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Wednesday April.3, 2013

Alex Rodriguez is an admitted PED user – and claims to only have done this while playing for the Texas Rangers. With the new Biogenesis scandal surrounding him – how much more would his legacy be tarnished if he was found to have cheated in New York City? It is clear that the penalties enforced by MLB for such violations are not enough of a factor – to prevent their players from trying to gain an advantage. While MLB has adopted increasingly higher suspensions for positive tests than prior to 2005, they are still not high enough to prevent kids from trying out these enhancers, because the rewards still outweigh the risk.

By Lori Martini (Senior Reporter and Baseball Writer): Follow @LoriMartini

As an actor, especially being female it is very tough competition. There are fewer roles for women and more female actors than men. To make matters worse, nobody wants you when you get older, which makes our time frame as a working actor very slim if one is even lucky enough to be a successful working actor.  

Some women turn to plastic surgery to try to obtain roles for parts that really should be played by 30 or 40 somethings, yet the casting notices dictate that you must look 20’s.  

Not only are there these unrealistic roles, but lately I’ve been seeing more and more degrading roles out there for women such as being topless, OK with performing simulated sex acts – even as far to be OK with being peed or defecated on.  

Seriously, how much more are they going to push the envelope, yet not expect men to do the same?

Alex Rodriguez Admits To Steroid Use:

Some women choose to try plastic surgery – only to have it backfire on them like Daryl Hannah.

If one doesn’t take the role, there are many low self-esteemed 20 something that will take it and have no problem degrading themselves for a part, but at what cost? Some of these are simply to be a featured extra – which is an uncredited and unacknowledged role.  I’d be embarrassed to even consider it.  Now that I’m in my 30’s I have been feeling the lack of roles and increase in competition as I hear all these 20somethings mock us thinking they’ll never age.

I can see why some women feel the pressure and the need to use plastic surgery to trim here, tuck there, lift the eyes etc., however I haven’t seen one successful surgery where someone looks good.  Then they can’t get enough and keep doing more harm to themselves and look even more outrageous.

I’d rather age gracefully and take care of myself by getting proper sleep and eating well.  I take pride in never having done drugs nor smoked.  I barely ever drink alcohol either. 

So why are women torturing themselves?  To make others like us?  To get work? To make their husbands not want to have an affair with a 20 something?  When will it stop?  Everyone wants the shortcut and the quick fix, but in the end it doesn’t do anything but make matters worse.  You don’t see men making that effort – nor are they really judged by their age.

Here’s where this in turn relates to sports.  You want to be at the top of your game.  In sports you are very limited on time due to age and your ability to play at the high level of competition.  Everyone wants to get paid millions of dollars to play the game they love – so they take the shortcut to bulking up by taking PEDs to enhance their level of play in hope of moving up the ranks faster.

Once they make it, they not only want to extend their career, but to break records and get those signing bonuses.  However, the playing field is no longer level and as role models this is not who we want teaching our kids.  

In addition the repercussions of taking PEDs is that you can risk your health including heart attacks, reduction in sperm production, joint deterioration, violent outbursts, increased heartrate and possibly death.

They might make you perform well and play longer than the average expectancy, but it can also increase knee problems and early onset of arthritis.  Is it really worth it to risk all this when your family is depending on you?  Also, if nobody took these drugs and the playing field was level, maybe someone else more deserving should be in the Majors.  

Perhaps a fair assessment would be to make room for the younger generations to move up the ranks so they can have the opportunity to make history.  Does the MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA etc. think this is OK and turns a blind eye so they can build excitement in exchange for ticket and merchandise sales?  

If so, they should really be ashamed of themselves.  Do they really care about their players?

Movie producers and team owners only truly care about their bottom line, but the bottom line is when will we all take a stand and do what is right and let those deserving rise above it all?

We all want to work and make something of ourselves and hope we’re all appreciated. It is when the dream career is over that we acknowledge it and then wonder what is next to do in life and where do we fit in.  What is our purpose and plan for the future?

Bud Selig and The MLB Players Association Leader Michael Weiner need to address the use of PED’s during the next Labor Agreement after the 2016 year. As of right now, the punishment for using PED’s is: 50 Game Suspension for 1st offense, 100 Games for a second offense – and a lifetime ban only after a 3rd time caught. In the instances of Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera – both are making more money in salary for 2013 after being caught for PED use in 2012 –  so where is the deterrent?

***The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of MLB Reports or their partners. ***

Thank you to our Senior Reporter and  Baseball Writer Lori Martini,  for helping to prepare today’s feature on The MLB Reports.  To learn more about Lori Martini and her story click here, you can also follow Lori on Twitter: Follow @LoriMartini  Follow @Shortfilmcaught Follow @LMartiniMusic and check out her song ‘Believe’ here on Youtube, (Formerly Justin Turner ‘s walkup song for the Mets and was recently heard on VH1’s House of Consignment.) A great role model for young people, Lori Martini is an accomplished actress, songwriter, and die-hard Mets fan.

***Here are some more links to check out Lori Martini’s brilliant work as a Songwriter, Actress  and Producer.***

www.lorimartini.com
www.reverbnation.com/lorimartini
www.twitter.com/lorimartini

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