The use of steroids in professional sports, specifically Major League Baseball, is a problem because the integrity of the sport can be tarnished. With many high-profile players being caught using this body enhancing drug, many people and fans argue that the credibility of all major league players is in jeopardy. This can also decrease the legitimacy of awards like the Golden Glove award or home run derby winners, because of the suspicion that a majority of players use steroids. Historically, many sports professionals have said that the hardest thing to do in professional athletics is hit a high speed baseball in the major leagues. Because of this, it will obviously generate a lot of suspicion toward a player who has been hitting a wild number of homeruns within one season. This was the case for Barry Bonds, a San Francisco Giants outfielder who was on the verge of breaking Babe Ruth's homerun record, when he was drug tested and found that he had been using a form of steroids while he was playing.
I believe a practical solution to this problem would be to drug test periodically and specifically look for these supplements that are in the players systems. Before all of these steroid issues came to surface in the late 1990's, there were little to no consequences for players using a certain steroid.
A research solution to this problem would be to investigate the real percentage of players in the MLB who are currently using or have used steroids in their playing career. There is a common misconception that all MLB players are juiced up but just haven't been caught.
For a media solution, I believe the media has already blown up this important issue and that it has been widespread enough to teach future players that using this drug has many negative effects on both the sport and the players own body. It probably wouldn't hurt to do raise more awareness in the interest of trying to eradicate the League of this issue.
1. What is the broader topic that the author proposes is a problem? The use of steroids is a problem in major league baseball.
ReplyDelete2. How does the author define that topic? State that definition here. Steroids are an unfair advantage and violators should be reprimanded.
3. Is there a readily identifiable thesis statement which states the problem and reasons in a because claim? Yes, there is but it doesn't use the word because.
4. How is the problem contextualized? (e.g. when the problem began, what has already been done regarding the problem, the consequences of the problem, etc.) The problem is contextualized through famous players using the illegal drug.
5. Is the problem topic specific and located in the smallest possible category? (e.g. cats > feral cats on UF’s campus) The problem is the right amount of specificity.
6. Is the problem unique? If the topic is popular (e.g. obesity, gun control, abortion), does the problem statement offer a new interpretation of the common problem? The problem isn't exactly unique, but it is still an entertaining subject.