The Bad and The Ugly (More Effects of Steroids)

I'm not one to use scare tacticts to influence people's behavior. It's my mission to give you information, and your choice to take that information and make your own decisions.

So, for those of you who might know someone considering using steroids to help them become better basketball players, please let them know about some of the following side-effects associated with steroid use:

• decreased height (as I mentioned in my last post)
• acne (your face & back won't turn green, but might have more zits and hair)
• hair loss/baldness
• hair growth on the back
• high blood pressure (increasing your risks for heart attacks and strokes)
• depression
• difficulty controlling your aggression ('roid rage)
• diarrhea
• sleep problems
• increased risk of tendon and ligament injuries
• and more!

Oh, and did I mention that it's illegal?

So what's the best way to get stronger, faster, leaner, better?

It's simple (but hard to do in this day and age) -- you need to exercise, eat healthy foods, and give your body enough sleep and rest to build itself up.

Want more information about steroid use in youth sports? Try these websites:

http://www.taylorhooton.org/

http://www.100percentme.co.uk/home.php

http://www.usantidoping.org/misc/clean_sport.aspx

http://steroidabuse.com/

The Short End of the Stick

I just read an article discussing the recent increase in use of steroids by young athletes. These players take illegal medicines to make them stronger in the hopes that this will help them become better players, college prospects, and NBA draft picks.

Some young players, the article says, start this as early as middle school !

While there are many (many) reasons not to use steroids in the pursuit of better performance on the basketball court, here's another one for aspiring young basketball players to consider:

The use of steroids has been linked to shortened stature.

What does this mean in English?

On top of all the other side effects it can cause - USING STEROIDS CAN MAKE YOU SHORTER as an adult. (It won't shrink you, but may cause you to grow less than you should).

Last I checked, most basketball players want to be taller, not shorter.

Keep that in mind when someone suggests using steroids as a way to get stronger.

Fathers and Daughters

Kate Robertson @ Stone River Reflections

This past week, during a clinic visit for a boy I see, I got to meet his 13 year-old sister, who accompanied him and his parents to the hospital.

During the visit I discovered that the father of this family still plays basketball 3 times a week and, when I asked if his sister played, she told me that basketball was "our thing".
He takes her to games and they spend time talking and being with each other.
A nice for both of them to share their enjoyment of the game and each other.

So here's to the fathers that pass the ball (and their love for the game) to their daughters.
Just another way that basketball brings people together.