Drug of the future

Any athlete has thought about how their competitive life would be if they took steroids. It's ok don't be ashamed Andre Allen, I've thought about it as well.. how could I not? I'm a baseball player and all the men that have excelled in the sport I play are somehow being accused of taking steroids. Whether these accusations are true are not I think is irrelevant because for every single player who is caught there is several that get away with it. And for some reason America forgets all the skill it takes to hit a round baseball with a round bat squarely, no pill can turn a pud into a stud despite what they say on Good Morning America.

I'm currently reading a pretty good book, its called Juiced, written by Jose Conseco (a damn good ballplayer even before the pill poppin). In the beginning of his novel he explains how steroids are the drug of the future and they can better society in so many ways. Not only will they improve strength and physical appearance but they can improve overall health as well. I'm not saying he got me sold but I can gauruntee that there are thousands of young adults, and maybe even teenagers that have made steroids apart of lives because of what this man gauruntees. Now I've seen the new astris commercials as I've seen the truth and the amusing little live above the influence commercials and I honestly don't see those commercials making a difference. My only hope is that as an athlete with a possible professional future I don't miss out because of something I refused to take a long time ago.

The Clasp; Spot on

We've all experienced it! I remember when I had my first run in with the clasp. The grip was so tight and just a bit painful but it was the look awaiting me when I looked up into his face that would break my heart and have me break out into tears. That look, blank, drunk with anger and irritation would make me freeze like a deer in head lights. The only love I knew I saw in those same exact eyes but at that moment I glared into those eyes with fear and regret; a fear of the future and a great regret for the recent past.

In Sharon Olds poem, The Clasp, she speaks of that moment where a parent asserts themself and the child learns a new side of the parent. I can remember this moment filled with disappointed as you try to figure out where this other personality has come from. As that lashing whip of discipline comes down the child wonders where is my caretaker, housekeeper, the source of all I know and for a small second the world no longer makes sense. As a child I understood love, I could recognize love but I didn't see the link between love and discipline therefore I, like many children experienced a great deal of confusion. It's interesting how that entire concept works when you are four, five, nine, or even twelve years of age. Olds hit the nail right on the head with that poem.