Written Analysis 3

Cody Smith

Popular Culture

Professor Whitney Isles
July 23, 2014

            As we know many athletes are the heroes and role models of many.  Athletes of every sport have fans of all ages who look up to them and love to watch them perform.  As the fans of these famous athletes stay on top of the every move of their favorite athletes the controversy that steroids has produced weighs heavily on the attitudes towards athletes.  The athletes are celebrities and are exploited every time an athlete admits to ever using a steroid or performance enhancing drug (Browne, 2005). 

            It seems once that the athletes are brought out into the light and are viewed as cheaters and potentially addicts and liars they aren’t looked in the same light as they once were.  Athletes on the professional level are viewed as super human almost being able to perform tasks that most cant.  For example, Mark McGwire who seemed to ever so easily launch a baseball out of any ball park against any pitcher is now a batting coach and considered cheater by some fans because he admitted to using a steroid during his playing career.  This is the same situation among many others such as Jose Conseco, Roger Clemens, Ryan Braun, and many others("The Steroids Era - MLB Topics - ESPN", 2012,) . 

            Tabloids and the mainstream media exploits these athletes during entire investigations or throughout the time period that allegations surface.   Lance Armstrong a professional cyclist who seemed super natural is seemed to be humiliated constantly and dropped by sponsors because of his admission of drug use which caused him to metaphorically fall from the top of the world.  Many pro wrestlers who have died at a young age and their deaths have been pointed towards steroid use are a poor example to the children who admire them.  

            All children moralize baseball players, wrestlers, football players, and many other famous athletes as they almost seem like super heroes and as they grow older they learn that steroid use contributed to their success.  This promotes the message that as they grow and develop and become involved with sports performance enhancing drugs are a necessity to success. 

                                                                       References

The Steroids Era - MLB Topics - ESPN. (2012, December 9). Retrieved July 23, 2014, from                 http://espn.go.com/mlb/topics/_/page/the-steroids-era

Browne, R. B. (2005). Profiles of popular culture: A reader. Madison, WI: The University of        Wisconsin Press. ISBN: 0-87972-869-8.