In an article for RenegadeTrainging.com entitled, Outlaw The Gear, Coach Jim Massaro, wrote: "I was first introduced to the sport of power lifting in the early eighties on "Wide World of Sports," when I could spend a perfect Saturday afternoon watching these amazing feats of strength. I thought to myself, "What type of competition can be better than this? Mental and physical strength against enormous amounts of steel!" To me this was a true test of determining what you were made of." I posted this article on my site because he spoke of Powerlifters today using gear to enhance their lifts and numbers and how the sport has lost its respect. A friendly visitor commented: "But how does one get strong? Shirts may be considered "cheating" by some, but in a sport where steroid and stimulant use is prevalent (and not thoroughly tested) isn't it more appropriate to focus attention on the aids that create "brute strength" more than any article of clothing ever will? " Coach Massaro was friendly enough to offer his comment: "Steroids have with out any question left a black cloud on all sports. One of the main problems is the cost of testing. Most meets do not have the budget for it. Or they turn the other eye. I can only hope that some day someone will come up with the answer to this problem. But one thing I know for sure is that the gear used does not reflect thru numbers." I agree with Coach Massaro's original article as it expressed precisely my family's feelings of using gear in the sport and also offered the opportunity for me to reflect on the steroid issue- one that is always hovering above anything that my step-son does in Powerlifting or Track and Field: We appreciate your comment and insight. Jimmie has racked up some incredible numbers without steroids and without gear. Granted he has great genes from his mother and father- Larry's history and strength is well known, but his mother was quite the competitor in her day and Jimmie gets so much of his lower body strength from her. It is well known that Larry used steroids, but he was born with incredible, natural strength and power. In his day, like Arnold Schwarzenegger has stated, it was par for the course to take steroids. Would Larry have gotten the same numbers without enhancement? Probably not, but the natural ability to dig deep, focus and find strength and power within can not be produced in a lab. Kids and men are racking up incredible numbers with gear and although we are very forthright with Larry's history, we are also very passionate in stating that his numbers and achievements occurred when the sport was respected and no gear was used. Like the hoopla over baseball and steroids- you can take a pill, a shot or wear gear, but if you don't have the eye to look inward and then outward, you don't have the power. Men have been finding ways to make themselves stronger since the Greeks and the more we change the more we stay the same. What do you have inside, what talent lies within, how strong are you as an individual? These are the true questions of a great athlete and their ability to find power and achievement. |
Home Page
