defensive end Daryl Washington is suspended for the entire 2014 season and will loose over $3 million in salary. My hometown and favorite team the Miami Dolphins will loose last years first round draft pick, Dion Jordan for 4 games because of a positive test for PED’s. His suspension will cost him $123,000 in salary.

Substance abuse is also a problem with just as many suspensions as PED use. The majority of substance abuse suspensions come from positive marijuana tests and alcohol abuse and arrests. Cleveland Brown wide receiver Josh Gordon is suspended indefinitely for a third violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Gordon led the NFL in receiving with 1,646 yards during the 2013 season after being suspended for two games for a second positive test for marijuana. Josh Gordon has an appeal at the league offices in New York on August 1st. Gordon and his agent Drew Rosenhaus are hoping his suspension gets lowered. As it stands now he will miss the entire 2014 season.

“The Decision Part 2”

It has been 10 days since “The Decision Part 2” has been made and Lebron James is returning home to northeast Ohio. In an essay that was posted on SI.com Lebron addresses the reason why he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He says the reason for the essay is that he wanted to tell his side of the story uninterrupted. No press conference this time or a show dedicated to the decision broadcasted from the Boys and Girls Club, just an essay. What do you think about LeBron’s decision, what do you think about the way he did it and how long it took him?

 Of course Miami Heat fans are upset, feel used and dumped like an old girlfriend, but don’t forget what he brought to the City of Miami and the Miami Heat Franchise. The numbers don’t lie, 4 straight Eastern Conference Championships, 4 straight NBA Finals appearances and 2 back-to-back NBA Titles. Some think that Lebron would have left even if the Heat had won another title, me personally I don’t think so. You don’t leave where you’re winning championships. If many of us moved away from home to work in another city, would we go back home if we had a chance, especially if it wouldn’t hurt us financially? You should always be able to go back home and we shouldn’t be upset with LeBron James about that. Now what we can be upset about, and I say we because I am a Miami Heat fan, is the length of time he took to make the decision because that prevented Miami Heat President Pat Riley from possibly going after other free agents. As far as the essay is concern, the only problem I had is that he didn’t thank the Miami Heat fans. The South Florida community welcomed and embraced LeBron James and his family and treated them with love and respect. If he truly wrote that essay or if someone else wrote it, not thanking the Heat fans and South Florida is inexcusable.

We all know the saying, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and we saw plenty of smoke before LeBron made his decision. The first smoke was the rumor that Cleveland Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert’s plane was in south Florida, which we found out, was true. It was later revealed that LeBron James and Dan Gilbert met at the Rusty Pelican on Key Biscayne. There was a whole lot of smoke when there were moving trucks at his house and he had all his cars shipped back to Ohio. I thank him for 4 good years and 2 championships. Miami-Dade County is now Miami-Wade County again!

Is The Heat Back On?

The Heat is back on in Miami after a cool down period from the NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs soundly beat the Miami Heat. It’s time to reload. It started last week with the NBA Draft when Pat Riley selected Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier in the first around after trading up two spots to get him. Many say this was LeBron James’ pick because LeBron said Napier was his favorite college player from the NCAA Finals and in the NBA Draft. What do you think?

The free agent period began at 12:01 a.m. this morning, players can begin meeting and talking with teams, but they cannot sign contracts until the 10^th of July. The spotlight is on Miami because LeBron James can single-handedly change the whole landscape of free agency with his decision to stay with the Heat or go elsewhere. The Big 3, James, Wade and Bosh along with Udonis Haslem have all opted out of their contracts giving Miami roughly $55 million in salary cap space. This is very important because after resigning the Big 3, which will happen, the Heat will need the extra money to bring in other big name free agents. Pat Riley is the master at closing deals and is very good at motivating speeches. There is a 95% chance that Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison close the deal with any free agent they get in front of.

There are a few interesting free agents on the market, Carmelo Anthony, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, the Washington Wizards’ Marcin Gortat. The question is will Carmelo leave the bright lights and big money in New York for a chance to win a championship? It is more likely we will end up in Dallas or Chicago than Miami. Toronto is going to throw big money at Lowry for him to stay. Gortat is the big man that the Heat could use, but will Washington let their big man go after making the playoffs with their up and coming young team? Let me know what you think.