The Arnold unClassic
What with all the recent uproar surrounding the illegal use of steroids in Professional Baseball, along with the banning of steroid use in the Olympics and other professional American sports organizations (and even the initiation of Congressional Hearings on the matter), I find it a bit odd that California Governor Arnold Schwarznegger has his name publicly associated with a contest that heaps awards and cash prizes on "athletes" who blatantly abuse steroids to the point of absurdity.
Check it out here.
I like Arnold Schwarznegger, and find his 'Poor Immigrant Turned International Movie Star and Governor of California' story inspiring, to say the least. But I think his continued involvement with the steroid abusing professional bodybuilding community sends an unfortunate message regarding the illegal use of steroids.
Here we have Congress, the President and the media on one hand, all decrying the abuse of steroids in professional sports and its destructive influence on young athletes, while on the other hand we have one of the most powerful political figures in the country lending his face and name, as well as continued public appearances, to an athletic competition whose top competitors are all obvious, and often openly admitted, abusers of illegal steroids.
Arnold needs to be called on what can only be considered a public display of approval (from an elected government official) for the use and abuse of illegal steroids. He should either 1. publicly and firmly disassociate himself from all further endorsement and involvement with any professional bodybuilding contest or organization, 2. publicly denounce all illegal steroid use in any sport and drug test every single competitor in the contest that bears his name while aggressively prosecuting any Arnold Classic competitor found in violation of steroid laws, or, should he be unwilling to do either #1 or #2, then 3. He should resign from public office (which is not what I'd like to see happen at all).
But really, how is anyone to take the President or Congress seriously on the issue of illegal steroids in professional sports when one of the most popular and visible governors in the United States, not to mention one of the keynote speakers at the last Republican National Convention, continues to endorse and reward flagrant steroid abuse with trophies and cash prizes in a contest that bears his name?
I'm just sayin' . . .