December 1
...serving up your daily dish.
Earlier this week, we were tipped off to this article about our acting governor's beliefs that there should be steroid testing, in "some form," in the state's high schools. I'm guessing there are a lot of legal hurdles to get to that point, but considering that steroids are already illegal, that might not be that big of a problem.
What do you think, loyal Barista readers? Do we see a need for testing in high schools for sports players, or is this just going a little crazy? If you're interested in learning more about this, you can try and get your way into the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center today from 4 to 9 pm, where WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show will be live, with Governor Codey present, to have a town hall meeting on this subject and a number of others.
And, because we love the Daily Show so much, we ask you to make sure and view this short segment where Codey is interviewed by Jason Jones, who's all about the new slogans the state is considering. [Thanks, MyManMisterC, for the Daily Show tip!]
December 1, 2005 in Controversy | Permalink
Yes, I sure want the state to intrude further in our kids' lives. Let's test their urine, their blood, their hair. Let's breathalyze them. Let's breathalyze their teachers. Hey! Let's breathalyze all our elected officials -- that should be fun.
Meanwhile, let's be sure to let the recruiters in to the schools to persuade them they ought to sign up to fight for our freedom. Kids are dumb -- they'll never see the contradiction.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Posted by: Uranus | Dec 1, 2005 11:23:12 AM
Recently there was a news story about a phone call hoax that had fast food employees strip searching teen female employees under the guise that the police were on the phone, saying the teen committed a crime. Here’s a link for more detail.
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1297922&page=1
When I saw that story I was shocked at how much the one teen victim being interviewed did not know about her rights. I'm not saying she is at all to blame for what happened to her, but I do blame us - the adults in society - for deciding that teens don't have the same rights and can be drug tested, have lockers or persons searched, etc. by anyone at anytime. (Parents are the exception to my upset, my mom searched my purse everyday after school.)
Is there a steroid problem that drug testing would solve? Am I missing part of a bigger issue? Do high school athletes have more influence or access to steroids then before? And if we want to test athletes – what about those guys getting paid millions? Shouldn’t we test them as the role models for teen athletes?
Posted by: hrhppg | Dec 1, 2005 11:37:49 AM
A buddy of mine went to Kansas St in the fall of 1969 on a football scholarship and the first day in the weight room were bowls of colored pills with each color representing a different steroid for the part of the body you needed to develop. There have been countless studies where young men have overwhelmingly said they'd give up 10 yrs of their life because of steroid use if they could win an olympic gold medal or be elected to a sports hall of fame.
Posted by: The Iceman | Dec 1, 2005 11:49:23 AM
And I seem to remember one of those football films from the 1970s showed all the amphetamines and painkillers the pro players had access to. Not only had access to, but were urged -- required -- to use so the team could get its day's work for its day's (exorbitant, admittedly) pay.
Posted by: ginger | Dec 1, 2005 11:52:17 AM
"North Dallas Forty." Nick Nolte and Mac Davis. Good movie, better book. Written by Pete Gent who played for the Dallas Cowboys. More about amphetamines than steroids, but that's what was going on then.
I heard the Governor say that the acknowledged statistic is that only 5% of the scholar athletes are using steroids, but he believes it may be higher. I agree. If these drugs are illegal and provide an unfair advantage, then random testing is an answer. Educate the kids about the evils of the drugs, but also create the peer pressure that if you test positive, the school forfeits the game and sits down for the rest of the season or more. And it's all your fault. No one wants to be that goat.
Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Dec 1, 2005 12:45:22 PM
Crazy! Where do you stop? Do you test them for alcohol too? How about STDs? Surely a kid with an STD poses even more of a threat to others than a kid on drugs right? Oh please!
If anyone will test my kids it will be me.
It makes me laugh that the same people who don't want things like sex ed taught to their kids, because that's something that should be dealt with at home, are often the same ones that say blood test all kids for their own good.
Posted by: State Street Pete | Dec 1, 2005 1:35:01 PM
"It makes me laugh that the same people who don't want things like sex ed taught to their kids, because that's something that should be dealt with at home, are often the same ones that say blood test all kids for their own good."
Good point, State Street.
PS...I have never had kids so I probably should recuse myself from any comments on parent/child issues.
Posted by: The Iceman | Dec 1, 2005 1:45:19 PM
"It makes me laugh that the same people who don't want things like sex ed taught to their kids, because that's something that should be dealt with at home, are often the same ones that say blood test all kids for their own good."
When has the Acting Governor ever come out against sex ed?
Posted by: Bitpusher | Dec 1, 2005 2:05:22 PM
Although one might justify the random testing of ahtletes by a league for using steroids for the same reason that one might test the bill of the pitcher's hat for grease, I don't see why the Acting Governor wants to test everyone else. That is extremely intrusive, to say the least.
Posted by: Bitpusher | Dec 1, 2005 2:14:08 PM
I agree bitpusher it is intrusive - and we then send kids a message that anyone in a position of power is allowed to be intrusive.
The girl in the news story I mentioned said that she didn't question why she was being stripped searched because her manager - a person in charge who she trusted - was telling her to strip.
We tell kids to make a scene when a stranger approaches them for their own safety- we should also tell them they have a right to question authority, as long as the authority isn't mom or dad.
Posted by: hrhppg | Dec 1, 2005 2:29:13 PM
Bit, I wasn't really thinking of Codey in this case. I assume he is for quality sex ed. I was referring to the grand "they" that is so very handy in making mass generalizations (like the one I made).
You and hrh are on the money above.
Posted by: State Street Pete | Dec 1, 2005 4:24:41 PM
Question authority with respect, self control, and with some grace-Steroids kill and bring on long term problems, and even possibly transferring blood desease, drugs of other sorts do the same, as well as alcohol.
If there is reason to suspect that a child is using any of the above there is reason for testing. Whether you feel it is intrusive, or not it might save a life, maybe your own child.
Posted by: cstarling | Dec 2, 2005 9:48:12 PM
"Let's breathalyze all our elected officials -- that should be fun."
Might clear out half the House & Senate!
Posted by: Miss Martta | Dec 3, 2005 12:29:54 PM
