What drives juicing in professional athletics?

I was thinking the other day and darn near fell over with all the blood that went to my head. Still have a headache.

What factors have influenced the seeming increase in "juicing" among professional athletes?

I was thinking about the way contracts are structured. The salary caps in many professional leagues have perhaps influenced this the most.

My son and I talk about juicing all the time. When we see an athlete on TV we consider if he/she is juicing or not. Maybe we are a little crazy with it but I doubt if we are the only ones looking at professional athletes this way. So one day we are talking about salaries of MLB players. Geeze they make a lot of money.

45 million 3 year deal
6 (1st year) million singing bonus
=39 million for what?

My question is this. Has salary caps and their influence on how contracts are structured significantly contributed to juicing? After initial singing bonus, their are performance incentives right? BIG incentives right or wrong? I don't know Im just guessing.

Any thoughts on this?

 

Salary caps and getting paid is a factor in taking steroids. But i personally believe that other athletes taking steroids influences athletes to take steroids. If someone hears that this young shortstop is taking steroids, and you are the teams verteran shortstop, then losing your position would be the biggest threat.

 

No Penalty

Plain and simple. Regardless of rthe money persons will do anything to be better than another. Look at sports that do not have the big payrolls. It is to beat someone or a record. If the penalties were harsher. Do it and you are out. Plain and simple. No second chances. You will still have those that will try. Up testing! Tie money back to the contract. If you test positive loss it. Forget rehab. That only works for those who want to be clean.

 

If they had juice in the 50's, 60's and 70's, there are players they would have used it then. There are always players looking for an edge, but in today's market, the pressures of getting their slice of the financial pie is so tempting.

If a player can increase his longevity and increase his earning power to multi-millions, they aren't too concerned what the public thinks. Think about this: If a player is making $15 million a year and can increase his career 6-8 more years, what do you think they will do?

If MLB really wants to clean up the game, they and the union, must agree that any player using a PHD (other than legally accepted drugs) or steroids needs to be banished for life. No suspensions, no 2nd chances.....banned from baseball.

If not, then brand the game as strictly entertainment like pro wrestling and let them have at it.

 

Agree. Pete only had to bet on the game. Legal where he did it but, not legal in the league. Ban them.

 

IMO - Money drives juicing.

Alot of money.

 

That is the answer!