Todd Gillispie
Prof. MacAdams
8/23/10
Sports Ethics: How Technology Alters the Balance of Fairness

Over the years sports have made great strides in improving fairness so as to create a more competitive form of entertainment. In the early years before the advancements in technology and development of enhancement drugs, it was talent that set athletes apart from one another. But as the number of athletes rose and the revenue generated by sports, as well as the salaries of players, escalated exponentially, so did the need to excell. Accordingly, athletes looked for anything that would give them an edge. Sports enhancers were used to obtain a competitive advantage, thus disrupting the concept of fairness. The problem of fairness did not only lie in the use of enhancers, but also with play calling. In most sports you have an official or team of officials who are solely responsible for ensuring all calls are made correctly. Because of “human error”, as well as the possibility of biased officiating, the idea evolved of using camera systems whose sole duty is to record all plays that can be replayed to ensure that calls were correctly made. In this paper I will analyze two forms of technology – one from a pure technology perspective and one from a medical perspective - that have both positive and negative aspects in tipping the scale of fairness. For most sports, the sole purpose of a video replay system is to determine the correctness of close calls or controversial plays. Because of the high costs of television cameras and other ancillary equipment, the video replay system is primarily used only at the professional level. In this section I will discuss the use of replay systems in the three major sports which are most widely followed in the United States: baseball, basketball and football. Each has its own unique interpretation of implementing the use of cameras and playbacks in order to eliminate human error. In baseball there are possibilities for considerable human errors, as four umpires each in their own section of the baseball field make thrie own calls. Since an umpire cannot see every angle on a close play, he has to rely on his own judgment to make the correct call. The only problem is that there is huge room for human error. In order to help alleviate this problem, Major League Baseball (MLB) implemented a video replay system in August of 2008 but only in certain situations. (Curry, Jun 2008) The replay is only used for determining if a ball is a homerun or not and if there is spectator interference. The first time a replay was used was at the beginning of the 2008 season when Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees hit a home run near the foul pole in left field. The manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, Joe Maddon, and the catcher argued profusely that it was a foul ball and not a home run. All of the umpires and crew chief consulted and granted the replay, which upheld the home run. Due to the newness of this technology, there have yet been discussions of increasing the usage of replay in other controversial areas such as base running and plate calling. During the current baseball season, there have been some notable instances where an expanded replay system would have been beneficial. One such instance occurred on June 2, 2010 when the starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, Armando Galarraga, lost his chance at a perfect game as a result of the first base umpire making an incorrect call. Upon the completion of the play, the jumbo screen replayed the play over and over in slow motion, which revealed the umpire’s mistake. Had there been an expanded replay system, the four umpires would have watched the play and overturned the original call, thus giving the young pitcher his perfect game. In basketball the use of instant replay is quite different. The use of the replay system is only at the discretion of the referees. It was first instituted to determine if a shot had been released before the game clock expired. Starting in 2002, the National Basketball Association (NBA) made it mandatory that all arenas install light strips on the backboard and on the scorer’s table that would illuminate when time expired. The first time replay was used was in game four of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. As the second quarter was coming to a close, a player from the L.A. Lakers took a half court shot that went in. The replay conclusively showed that the player had released the shot after time expired. Following this game, the use of instant replay was instituted. It was not until five years later that the replay system’s role was increased. It is now being used for determining which players to eject from a brawl or as a result of a flagrant foul, to determine whether a field goal is worth two or three points and it can be used to determine how much time should be removed from the clock in cases of clock malfunction. These additions have had great effects maintaining the integrity of basketball. The National Football League (NFL) instituted its replay system in 1986. Initially the decision to replay calls had to come from the coaches’ booth. In 1999, the NFL adopted a new system that allowed the head coach to call for a replay on the field itself. However, in order to avoid prolonging football games, the league limited each coach to two challenges per game. To further discourage the use of a challenges, the NFL penalized a team if a coach’s challenge was unsuccessful by having the team forfeit one of its timeouts. Accordingly, coaches have to be judicious in picking the right play to challenge thus indirectly creating a more competitive environment. But with this risk came a reward. If a coach wins both of his challenges, he is awarded a third challenge. That way if a coach rolls the dice and wins, they earn the chance to roll it one more time. The NFL replay system currently only covers the following situations:

• Scoring plays • Pass complete/incomplete/intercepted • Runner/receiver out of bounds • Recovery of a loose ball in or out of bounds • Touching of a forward pass, either by an ineligible receiver or a defensive player • Quarterback pass or fumble • Illegal forward pass • Forward or backward pass • Runner ruled not down by contact • Forward progress in regard to a first down • Touching of a kick • Other plays involving placement of the football • Whether a legal number of players is on the field at the time of the snap

