>>>I agree 110% on the role models aspect, but I am talking about pressure in lower level athletics when these kids "see" what cretins like Bonds and Giambi are doing with these drugs. They start thinking they may have to go this route just to compete at the next level because others are gaining (an unfair) advantage by doing this. We saw this with the first generation of steroids especially at the collegiate level. Tony Mandarich?
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>>Mark,
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>>This stuff has been around for more years than you realize. Back in the '60s, when I was in high school, our basketcall coach gave us these pills, before important games.
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>>I don't, however, think so much that it's the kids, as it is the parents and coaches. The parents want the kids to succeed. The coaches want to win because their jobs depend on it.
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>Good points. It all boils down to "follow the money.." :(

Exactly! To boot things are so competitive that kids in grade school (mostly middle school) are being scouted by colleges. Then they get to high school and, if they're really good, their high school games end up on TV.

Compare this to nearly 40 years ago. Loyola of Chicago won the NCAA tournament in, IIRC, 1963. The game wasn't on prime time, but rather tape delayed (even in Chicago).

My best friend in high school, averaged about 25+ points per game. He made the "Little All-State" team (for small schools, like ours). He got exactly zero scholarship offers. Why? It was a small school in Chicago's Private School League. So the reasoning was that he didn't face difficult competition.

To-day? Recuiters would be falling all over themselves to get him.

There are other sides to the story, however. Here in Cartersville, we've had a kid (whom I coached against in Little League baseball) by the name of Ronnie Brown. He's a starter in the back field for the Auburn Tigers ("War Eagle!"). Here's a kid who's got his head straight. He, and his back field mate, Carnell Williams, both came back for their senior year rather than going pro. The result? Ronnie's listed as the second best back in the draft, behind Carnell (personally, I think he's better than Carnell, but I may be prejudice< g >).