How do you know?

quote:

How does anyone of us know they would not do what FP Santangelo admitted he did to continue his dream?
How do you know?

We don't know and that is why this is a frightning and painful question to answer. I am hopeful from the public outcry that testing will surface that will prevent any reasonable thinking athlete from attempting otherwise. I still would like to know if anyone knows for sure if blood testing can detect HGH usage? If so, I support immediate, random blood testing for high school and above level athletes.

As far as I know, my son uses whey protein mix available from GNC and on the list of approved substances by the NCAA and that is it. He avoids junk food and follows a diet prescribed by a certified athletics trainer on staff at his college. When I see him, I try and observe (secretly) for signs like massive weight gain, acne, facial features changing, attitude problems, and so forth. My strategy with him is to continually make the point that there are more important things than baseball to ME - notably his health. I try and take the pressure off of him by telling him that if HE feels the need to keep up with other players by injecting a needle in himself or taking other non-approved substances, then it is time for him leave the game. It ain't worth it and I pray he understands that.

I know as a parent I was never one to say, my kids don't do that stuff, because all kids do crazy things.
Kids see themselves as untouchable. I just read something (or saw it on TV) that kids brains don't develop in the rationalization department until their early 20's. I can relate to that.

As adults, our kids are expected to react as reaponsible adults. Sometimes things get in the way of that, and it usually has nothing to do with the dream, but the fame and fortune that comes with it. I am sure that most successful people, have done something along the way they shouldn't have but always supportive. I think there is a huge difference in support and pressure.

I also think that alot of it has to do with the expectations we as parents place upon our childrens success. If my kids ever felt they "owed" me success, they might do things that we might not normally approve of. So we kept our expectations to ourselves when they were young (except about school) and never pushed in anything. We've been really supportive, but never pushed. I know my son does what he can the best way he knows how despite what others do or do not do and as far as I know he has never cheated.

Would I like to say that if he could would he? I like all of us, would say absolutely not, but that might not someday be the case, because really, none of us really knows in the end what another person would or would not do to reach their goal. My motto is never say never.

BTW, my kids grew up in a household where if they did something and we found out by hearsay(without proof) and denied it, they were found guilty unless they proved themselves innocent. It was pretty unamerican, but I think that helped them to understand how important that misunderstood or misinterpretted things can haunt you forever. I am not talking about anything bad, just stupid kid stuff. If something may just be hearsay, it can stick with you forever like white on rice. You prove to me it's NOT true, then I am ok.

I don't know, especially considering the competitiveness of the situation and people involved.

I am just thankful that my son, given the opportunity to play pro, will not be faced with such a temptation, as it will be different in 2011.