Steroids: The Real Story

Visitor Comments: 15

(15) Ana , January 9, 2008

Star of David on Britney's while shaving her head

I wonder why Britney was wearing a Star of David pendant while she was shaving her head. If my eyes do not deceive me, it looks like one. What was her meaning? Why backwards?
(14) Julius Romanoff , January 8, 2008

Be the Best You Can Be.

What is wrong with trying to improve oneself. Rabbi Solamon stated he would take spiritual steroids. Thus it seems the furor is about what you seek to improve. Ballplayrs and athletes seek to improve ther physical prowess. The undersize individual takes growth hormones in hopes of reaching the average size. Obese individuals diet and take pills to look better, or to become healthier.
We all strive to make ourselves better. There is no hue and cry against these attempts. Why are people upset when individuals find a way to become more proficient at what they do? I spent much of my career working with Learning Disabled and Mentally Retarded to help them learn and function better. Is it because Ballplayers and Athletes are changing what was given to them? Are we jealous that we did not know what steroids can do to improve you?
Have the long term effects of the use of steroids been proven to be harmful to one's health? Prednisone, a steroid, has been prescribed for many illnesses, and acts like a wonder drug. It's use is monitored carefully because of known side effects, Epoetin enabled my wife to live two years longer
as she fought against a rare blood disease. It seems the problem lies in what man tries to improve in his life. Why tinker with what G-d has given you? It seems to be non-permissible only when it breaks hallowed athletic records.
(13) Todd M , December 26, 2007

I addicted to spiritual steroids!

I try to do spiritual growth hormones all day every day. I just call them mitzvahs and/or chessid. Is there such as a thing as cheating? Can you cheat Hashem? We all know the answer is no. Life is too important to spend even a second worrying about what over paid baseball players do. You should turn that energy towards kindness and love towards "your neighbor". So I say, Spiritual growth hormones for everyone! Thank you Rabbi Salomon for your inspiring words. They are always something to think about.

PS It was nice having you in Austin TX for Discovery! Shalom!
(12) Margarita , December 25, 2007

taking growth hormons

did i hear you right? you would take spiritual growth hormons? how is it better? they see the body as an important part of them, but cheating is just that and that is it!!!!!!!! how easy it is to judge people, how hard it is to do the right thing, how big is the temptation. we all have a price....
(11) Anonymous , December 25, 2007

fake outrage

I'm outraged. Outraged that this could be considered worthy of our attention. If you know anything about science and the physics of baseball, the path between steroids and home runs is inconclusive. Steroids and strikeouts? Please. Some people take Ritalin or drink a cup of coffee before they go to work. According to baseball rules at the time, steroids were permissible. So what's the big deal?

This is just one more non-story to distract people from the real world. It's no more relevant to our lives than Britney Spears and the NBC Nightly News. First let's talk about Pakistan. If we have time left over, maybe we'll spend a minute on steroids.

(10) Shoshana , December 25, 2007

Something to think about

Thank you for taking the scandal out of the arena of sports and applying it to our lives. I think many children for example, will feel let down by the abuse, maybe we can help apply the indignation to other areas of their lives that can involve cheating.
(9) Anonymous , December 25, 2007

ah finally

something to really think about. something to talk about. something to do something about.
let's hear more of this from people who have a say.
mah Hashem elokecha shoel meimach...
(8) ind , December 25, 2007

I agree with Joshua

I agree with Joshua
(7) Joyce , December 25, 2007

Keep your eye on the ball!

Rabbi Saloman's point was that while we should be outraged at the steroid scandal in baseball, there are more important reasons to be outraged. Just look at the headlines over Enron, for example.
And to Joshua: steroids for performance enhancement is bad; steroids for cancer treatment is good.
Any time you endanger your health to feed your vanity it is outrageous and foolhardy.
All this "non-judgemental" act is really cowardice.
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.
(6) Annette , December 24, 2007

you think because it's legal in a country you hale from it's ok, hum? think again

do you think 'legal' actually means 'ethical'? not so; look all around you! it's happening all around you! LOOK.
and NO, taking drugs to enhance performance when it is clearly established that 'it is not allowed' DOES make it wrong.
This topic is so simple, it's almost a non-issue.
Not allowed = don't do it.
No brainer.
(5) Ross* , December 24, 2007

****

Maybe those who cheat in all those other things should imagine themselves with asterisks next to their names, like in business journals or or shul newsletters. Maybe some do anyway.
(4) Joshua , December 23, 2007

there are more important things to worry about

I know plenty of people outside of major league games who take steroids. I know people who day to day work normal jobs, and they take steroids.

