http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8904906/daring-ask-ped-question This could go in any sports forum, but he does talk about the NBA. This is a must read. ESPN has been awful at tackling these issues.
Best Simmons column in a long while. Does this mean we should start speculating which NBA players dope?
All of it is a joke. The NFL does not test for HGH, neither does the NBA. I know working for the Astros years ago that performance enhancers were used more often than not. I am sure most the NFL uses HGH or other illegal substances. The NBA too.
He is just bitter the Ravens beat his beloved Patriots. As others stated I don't really think the average person gives a rat ass if professional athletes are on steroids. I know 99% of the people I know don't.
I think it's just that with the NBA, it's still so much about skill. No one actually cares if these guys are using it to return quicker...people care if it seems like cheating. Using steroids in the NBA doesn't make you dribble better, won't improve your post game no matter how big your shoulders are Dwight, won't get you a jumper... I think that's clearly the reason why people don't really care...in baseball it may add more oomph to your swing and get you more HRs...that's a pretty big advantage.
i must have missed the memo of NBA players dying at early ages like MLB, Pro Wrestlers, and NFL players do Say what you will about the NBA, but most of the athletes in the NBA were dunking in high school
Exactly Using Steriods in the NBA wont make you that much better than you were yesterday. Strength in the NBA is for most part is not a required skill like a batter or pitcher in baseball or NFL players. Kevin Durant cant bench press 185, i would be shocked if the majority of NBA players took PED's, because i dont see the gain them for the NBA
Two guys near the top of the list that are on one of my teams: Being a step faster than the next guy will get you to the rim. (see WB) Increasing your jumping distance and speeds will get extra blocks and rebounds. (see Ibaka)
This is no gut check, it's a calculated attempt to maximize exposure during SB weekend and drive hits to his overrated weblog. And I care about steroids, and I think pro sports needs to drop the hammer on cheaters, but I'm not in a position to force better testing. I can either boycott the NFL (which would not change anything) or I can keep watching the game. I choose to keep watching the game.
It's more about ball speed though. Usain Bolt couldn't get past anyone because he has to dribble the ball with him to get there. We see Harden get to the rim at will, it certainly isn't because of his speed but his craftiness with the ball. How many track stars go to the NBA and how many go to the NFL? Blocks and rebounds are about instinct though mostly. Although being a physical beast helps you in the NBA...It's just we see guys who look like normal guys, not cut at all, even move a little slow but still dominate this game. Like Pierce, like Dirk, Duncan didn't jump high either but he has the defensive instinct. I just think that in Baseball and Football you could benefit a lot more.
While it wouldn't surprise me if there was some doping in the NBA, I frankly attribute a LOT of the complaints of "Oh that guy must be doping" to sheer jealously and the fact that human beings are really, really bad at accepting unusual things which is the very nature of sports. "There's no way a guy like Lebron could be that buff or whatever, he must be doping."
Not going to argue. You don't think being stronger and faster would make a player better than his mirror image. I disagree. It is ok to disagree.
