Why Von Miller, A-Rod and Other Drugs Cheats Damage More Than Just Their Own Reputations

Copyright CBS Sports

Sport can be a great thing. It promotes a healthy lifestyle. It promotes teamwork, a good work ethic and it also produces good role models for aspiring athletes and children. Unfortunately, sport and its participants have an unhealthy habit of shooting themselves in the foot. Occasionally one might get caught gambling on the outcome of a game they themselves are participating in. The most infamous example of this is the Chicago 'Black Sox' scandal of 1919, where several members of baseball's White Sox bet on their own team to lose that year’s World Series. A more contemporary example is the spot-fixing scandal than engulfed cricket in 2010, when three members of the Pakistan team took illegal payments to bowl no-balls at a specific time during the match. However this article isn't about gambling, nor is it about money. It's about the recent rash of professional athletes across a variety of sports falling foul of illegal substance regulations and dragging themselves and their fellow professionals into disrepute.

Substance abuse within sport isn't a new phenomenon. Baseball players commonly used amphetamines during the seventies and eighties, while anabolic steroids led to the downfall of many a track and field athlete during the 1990's.  More recently blood doping, human growth hormone (HGH) and testosterone enhancers have become the performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) of choice, and while cycling may have reached its nadir earlier this year when Lance Armstrong confessed to taking part in a sophisticated doping program the last few weeks have seen a number of other sports come under the spotlight for very much the wrong reasons.

Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller received a six game suspension just yesterday for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Details on Miller's offence have been vague so far, and while the league has acknowledged he did not fail a drugs test the severity of the punishment (players usually receive a four game ban for their first offence, which this is for Miller) suggests that Miller may have tampered with or attempted to tamper with a sample he gave to testers. Of course there is no good reason for this behaviour if you were certain the sample would come back negative, which implies that Miller feared a positive test. Because Miller has not been cited for a positive test he's received a certain amount of sympathy from supporters and the media, as opposed to the usual vilification drug cheats receive. NFL Network host Rich Eisen tweeted that Miller is "a good guy", adding that it's a shame Miller will be suspended for the Broncos game against his hometown Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, I think Eisen completely misses the point here and fails to appreciate the impact that drug cheats, and in the eyes of league regulations Miller is one, have on an enormous amount of people. Miller has cheated his teammates, whose achievements with him in the line-up will now come into question over their authenticity. Miller has cheated his opponents and fellow professionals, who may have lost because of a play PEDs helped him make. But perhaps worst of all, Miller has cheated and influenced the millions of young (and old) NFL fans who look up to him. Hopefully those people don't now think that it is ok to take illegal substances, or to lie and cheat in an effort to cover their tracks.

The other recent drugs scandal that has engulfed American sport concerns the Biogenesis clinic which supplied illegal substances to a number of Major League Baseball players. The two biggest names connected with Biogenesis were Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, both sluggers who have made their money and earned accolades because of their ability to hit the ball out of the park. Some of you will remember Braun also tested positive for abnormal testosterone levels after a 2011 play-off game. On that occasion Braun got off on a technicality, as his sample was not handled properly according to protocol and his positive test was wiped. Braun vehemently protested his innocence, going so far as to allegedly call Dino Laurenzi Jr. - the man who mishandled his urine sample - an anti-Semite and a Cubs fan. While I can laugh the second allegation off, the first is completely outrageous and following Braun accepting a 65-game suspension two weeks ago (in relation to Biogenesis) the 29 year-old's credibility is now shot. Again, what will Braun's opponents in the 2011 play-offs be thinking now that they know he was juiced up at the time? The same goes for those who have competed against Alex Rodriguez over the past two decades, but it would take a whole other article for me to vent my feelings on his shamefully desperate situation.

One tweet that gained national attention concerning Biogenesis was made by former Major League pitcher Dan Meyer, who competed for a bullpen job with Antonio Bastardo back in 2011 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bastardo was part of the Biogenesis investigation and received a 50-game suspension for his involvement with the clinic. Meyer tweeted "Hey Antonio Bastardo. Remember when we competed for a job in 2011. Thx (sic) alot. #ahole". Meyer is now out of professional baseball, he's playing in the Independent Leagues, and although he was and is an inferior pitcher to Bastardo (a fact which Meyer himself acknowledges) who's to say that had Bastardo been clean in 2011, and whenever else he was juiced up, he wouldn't have possessed the necessary juice on his fastball to get major league hitters out? The saying goes that cheats never prosper, but next spring it's almost certain that Meyer will be grafting to earn a living while Bastardo, fresh off of his suspension, will be earning millions of dollars in the Majors.

