It’s all around us when we turn the TV on to catch the 5pm news cast or a local weather update; it’s another story about how another professional athlete has tested positive for steroids. Professional sports have been an icon of American popular culture throughout history and will continue to be for generations to come. We follow our favorite players and whole heartedly cheer them on as they get closer to breaking another record we never thought possible. Many of us vicarious live our lost youths through the sports characters and personalities we choose to support. We whole heartedly support the hero image of a Barry Bonds personality cracking his record home run over the center wall to only have our hopes shattered in a thirty second news cast. Feeling betrayed it becomes difficult to believe in another hero because the unknown is now known.
American Sports is an icon of popular culture because it is always a battle of the rivals and often a perception of good versus evil. It is the absence of knowing “how did he do that” that makes it all worth the while. The initial shock though of discovering the truth how your hero has become superhuman through the use of illegal steroids leaves a lingering sensation of betrayal. The home run record is no longer an accomplishment but a mere representation of a cheater’s record.
The most disturbing fact about this chapter of American popular culture is the misinterpretation relayed to youth athletes. Popular culture has persuaded the American Society to become tolerant and make non-justifiable behavior acceptable. Steroid use in professional sports will have widespread affects for years to come as the devastating effects of prolonged steroid use by the American youth will exist within a majority of an athletic generation. Steroid use is an undesirable aspect of popular culture but will remain popular due to its glamorization by the popular electronics culture.
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