Don't accuse an athlete of steroids just because. . .

It seems like every day the mediabreaks a story that another athlete has been caught using steroids. There is so much pressure on today's athletes to perform big, either for a huge contract or just to make the the big show.

We as fans, hate athletes that use performance enhancing drugs because we feel like they are cheating themselves, their teams, ourselves, and most importantly the sport. With steroids being such a big topic these days, we often accuse players of using drugs without any proof whatsoever. All we go on is our personal opinion that can often be blinded by our biases, or our misinterpretation of the facts.

Here are two of the WORST reasons to accuse an athlete of using steroids:

1. The athlete got bigger: This is 2008 and the way professional, and even amateur athletes train is completely different than it was 30,40, 50 or 60 years ago. Do you really think Babe Ruth was counting carbs or taking protein shakes? Also, lifting weights didn't become popular in the sports world until about the 70s or early 80s. It's no wonder football, basketball, and baseball players are bigger today. The other issue to address here is when an athlete gains a dramatic amount of weight during their playing career. We've all heard the accusations before about Alex Rodriguez, and Barry Bonds. Fans will point to how skinny they were when they broke into the big leagues and then show how big they are now. I hate this reasoning because it makes no since whatsoever. Just because a player has gained 25-40 pounds over the last 7,8 or even 15 years doesn't mean he's a steroid user. When A-Rod broke into the big leagues in 1994, he was 190 lbs and after 15 seasons he is 225 lbs. That's just 35 lbs over that span. I roomed with a basketball player last year in college and he went from 160 to 190 in just two semester, only using protein shakes, vitamins, and lifting weights. So it's not impossible.
2. The athlete's numbers improved dramatically: I'll agree this accusation is a little more legitimate than the first. However, I still wouldn't accuse someone of using steroids based on this alone. Look at a player like Jason Giambi, who is a admitted steroid user. In 2001 with Oakland, he hit 38 home runs but in 2006 with New York he still hit 37 home runs. That's was with 76 less at bats too. Meaning if Giambi was never honest (or caught) about his steroids use then we might never have guessed he was a user. Going in the opposite direction, Ken Griffy Junior hit 18 more HR in 1993 than he did the previous year and I don't think any of us would say Junior has taken steroids. Another dramatic example would be Andrew Jones. In 2004 he hit 29 HR and drove in 91. Next year, he hit 51 HR and drove in 128. Was that the result of steroids use? It goes to show that if you are a user your numbers still might not dramatically improve and if you are clean your numbers can dramatically improve. Just for a second, lets go outside the box here and look at Brett Favre's numbers. In 2005 and 2006 he averaged 19 TDs, and 23.5 INT. Last year he put up 28 TDs and just 15 INT while throwing for his most yards since 1998, and completed his highest amount of passes ever. And I remind you that was from a 38 year old QB.

 Many athletes are taking steroids, but at the same time many are not. Just because a player gains wieght or his numbers improve doesn't neccessairly mean he's cheating. There's nothing worse than a players efforts being short changed becuase of someone's baseless accusation.