As you can see, the collateral from PED use in professional sports is vast and potentially life altering. How many people didn't win the Tour De France because Lance Armstrong was winning it at a HGH assisted canter? And how many pitchers suffered at the hands of a roided up Barry Bonds? The damage also extends beyond those competing against athletes convicted of using PEDs. Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s first ever Tour De France winner in 2012, wrote an entire chapter in his book "My Time" (2012) about the contempt in which he holds Armstrong and other cycling cheats such as Alberto Contador because his and other cyclists achievements since then will always come under a drug laden cloud. Unfortunately that is a stigma which all cyclists, athletes, baseball and American football players will have to live with for a few years yet - or until the positive tests cease - and it's all because of their selfish fellow professionals. Armstrong was stripped of his Tour titles. Barry Bonds will never make it into baseball's Hall of Fame. But Dan Meyer will never get that job opportunity back, and the vilification Dino Laurenzi Jr. received after he made a mistake with Braun's test sample still took place. Many athletes pay a price for their misdemeanours. But next time you think that a six game ban is a bit steep, pause to consider the bigger picture.

NFL News and Notes

Copyright Boston Globe

As teams around the NFL embark on the first slate of pre-season games there have already been plenty of talking points from around the league. From player/coach spats to season ending injuries I'll attempt to round up the most interesting news items in the following paragraphs. Without further ado..

Another ACL Bites the Dust
One unfortunate hallmark of training camps, pre-season and indeed football in general is injuries and this year has unfortunately been no different. What is perhaps slightly surprising is the amount of non-contact injuries that have occurred. After the new collective bargaining agreement was signed in 2011 teams have had to tone down the amount of contact in practices, however this has failed to prevent players suffering knee injuries in camp so far this year and there have been a host of big names already ruled out for the whole of the 2013 season. Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta was the first star to go down, and his injury comes at the end of a relatively tumultuous off-season for the defending Superbowl champions who have also lost Ray Lewis to retirement, Ed Reed to free agency and Anquan Boldin via trade. Although Joe Flacco was signed to a lucrative contract extension it would appear that the Ravens will have their work cut out for them as they attempt to become the first Superbowl champs to successfully defend their title since New England did so in 2005.

Jeremy Maclin to suffered a season ending knee injury shortly after Pitta, the Philadelphia wide receiver going down before the Eagles even began practicing in pads. As it turns out Maclins injury may have saved Riley Cooper his job when he was suspended (rather than cut) after his videotaped n-word outburst. Cooper is back training with the team now however, and he is currently listed as the teams second starting WR opposite DeSean Jackson. Depth behind those two is dubious at best so even though Chip Kelly is expected to run a run orientated offense Maclins injury has left his receiving corps looking pretty thin.

The third household to be ruled out for the season is Green Bay left tackle Bryan Bulaga. Obviously Bulaga's job was an important one protecting Aaron Rodgers blindside, so the Packers will have to try and replicate his production if they want to keep their prized asset on his feet. Bulaga actually played right tackle last season but was scheduled to move across the line this year. Keep an eye on this situation as the pre-season progresses, as it may transpire the in house options aren't up to the job and Packers general manager Ted Thompson could be forced into scouring the available free agents.

Cousins Shines, Pollard Penalised (again)

Washington and Tennessee squared off last night in one of the first pre-season games to take place this year, and there were a few notes of interest. Newly acquired Titans safety Brian Pollard, formerly of the Ravens, was flagged for unnecessary roughness when he hit a receiver who was clearly out of bounds. Pollard often penalised so the incident should come as no surprise, although those who thought that his style of play was a product of his former team should probably get used to him giving up 15 yards in the powder blue of the Titans.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III was held out of the game as he continues his recovery from the knee injury he suffered in last years play-offs, which meant that his understudy Kirk Cousins had a chance to impress. Cousins played well and completed 6 of 7 passes for 52 yards and one touchdown, a solid return that will perhaps ease the fears of Redskins fans who are worried should RG III not be ready for week one. As ever, the usual caveat about pre-season statistics meaning nothing applies.