Due to these restrictions, there have still been plays in which human error has cost a team a win. One such incident occurred in September of ’08 when the San Diego Chargers were facing the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. In the last two minutes of the game, the quarterback, Jay Cutler, ”fumbled” the ball thus ostensibly causing a change of possession. The only problem was that the referee, Ed Hochuli, had blown the play dead. Although a review showed that it was indeed a fumble, the NFL instant replay rules could not be used inasmuch as the play was over as a result of Hochuli’s action. Two plays later the Broncos scored the winning touchdown. While the NFL has made great strides in trying to create fairness so as to have a more competitive environment, one area that can be improved is still the replay system. Football is the only sport in which a replay system is used for non-professional level competition. The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) has adopted a modified replay system in college football. If two teams from the same conference are playing each other, the league decides whether to use instant replay, but for non-conference games, the home team makes the decision. The other major difference from professional football is the number of challenges a team receives. Once per game, each head coach may also call a timeout and challenge the ruling on the previous play before the next play starts. A coach must have at least one timeout remaining in order to challenge. If they are successful with the challenge, a second challenge is issued to the team. On the flip side, if the challenge is unsuccessful, the team loses a timeout. This situation is a risk reward in the sense that if you win the challenge you are given the opportunity to challenge another play later in the game. But if you fail your team loses one of its three precious timeouts. Through the usage of instant replay, even in a limited sense, it allows teams a chance to correct any two calls that might have been questionable due to human error. The use of HGH or Human Growth Hormone and steroids has been a major issue among sports today. Some use it to gain that extra edge over the competition, others as a way to recover quickly from injury. Many would think why would taking HGH/steroids to come back from injury be a bad thing. With the way that professional athlete’s contracts are, especially in baseball and football; the more you produce, the more you will make. In an attempt to equalize the balance of fairness, many sporting leagues passed a ban of certain illegal substances that were believed to increase performance. In the following section I will be analyzing the impact of HGH/steroids in two of our nations past times: Baseball and Football. The issue of banned substances in baseball has been a major problem dating back to the earliest days of the sport. The first person known for using steroids was a pitcher from the St. Louis Brown Stockings, Pud Galvin. Due to this, many sports writers and enthusiasts would constantly speculate when a big name player begins to fade. One such occasion was when a book entitled, “The Baseball Hall of Shame's Warped Record Book”, written by Bruce Nash, Bob Smith, and Allan ZulloIn, included accusations that homerun king Babe Ruth injected himself with an extract of sheep testicles. Through the use of this injection, Mr. Ruth became ill, causing the NY Yankees to claim his absence from the lineup was due to “a bellyache”. (Zirin May 2008) In the past decade several players have come forth either due to being ousted or from gaining a conscience. A few of these notable players are Jose Conseco, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez. Following his admission to using steroids, Mr. Conseco published a tell-all book, Juiced, where he describes how these drugs shaped his career. Later in the book, he revealed several players he believed to be known steroid users. Of these were big homerun hitters Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi, both of which have admitted to these claims. This book led to the world of baseball to question just how big of an issue steroids had become. Many remember Mr. McGwire for setting the single season homerun record, previously held by Roger Maris. The record was sixty-one homeruns, a feat that looked like would never be topped, but when not only Mr. McGwire but two others also broke it, people were both shocked and curious. So when Mr. Conseco’s book was released critics called for all three players’ names, be stricken from the record books. For a detailed description of the past two decades, see the Appendix. It shows chronologically the events of the steroid era. This era, as shown started with Jose Conseco and for the time being, ended with Manny Ramirez. One of the most notable events on this chart has yet to be represented only because it is still ongoing is the Roger Clemens Saga. Back in February of ’08 when he voluntarily appeared in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after being referenced in the famed Mitchell Report. This report detailed eighty-two players who were known steroid users. During his appearance, Mr. Clemens was very adamant in his innocence of not taking steroids. “I have never taken steroids or HGH." (Quinn Aug. 2010) A long time friend and teammate, Andy Pettitte, would prove to be the stepping-stone for his demise. He told the Committee that Mr. Clemens had confessed to him his steroid use. This along with the physical evidence provided by Mr. McNamee during his defamation suit with Mr. Clemens would be sufficient enough for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to indict him on six counts of perjury. All this because an athlete who is past his prime did not want to admit to using steroids. Now, instead of the Hall of Fame, baseball's seven-time Cy Young winner could go to prison. (Quinn Aug. 2010) It is still unclear as to how far this issue truly goes because of the eighty-two players named in the Mitchell Report, only the few mentioned were revealed. Until the rest of the names are released, all players who make an impact from here on out will be closely monitored.

