The latest chapter in sports seems to center around the use of PED’s, performance enhancing drugs.  From Barry Bonds to Roger Clemens to Lance Armstrong, it seems that our sports heroes have not only been cheating, but lying through their teeth about it. 

I listened to Roger Clemens on The Dan Patrick Show, which is the best sports talk show on TV.  (He gets the nod over the Friday Night Flash Overtime show with Jeff Duncan and Paul Kingsbury only because they are not on TV!) In his interview, Roger said that Barry Bonds belonged in the Hall of Fame.  Not a surprising answer from a guy who also wants in the Hall, despite the overwhelming majority of people thinking he is guilty.  When he was asked if he belongs in the Hall of Fame, Clemens answered that it wasn’t up to him, and if some voters want hold a grudge against him, there was nothing he could do about it.  Let’s suppose for a minute that he is truly innocent and has been accused wrongly.  If that was you, wouldn’t you say that you deserved in the Hall because you never cheated?  I surely would.

When asked about PED’s, Clemens said that they do not help you get better in sports.  When those words left his mouth, I knew that he was a guilty as sin, and I would bet my life, house, and first born on it.  Any reasonable person knows they help you.  It is a scientific fact they not only increase muscle fiber per square inch, but they also help you recover faster from fatigue and injury.  To say they don’t help you is clearly putting one’s head in the sand and refuting the obvious.  Why would he say such a ridiculous statement?  Because he is guilty, that’s why.  He’s trying to put all these facts on the back burner and hopefully make them go away.

Ask Lance Armstrong if they go away.  They don’t.  And is spite of the hope and joy he gave thousands of cancer patients, he would serve them even better if he would just come out and admit that he cheated.  Dozens of his teammates have said he cheated, and so did his ex-girlfriend, Sheryl Crow.  If you believe Armstrong is innocent, I would just ask you one question:  why did all his teammates and girlfriend make up lies about him?  They had nothing to gain from it, but Armstrong obviously has reasons to lie. 

Each time I hear that these people belong in the Hall of Fame, I cringe and get angry.  One sports guy suggested a separate wing in the Hall of Fame for the cheaters.  As a teacher, I try and instill much more in my students than the science I teach them. Integrity, honor, and honesty are a few traits that come to mind.  When kids are young and forming their future personalities, how do you think they would react to known cheaters reaching the highest shrine in sports, the Hall of Fame?  What kind of a message are we sending to our young athletes who look up and emulate their sport heroes as role models? 

It seems that in America, we forgive and forget your sins as long as you win.  Bobby Knight could choke and kick his players, but since he was a great coach and won championships, we look the other way.  Had he lost, we would have criticized him for abusing kids and fired him. 

Enough is enough.  When we test these athletes and they get caught, impose even harsher penalties: one year for the first offense, and a lifetime ban for the second.  And if you get caught even once, the Hall of Fame is gone forever.  After all, it is called the Hall of Fame for a reason.  If the cheaters make it in, they will need to change the name to the Hall of Shame.