Wes Welker Apparently Doesn't Like Bill Belichick

One of the bigger moves in free agency was the Broncos snagging of former Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. Welker has consistently been at or near the top of the receptions charts since he joined New England in 2007, so although his relationship with Belichick was reported to be less than ideal his comments have still come as somewhat of a surprise. Welker was quoted as saying that working with BB was "hard", and that he had "to endure him". It's likely that the pairs bad relationship was the main factor behind Welker leaving for slightly more mountainous terrain in Denver (although the dollar amount also likely had an impact), and I'd love to hear Tom Brady's take on the subject as he embarks on the new season without his favourite target in tow.  Peyton Manning, meanwhile, will be grinning from ear to ear thanks to his teams new addition.

And finally..

If you ever wondered what would happen if an American football coach took control of a football/soccer team, then check out this video (courtesy of Deadspin). Good stuff.

Happy weekend!

Hernandez, Cooper Turn NFL Attention Away From Football

Copyright ABC News

As training camps the length and breadth of America kick into full swing you'd be forgiven for assuming that all the developing stories in the NFL would involve on-field action. You'd also be wrong, because two of the biggest stories in the league have absolutely zip all to do with football. There are other stories, thankfully, and I'll discuss them at length in another post later this week when I attempt to analyse some of the events that have taken place on the football field, as opposed to off of it. Keep reading to find out my take on Messrs  Hernandez and Cooper.

I'm sure you've all seen or heard about Aaron Hernandez's, ahem, "legal misdemeanours" and his likely impending imprisonment. I'm no legal expert but Hernandez looks like he's in a lot of trouble, and the charges are almost unprecedented for an NFL player. O.J Simpson is the most similar case, of course, but for a younger audience while it may seem easy to compare the case to Michael Vick and his dog fighting conviction, Hernandez's punishment is likely to be far, far more severe. However, like I said I'm no legal expert, so I'll focus on the football implications (an area in which I'm arguably better placed to comment!). The Patriots offense was unique over the past two seasons thanks to their ability to run two tight end sets with dynamic play-makers at both positions, something they'll no longer be able to do. Shane Vereen will attempt to pick up some of the load by continuing his ascension towards becoming a top tier NFL running back, but as the case has always been with the Patriots in the Belichick era the team will only go as far as Tom Brady takes them. The former Michigan QB turned 36 this week and is no spring chicken, yet he remains healthy and has shown no signs of slowing down just yet. The Pats D was improved last season, so if that improvement continues then the offense can afford to not entirely replace Hernandez's production. And before you ask -no, I don't think Tim Tebow is about to morph into an elite NFL tight end. Although it wouldn't surprise me to see Belichick line him up there from time to time. BB keeps his cards close to his chest, so it may not be until the first regular season game that we can see just how much the offense has morphed in Hernandez's absence.

Another incident that has come to light with no relation to football is Riley Cooper's racial slur that was captured on film while he was at a concert at his team, the Philadelphia Eagles, home stadium Lincoln Financial Field. Cooper used the N-word, which was is shocking behaviour in any culture but particularly so when you consider Cooper plays in a sport and for a team where a large majority of the players are African American. Racism is a very sensitive issue, rightly so, and Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has come in for some criticism for his decision not to cut Cooper but to send him away for rehabilitation. Kelly's decision can be looked at, in my opinion, in one of two ways. He has, perhaps, been too lenient with Cooper and should have immediately released him in order to send a message that he and the franchise do not tolerate racism. The other view is that Kelly has admirably not bowed to public pressure, and offered Cooper the opportunity to redeem himself if he applies himself to his rehabilitation and is accepted back into the locker room by his teammates. Either argument could be presented with validity, but it should be noted that, crucially, the situation still has a ways to go before it has fully played out. Coopers teammates might not forgive him, or Cooper himself may not tread carefully as he embarks on his rehabilitation. It's an incredibly complicated situation, far more complicated than some have made it out to be. Michael Vick unsurprisingly has come out in support of giving Cooper a second chance, while LeSean McCoy has said he can no longer view Cooper in the same way as he did before. Both are African American, which shows just how split opinion on the subject is. I'm not sure what will happen, but I do think that Kelly has put a target on his back by offering Cooper a second chance. It's not something that is ideal for a first year coach in the NFL and it's unfortunate that an event like that has reared its ugly head now, just as Kelly is running his first professional training camp. Team unity is a key component of any successful sports team; right now it's a component the Eagles lack.