Performance-enhancing drugs

            Ever since I started to play sports in middle school, I have always wanted to be the best, the strongest, and the most important player in any game.  I am not a big person nor am I a skinny guy either.  The average Army Soldier today is 5ft 8in, 176lbs.  Today, I am 5ft 9in and weight 182lbs.  Since it is a matter of national defense and life or death situation, it is my job to be in great shape and in good health all the time.  I must maintain my current weight and must be drug free so that I can be focused on doing my job to the best of my ability.  I must admit, I have been tempted and pressured a few times in my career to take performance-enhancing drugs, but I have never tried them for a good number of reasons. 

            When we hear the phrase “performance-enhancing drugs”, the first thing we mostly think about are steroids.  Steroids are a type of enhancements, but there are many other types of categories and classifications.  I remember many times as a child, I would hear stories about wrestlers and other athletes who were on top of their sports because they were using steroids.  Back then, it wasn’t a big deal as it is today.  One could just be told to stop using the enhancing drug and then nothing would happen, but in today’s world of sports, it would be a career ender.  I agree with today’s rules and regulations on performance-enhancing drugs because they are not safe at all.  No matter what it is you are taking them for, you will pay the consequences in the future. 

            Not all performance-enhancing drugs are for sports figures or for gaining satisfaction purposes, but some can be used for medical reasons.  One might think that all painkillers are the same, but some can hide and kill the pain so that you could perform as if you don’t have an injury or an illness.  Even drugs to control your nerves could be a type of performance-enhancing drug.  In 1999, Barry Bonds, one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game suffered an elbow injury which would take a while to heal.  No big deal since that was a pretty common injury in baseball, but he would be back in the game in no time because he had taken some performance-enhancements to allow him to heal faster.  Later, we would learn that the injury was more serious that what anyone thought.  According to reports in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Kimberly Bell, who says she dated the ballplayer for nine years, told the jury in Bonds’ perjury trial that baseball’s home run champion blamed a 1999 career-threatening elbow injury on his steroid use.  The drugs ‘somehow caused the muscles and tendons to grow faster than they could handle and (the elbow) somehow blew out,’ Bell said Bonds told her after the 1999 baseball season.”  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/28/MNMR1IKVC3.DTL Not all cases dealing with enhancing drugs are so hidden that it would take an injury to finally admit to using them, but in some cases they are quite noticeable. 

            Bodybuilding is a sport that has always caught my attention because of the beauty of how the body can become.  I have been lifting weights for the past 7 years and have not notice much change in the way I look.  As stated before, I have came close to taking enhancements such as steroids because I had reached my limit in to how much I could lift and how much my muscles could grow.  I was not happy on how I looked or felt.  I wanted to be the best I could be and at that time, I knew that I could do better.  As I pondered the thought to use steroids, I would remember what my wife Janie, had told me years ago. “Babe, do you really think it is worth it and do you really know what you are doing.”  The answer was no, I had no idea what I was doing and I didn’t think it was worth it.  I had already done some research on steroid use and was just surprised to learn what I had read.  Today, some people think that I am or were at one point taking steroids because of the way I look. Like I mentioned before, I am not a big guy and I am not the strongest either.  I could understand why someone might think that I am on an enhancement, but after you get to know me and after you have done some research on performance-enhancing drugs, you would know that there is no way I have or will do that stuff.  I have had the honor and privilege to meet some of the world’s best sports athletes and trust me, I could tell you who is on the “enhancements” and who is not.  A picture can tell you a thousand things, but it could also be misleading.  It is not until you see it for yourself that you will start to understand and believe the story behind the photo.  I have a few pictures of me beside some of these sports icons and by comparing me to them in statue, well you could think whatever you may want. 

            The consequences to taking performance-enhancing drugs are just not worth it in my point of view.  They are not only wrong to take, but could be a career ender or even life ending situation.  Like I said before, I have been in the Army for 14 years and if I was taking steroids, I would have been kicked out for sure.  I love to be in great shape, but I will not go out of my way to do whatever it is that I have to so that I can excel in my body and performance.  I do take substances such as vitamins and protein supplements, but these are never classified as performance enhancers.  Very few people should be using performance-enhancing drugs, but only under the care of a physician and for a limited time only. 

