Steroid scandal turns sports glory into shame

"Sport: An activity involving exertion and skill in which an individual or team competing against another or others for entertainment."

It's a good definition to remember whether you're a freshman lineman sweating through two-a-days or the parent of a batter with two strikes and the championship on the line.

It says nothing in that definition about the rent money riding on the game, or risking life and limb for a college scholarship.

Don't take this wrong; striving for excellence is an admirable goal in any field of endeavor, whether it's basketball or an everyday job.

But winning at all costs isn't really winning at all, as three-time Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones has proven once again.

Jones admitted using steroids before the Sydney games, where she was the most celebrated female athlete -- coming away with three gold and two bronze medals.

She was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y. today to plead guilty to charges connected to steroid use, and probably will go to jail as well as lose her Olympic medals.

In addition, she could be banned from competition and lose all her other other medals from world competitions.

We have doubts she really believed the vials of drugs she received from a former trainer were "flaxseed oil," but if she did, she should have come clean when the issue first surfaced years ago.

"The clear" drug Jones reportedly used is the same substance linked to home run king Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi and Detroit Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield. All reportedly obtained it from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative company.

We all love a winner, whether it's our favorite professional team, college squad wearing red or purple, school or even intramural team. We should do everything we can to encourage excellence in ourselves and those we mentor.

With all of the other troubles in the world, we need the diversion sports offer, and it's great when our favorite athletes are successful.

But not at the cost of cheating, and especially when that cheating endangers their health.

That takes all the glory and turns it to shame.