Hopefully the State Leaves Hockey Alone

I do not give a damn if professional athletes take steroids. That is between the athletes and the leagues — employees and employers. So, Barry Bonds is being charged for lying to federal investigators and now Roger Clemens is considering going before a Congressional committee. Why are federal investigators investigating baseball in the first place??? It really does not concern the tax-payer and it is no business of the government. When used properly and under medical supervision, these same anabolic steroids are simply pharmaceuticals.

Make no illusions, everybody in the whole league — players, owners and fans — knows what is going on. This is business and entertainment. The court of public opinion and consumer choice is the only valid court for these issues.

Reading any hockey biography will reveal stories of illicit drug use. The stories are often the same: injuries on the ice followed by the need to take pain-killers (occasionally to immediately get back on the ice for the same game!) leading to dependence and then cocaine use. Cocaine can sometimes be considered a “performance enhancing” drug. It would not surprise me one bit if professional hockey players are exposed for having taken “performance enhancing” drugs next.

Hopefully Canadian tax-payers are not so dumb as to demand federal investigations into hockey.