Williams, Lance (2011, March 29) Barry Bonds’ ex says he discussed steroid use. <http://www.sfgate.com

De Los Santos, Janie. Personal interview. 24 August 2005






Here are a few pictures of a few "meat heads"...
I am pictured with them so that you can see how big of a difference they are.  You can make  you own conclusion and decide whether or not they are using "performance-enhancing drugs.


  

Mr. Olympia and I in 2009- Fort Hood,Tx

                                                                                              

Texas Shredder and I in 2011- Lubbock,Tx

Dave Goodin- Texas Shredder
5'8, 178 lbs

Jay Cutler - Mr. Olympia
5'9, 275 lbs

Me at first contest in 2007
5'9, 165 lbs

                            

Response to Brad Shaw

  As a fellow soldier myself, I can relate to what Brad Shaw is talking about when it comes to the Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell (DADT) Law.  However, I don’t support this repeal disagree for a number of reasons.  There have been gay, lesbian, or bisexual service members that have served this country for many years and it isn’t until just now that they can come out in the open.  While it is true that open service members do not undermine military readiness, troop morale or national security, I do believe that it will affect job performance and cohesion.    Understanding that we all have a job to do, having the right person at the right place is critical in my eyes. 

   I have been in the Army for 14 years and I have seen just about everything.  I have had the experience in working with homosexual right beside me in both garrison and at war.  Having to participate with training and real life and death situations you would think that it wouldn’t matter what their sexual orientation are, but trust me, it does.  For an Infantry Soldier like myself, I have no time for the consideration of others when dealing with feelings and issues out of the ordinary.  It is already hard to begin with just dealing with regular or soldier like problems, much less having to deal with same sex issues, living conditions, and considerations towards others. In all honesty, I don’t mind working with homosexuals, but if and only if we can accomplish the mission all the same.  Couldn’t really get too involved with this topic since I am still on active duty.  The only thing we can do is deal with the change that is here and make the best of it.  I do believe in equal opportunity and show respect towards others.       

Amnesty

   Having both parents that were born and raised in Mexico, I can relate to what millions of Mexicans are going through: both here in the U.S. and across the border.  Why do many people risk their lives to come illegally to the United States?  That my friends is the million dollar question.  For years, this country has been arguing with itself on the laws on whether or not to allow amnesty to those who are "undocumented aliens."   It is only a fraction of those aliens that are breaking the law and causing resentment for many American citizens.  It is not fair to the many millions of other Mexicans that are here undocumented to have to be deported because they have not done anything wrong.  The only thing most are doing is helping their families by getting out of poverty and displacement.  Their country has pushed them to the limit that they have no choice but to cross the border and seek a better way of living. 
   It's true, "they have broken the law" says John F. Kavanaugh, but "let us be vigilant and charitable" as well.  Why can't we instead take them in and help them with food and water, and other resources that we as Americans take for granted.  Even though they have been here for many years and have had children born in the U.S., we are still trying to push them back to their country.  A strange place that has forgotten them and will show no mercy.  Here in the U.S. both political and church officials have gotten involved so much that it is threatening communities, schools and work places.  From unable to hire or unwanting to hire because of their legal status, most Americans are afraid to make a decision based on what they think the law says, not by what is the right thing to do.  Yes, the law is the law, but how far are you willing to go to see a poor family starving with no shelter or even clothes on their back.  Let's not forget "the Good Samaritan" or of the "least of our brothers and sisters" in Matthew 25.
   To me, amnesty is the answer if and only if the person is in good standing with the law and someone who contributes to  the community and their family.  For many years now, the United States has been securing it's border but with little or no protection.  We should not worry about illegal immigration more than other concerns such as the war on drugs.  So next time you see or hear about an undocumented  person, think twice about how you get your food or you who prepares it for you to eat.



Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. Writing Arugments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 8th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. Print

FOUND IT..

OK, I found the book that we need for this class....now going on vacation during Spring Break and hope to you guys when we start next week....

Looking for books

Just completed my first class with OU..... looking forward to getting started with this class... One problem, I can't seem to find the book/books for it.  Can anyone help?.... Lets get start on the right foot. Later.

lets go

Hope to start here soon. Still need to complete another class.