Baseball is no longer the popular sport that it once was. Author Jarod Kintz compares the sport to his cat looking out of a window. He says "I watch baseball on TV like my cat watches the window. Somebody open the blinds so we can see better" (Kintz). Opening these blinds means making the sport more interesting to watch. Steroids are the metaphorical opening of these blinds. The players that use these enhancers are the one that fans love and want to watch. The most recent steroid allegations took the most popular players out of the sport for a whole year. Some of these players are the most famous names in the sport; some of the list is Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz, and Melky Cabrera. The list goes on and on, and each of these players was taken away from the game they love. Steroids should be legalized to bring the fun to the game that these players bring every game. Researching the rule on steroids in the MLB reveals that a change would be beneficial because it will allow for a more interesting game, better benefits for the players, and more money for the league as a whole.

Steroids have been a part of sport for a long time. Enhancers have been in use by professional athletes since the third Olympiad (Savulescu, Foddy, and Clayton). In this Olympic games Thomas Hicks won a marathon after he received a strychnine injection, which is a type of enhancer (Savulescu, Foddy, and Clayton). Even the earliest of athletes used some kind of enhancers to propel them into success. This behavior continues into all of the sports today. Whether you look into track, soccer, baseball, etc. they are all using performance enhancers to better their game. The use of drugs is even becoming more effective (Savulescu, Foddy, and Clayton). Most of the players that use these drugs are the best in their respective league. It is almost as if a player has to do it to become a star, and have the fame that they want. Steroids is becoming a necessity is todays sports.

Most of the reason for the rule on steroids is the risk factors when they are used. There have been numerous articles written on the different risk factors, and how athletes decide to use enhancers. Specifically, an article about steroid use in men explains why people choose to use steroids instead of deciding against it. Most of the reason that people chose to use enhancer is because they were not happy with themselves (Brower, Blow, and Hill). This is true with nearly everyone that uses steroids, whether it be an athlete or just someone trying to get bigger in the gym. The main reason for the use of enhancers is to get the outcome that is desired. It is almost as if it becomes an addiction. The article compares the use of steroids to cigarettes and other tobacco products (Brower, Blow, and Hill). It is as if someone will use steroids once, and then it will become a habit that they cannot stop. Steroids will then become a necessity, and that is when it begins to effects people's life in a negative way. Understanding the reason that people use steroids will help to comprehend the reasons that they should be allowed in sports. 

There is an entire article on understanding why athletes use performance enhancing drugs. This article gives deterrents like fines, suspensions, and guilt (Peter and Boeckmann). These things are all put into a chart that shows the negative things that players take into consideration. Along with the negative aspects, the article include positive things like money, endorsements, and enhanced careers (Peter and Boeckmann). All of these things are put into a flowchart to illustrate the thought process of athletes. The results of this article is that athletes go through all of the negative and positive aspects, and then make their decision on whether or not to use them. That is an important point; they make their own decision. The use of steroids should be their decision. It is their career on the line, not the leagues. Athletes will usually look more into the positive aspects, and that is what will influence their decisions.

Although a player nearly has to use enhancers, many people are still against it. They fail to see that the players have the greatest desire to succeed, and are willing to do whatever they have to, to gain that success. The people that can see the athlete's side of the story, and understand why they use enhancers, are the ones that are the biggest supporters of steroid use. These people see the ways that the sport could become better and more fun to watch. The supporters are hard to come by because so many people are against it. Most of the supporters are the ones that have seen that baseball has declined and want it to become the sport it use to be. The two sides of the argument are polar opposites and it will take a lot of debating to come to an agreement that both will like. Even though that is true, the rule will eventually be changed.

