[elmer fudd]

Bonds is almost certainly a juicer, but folks are just deluding themselves if they thing sports stars of the past avoided steroids because of higher moral standards or any love of the game. They didn't do it because they didn't know about them or they weren't available, but if you had offered the athletes of yesteryear better performance from a needle I'm guessing that most of them would have jumped at the chance to shoot up.

[Mr. Mojo]

but if you had offered the athletes of yesteryear better performance from a needle I'm guessing that most of them would have jumped at the chance to shoot up.

Maybe, maybe not. With the huge money in the game these days the edge steroids can give a player could mean the difference between languishing in AAA or being a multi-millionaire in the Bigs.

Back in Ruth's time all but a handful of players had to take winter jobs -- most made only a few thousand annually, max. Baseball was literally "just a game" to them, so they'd be far less likely to risk destroying their health to get that edge.

[MPJackal]

"They didn't do it because they didn't know about them or they weren't available, but if you had offered the athletes of yesteryear better performance from a needle I'm guessing that most of them would have jumped at the chance to shoot up."

Thought Police on Patrol. George Orwell, call your office.

Actually, when I was into sports back in the day (mid 70's-mid 80's) performance enhancing drugs were frowned upon. I still remember our opinion of the USSR and their she-male womens Olympic team.