Though the issue of banned substance use is not as big as it is in baseball, in terms of media focus, HGH/steroids has been an ongoing issue in the NFL since the late 1980s. It wasn’t until the 1987 season that the league began drug testing for steroids, and issued suspensions starting in the 1989 season. Due to the competitiveness of the NFL, the better you are, the more money/endorsements a player will make. One notable incident of steroid use was in 1992, when a player Lyle Alzado, died from brain cancer, which he attributed to the use of anabolic steroids. (Puma July 2007) It was later revealed by his doctor that the steroids did not cause his death. Prior to his death, Mr. Alzado recounted in an interview with sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, his steroid abuse. “I started taking anabolic steroids in 1969 and never stopped. It was addicting, mentally addicting. Now I'm sick, and I'm scared. Ninety percent of the athletes I know are on the stuff. We're not born to be 300 lbs or jump 30ft. But all the time I was taking steroids, I knew they were making me play better. I became very violent on the field and off it. I did things only crazy people do. Once a guy sideswiped my car and I beat the hell out of him. Now look at me. My hair's gone, I wobble when I walk and have to hold on to someone for support, and I have trouble remembering things. My last wish? That no one else ever dies this way." (# 7 on NFL reference section) Many would think that this incident would transfer to a lower rate of steroid users but it had the reverse effect. By 2005 there were as many as 111 NFL players who had tested positive of banned substances. Of these players, the NFL only suspended 54 players. (#17 on NFL reference section) This issue did not only affect the pro-level, but was traced all the way back to high school players. These young athletes partook in these substances as a way to increase their likelihood of going in to the NFL. The main motivator was money. The better you are, the higher you are drafted and the more money you will make. Recently a study was performed to find out the extent of steroid use. The figures showed that one percent of all college football players failed drug tests taken before bowl games, and three percent admitted to using steroids. (Eggers May 2008) In order to ensure that this trend does not reoccur, the NCAA decided to administer random drug tests to all players. During 2005, a former Brigham Young player Jason Scukanec had created controversy. Though he never admitted to using, he stated that many notable Division I schools had steroid users. “Over the course of my five years at BYU, I have concrete proof of 13 to 15 guys (using steroids), and I would suspect five others...And BYU is more temperate than most programs. Being around NFL and NFL Europe players, they would tell me stuff that blew my mind. I know other schools are worse. I would bet my house you could find at least five guys on every Division I team in the country (using steroids).” (Eggers May 2008) He then goes on to recount a time when one of his friends had to have him administer syringes of steroids during their college days. “My best friend was a steroid monster. I shot him up probably four times in the butt. He couldn’t do it himself. He was afraid of needles. He was naturally 245 or 250 pounds, but he got up to 312 with a 36-inch waist. He had stretch marks on his chest and shoulder and eventually blew out both of his knees. When I was with the Broncos, they brought him in for a workout. The offensive line coach came to me and said, ‘What’s your friend on?’ Another guy we played with, who is still in the NFL, would come back at the end of a season weighing 270. Three weeks into the off-season, he was 295 and buffed. It wasn’t a big mystery what he was doing. Three guys I played with in the NFL, I saw them use (steroids). The coaches knew the guys on the juice. To pretend it doesn’t go on would be a farce. It’s the big no-no nobody wants to talk about. And you don’t want to know what’s going on at the junior college level, where no testing is being done.“ (Eggers May 2008) This account shows how steroid use transitioned to the pro-level. As was the issue with college football, the same can be said for high school athletes. Because high school is the first stepping-stone for any athlete to begin their rise to stardom, it is increasingly crucial that they separate themselves from the rest. During the span of twelve years, the number of high school steroid users doubled. This result was shown during a survey that showed six percent of about 15,000 players surveyed, admitted to using some sort of performance enhancing substance at some point in their high school football career. (Livingston June 2005) (Try to find a chart or something to show this data.)