People are becoming less amused by the sport of baseball because they say that it is boring, or has no action. These people tend to like the game when there is great plays or homeruns. The players that take steroids bring these things to the game. Writer and comedian Andrew Nackerud thinks that these players should be applauded for making baseball watchable (Nackerud). With the current rules that are in place, it makes it impossible for performance enhancers to increase the interest in the sport. Players are trying their best, but fans still do not see the fun in the game. Baseball was very entertaining in the 1800's, but overtime it has become less and less of a sport that people enjoy to watch. Nackerud also says "America needs baseball to grow up and get with the times. Students take Adderall to study harder and get better grades, adults drink coffee to stay awake and make money, rappers pop molly and sweat to sell more records" (Nackerud). He is trying to say that everybody uses some kind of enhancer, whether it be something like Adderall or coffee, to increase their performance. These things are not illegal, so why can baseball players not enhance their game? There is really no difference between a college student using Adderall to increase their study performance and a baseball player using steroids to increase his playing performance.  Baseball needs to get with the age of enhancers and change the ruling that forbids them in the sport.

It is becoming more of a commonplace for athlete in baseball, and all other sports, to use some kind of performance enhancer. The media has been harassing all of the athletes that have been caught or are suspected of using steroids. One of the last incidents was with Alex Rodriguez and Major League Baseball. It was said that he used steroids as early as high school, and continues to use HGH, a form of steroids, with his current team the Yankees ("Baseball's Steroid Scandals"). The league revealed that Rodriguez and 104 other players tested positive for steroid use ("Baseball's Steroid Scandals"). These accusations were detrimental to all of the player's careers. It even landed Rodriguez a full year suspension. These players were of no harm to themselves or anyone else. This rule did not protect anyone, it only hurt the players. If the league allowed enhancers the rest of the players would be even with these 105 that got caught. Most of the players that use performance enhancers do not get caught, so it would make no difference if the rule was in place or not. Major League Baseball would be a more popular attraction to everyone because these players that got in trouble brought the fun to the game. That fun consist of homeruns, great plays, and all around talent. Baseball is only hurting itself with the ban of enhancers, and should change the rule to further advance the sport.

An article in Men's Fitness talks about different aspects of steroid use. The first thing that they state is "there are the drugs for which there is no test" (Quinn). There are certain enhancers that players can take that the league will never find because they do not test for them. All the players have to do is use these enhancers to better themselves. These enhancers do the same thing as any other enhancer. The article also says that these "cheaters" have always been on top (Quinn). This is true because they will have an advantage over a player that does not do steroids, but the author says that everybody uses them. So everyone is apparently a cheater based on his prior statements. The easiest way to even out the playing field is to legalize steroids in the sport. 

The same point that is made at the end of the previous paragraph is also shown in an article by Forbes. The author writes "So if we really want to level the playing field, it may be time to head in the other direction: legalize performance enhancers" (Smith). This direct quotes from the article is the exact same claim that was made before. That makes it clear that a lot of people believe that it is time to legalize enhancers. This article has hundreds of thousands of views, meaning people are interested in this topic. People want to know why they should be allowed, and usually after reading something like this they feel the same way. The article also makes another good claim, that claim being that the playing field will be at a higher level (Smith). The author makes countless good points to show that steroids should be allowed. This argument now becomes even more valid because these major companies are backing it up. This social aspect will make even more people believe it because most of society does not want to stand out, everybody wants to fit in. As more social companies back this idea, it will become more and more relevant.

There is a YouTube video that talks more about how baseball players use steroids. The main point that the man makes is that nearly everyone in the league is using, or has used some type of enhancer (Danesters). To get to the point that they are at now, they had to give themselves an edge over the next person. The video also talks about how most of the players that use enhancers are never caught (Danesters). The test that the MLB uses tests for a certain amount or certain kind of enhancers, and those test will not catch most of the players. To get caught players have to use excessive amount of these enhancers. With the majority of these players not getting caught, it is almost as if steroids are already legal. The league should just revoke the rule because of the number of people already using them. It is pointless to have a rule that everyone breaks without any consequences.

