Lots about steroids and performance enhancing substances this week. Anyone who thinks this is a problem only for professional sports is kidding themselves.

It’s in the college ranks, and yes, the high schools as well.

I, for one, don’t understand. Knowing what we do about these drugs, how dangerous they are in the long run- how anyone would knowingly inject themselves so they can hit a baseball another 50 feet.

Look at the list at the bottom of this page: http://prowrestling.about.com/od/whatsrealwhatsfake/a/wrestlersdeaths.htm

Most of those listed are men whose bodies failed them due to steroid abuse.

Look at it again, I’ll wait.

The release of the Mitchell Report this month has done a good thing. First, it’s exposed a major issue in professional sports, and defined what will be knows as the “Steroid Era” in baseball.

After all the headlines, after all the Hall of Famers who will be denied entrance into the hall, after every angle has been talked out- what the Mitchell report has done is let everyone know that if you cheat the game, whatever game, in this way- you will be caught.

If this keeps one high school athlete from juicing, then it’s a good thing. Smart money says it will prevent a lot more than just one.

Don’t do it. The bottom line is this, before they kill you steroids will make you stronger. But there’s no artificial substitute for talent. Barry Bonds is one of the best hitters in baseball without steroids. With them, long fly ball outs become home runs.

You have to have the talent and the drive as a base- and if you have those things and work harder than anyone else- you can succeed as one of the small percentage of high school athletes who go on to play at the next level. Take steroids and your chances of moving on increase only slightly, as do your chances of being kicked off a team- and even worse, dying a slow painful death at a young age.

Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. If a long career as a professional athlete isn’t in your future you can’t force it to happen artificially without paying a steep price.

Brian is Creative Services Director for FOX 11and My Tucson TV-18.