They're legal in some countries, and we're only conditioned to believe that they're evil as they're against the law of the land in most Western countries, but if they're legal in the land that you hale from, then it's not a transgression.

I personally think that there are certain supplements that can be utilized in a positive way to make people more productive. So what if they take steroids? I'm on anti-depressants because I have depression. Am I cheating my friends because I'm not walking round with a mopey face?

There are horrible side effects that the athletes have to take into consideration when they're doing these things. Instead of being outraged, we should just be concerned for their safety.

Sports has replaced religion in todays society in so many countries, and there is so much more going on in the world that we could be focusing on, instead of making black lists of people who've resorted to performance enhancing drugs (it's not like they're doing it to get high and I don't envy them) because they don't feel good enough in themselves to take the pressure that the public throws upon them.

I know one or two people who I can say are the nicest people that I've ever met in my life. They're healthy, well educated, and even though I personally couldn't stick a hyperdermic needle into myself and take several different pills to make sure that I didn't get horrible reactions (such as female-like breasts), that doesn't mean they're people who deserve to be 'named and blamed'.

There are plenty of prescription drugs that are far more potent and lethal that Americans and westerners abuse on a much larger scale.
(3) Rosen , December 23, 2007

the drug industry vs. working hard and earnest

Steroids aren't the only drug problem facing our society among athletes, but there tends to be a lot of drugs advertised on TV, with some diseases that may not exist followed by mentioning the side effects to remedy the virtually non-existant disease. I've even heard of supplement drugs for brand name blood pressure and cholesterol meds, which may be rather redundant.

As for working hard and earnest, it's all a matter of credibility and honesty, as opposed to something superficial and inflated that involves cheating in sports, school, work, etc. When working for something, it's important to not only work hard, but work smart.

If only major corporations that work for Bush and Cheney weren't so corrupt in accepting tax breaks for oil and war profiteering, as well as those tax breaks that reward corrupt executives for outsourcing jobs overseas that reduce the American work load to replace cheap labor in such places like China and India.

We all can work hard and smart as long as we don't cheat, be honest, proactive, and have enough energy to work well enough to be earnest of what we make and deserve.
(2) Anonymous , December 23, 2007

Messy Bookcase? Used Jewish Books!

I love a bookcase that shows that you use your seforim (Jewish books)! I know people who order seforim by the yard, by the color - to decorate their studies! Keep using your seforim and helping us all learn!
(1) Steve Goldstein , December 23, 2007

portrait?

I really enjoy your vidblog. But please solve the mystery - who is the rabbi's portrait in the background? And also -- can you please straighten out that messy bookshelf?

ANSWER FROM THE EDITOR'S: It is a photo of Rabbi Noach Weinberg, the rosh yeshiva/dean of Aish HaTorah. The bookshelf, by the way, is Rabbi Salomon's!

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions.

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W.

He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series' and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired." His most recent book is "Something to Think About; Extraordinary Reflections About Ordinary Events (Mesorah)."

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.

Visitor Comments: 15

(15) Ana , January 9, 2008

(14) Julius Romanoff , January 8, 2008

(13) Todd M , December 26, 2007

(12) Margarita , December 25, 2007

(11) Anonymous , December 25, 2007

(10) Shoshana , December 25, 2007

(9) Anonymous , December 25, 2007

(8) ind , December 25, 2007

(7) Joyce , December 25, 2007

(6) Annette , December 24, 2007

(5) Ross* , December 24, 2007

(4) Joshua , December 23, 2007

(3) Rosen , December 23, 2007

(2) Anonymous , December 23, 2007

(1) Steve Goldstein , December 23, 2007

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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