Each person has different views on steroids and why they are good or bad. Some of these peoples opinion are never heard, but other people write article about it and it is seen by the public. That is the case with Jacob Beck and his article "The Only Good Reason to Ban Steroids in Baseball." This article states many reason why enhancers should not be allowed, the first one being "using PEDs is cheating" (Beck). This is true but the rule should be changed, and that change would mean that they are not cheating. Enhancers are becoming a part of the game and should no longer be considered cheating. Another reason that Beck states is "PEDs are unsafe" (Beck). This is true, but it can be prevented. If the rule is uplifted then players will begin to use steroids more safely and therefor eliminate the danger of using enhancers. Without restrictions on steroids doctors can make them safer and players can begin to use these safer versions, and that will create a much healthier alternative than is present today. One of the last claims the author makes is that "PEDs reflect an obsession with perfection" (Beck). This reason is completely irrelevant. Everybody strives to be perfect at what they do. If someone does not then they have no ambition or drive. These players just want to perfect their game and get better. There is nothing wrong with striving to be perfect. That drive will create more competition between players, making the game more interesting as a whole. Though Beck makes some well thought out claims, they really do not have a lot of effect. His claims are irrelevant when the rule is changed because they are all based on the current restrictions. The rule enforcers should change the rule on steroids to make it safer for the players, and more fun for the fans.

A major concern with steroid use is the health aspect. One article states that "the use of steroids can have serious health repercussions" ("Why Steroids Have No Place in Sports"). There is one major key word in that sentence, and that is "can." It has been proven multiple times that steroids can be used in a healthier way. A scholarly journal about sports medicine states that there are forms of enhancers with a less harmful effect (McDuff and Baron). It also states that the main reason for harmful side effects is that users get addicted and use the enhancer wrong. When the right enhancers are used in the right way, they can be very helpful with limited side effects. Legalizing these enhancers will allow for athletes to learn how to use them safely. As of now they are trying to hide it and are using them in the wrong way. The correct way to use them is not allowed because it will be detected by the tests for steroids. If the league wants the players to be safe then they need to legalize steroids and allow the players to use them in a safe manner. This may require some doctors' appointments to ensure safety, but that it what is required to make sure that the players are using the safest steroids possible.

The same article that was mentioned early in the previous paragraph made other claims against steroid use. The author expresses that the use of steroids effects the integrity of the sport. He also says "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you played the game" ("Why Steroids Have No Place in Sports"). Both of these statements are false. The integrity is in no way effected. It is not a bad thing that these players want to be great at what they do. The players enjoy what they do and want to showcase their talents. The next thing is that the game is not about winning, which is another false statement. The whole point of playing a game is to win. If players do not play to win then they are not on the team. That kind of mentality is not what professional players have. Every single one of them is out there to win every game that they play. That is how they earn a living, by winning games. Nobody plays for second place, they play to be the best that they can be.

One of the major consequences from getting caught using steroids is the suspensions and loss of support. Although, a study showed that the loss of support is not true. Many former players that got in trouble for enhancers, still had support from fans. The data that was found stated that most fans of the sport had complete support behind players like Barry Bond and Mark McGwire (Quick, Lambert, and Josey). This support is because these players made the game for interesting for everyone to watch. They brought all of the action and the fame to the game of baseball. In the summer of 1998 Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were in a chase for the single season home run record (Quick, Lambert, and Josey). Years later it was proven that both of these players use steroids to achieve their success. Yes they used steroids, but look at how much joy and excitement that they brought to the sport. Everybody wanted to watch their games to see if they could break the record. Not to mention the countless merchandise with their names on it that the league sold. These players help themselves, along with their team, and the league as a whole. All of these benefits brought to the sport, but yet steroids are still banned.

Research has proved that most people would like for steroids to be allowed in baseball, and the change of that rule will help everyone associated with the game. The players will gain higher accolades and a better financial standpoint. The overall interest will increase because people want to watch homeruns and spectacular plays. Those things will come from the rule change on steroids. All of the benefits that come with this will fully surpass the few negative aspects. The negative aspects will dwindle down after further enhancements on steroids, hopefully to the point where the side effects are negligible. The entire league will gain more money than ever before as their sales go up because of the rise of popular players. Everything will be better with just one rule change. Show support for this change, and make the game of baseball great again.

