One of the aspects of this case I’ve been pondering overnight is that there are some classic stories about someone altering himself, liking the results, and then fearing what happens when life returns to normal. One example is Disney’s Aladdin, and where Aladdin uses the Genie’s power to become a prince, and then feels he has to keep using the Genie’s power to perpetuate the lie. I’ve not actually read “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” but if I understand correctly, Dr. Jekyll grew addicted to the thrill of being Mr. Hyde to the point he couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. The Spiderman 3 with the Venom suit also comes to mind, where Peter likes how he becomes under the influence of Venom and keeps turning back to it. I’m also thinking of a fantasy series by Melanie Rawn, “Dragon Prince” and “Dragon Star”, in which there is a drug called dranath that is highly addicting, but can augment the powers of the magic users. A character ends up addicted to it in the “Dragon Star” trilogy because he felt he couldn’t accomplish what he needed to without its additional power.
All of this is to say that Profar’s return to doping is understandable (though not certainly not to be condoned) from the aspect of liking who he was while doping, and either not liking the “normal” Profar, or fearing what will happen when he goes back to being “normal” Profar. Under the influence of the steroids, he feels good, he’s stronger, faster, better, and without the steroids, he’s nothing. While the steroids are a risk, if he goes back to being normal, people will wonder why he’s not performing as well as the previous season, which means it is just as risky (so he thinks) to not dope as to dope.
How often do we come across, “I like who am I better when I…”, especially when it comes to drugs and alcohol? The performance-enhancing substances offer an incredibly tempting, fast, and easy way to “become” the person one wants to be. Of course, that doesn’t actually make someone the person he wants to be, only creating an illusion, and it is fear of losing that illusion that powers the addiction. Of course, there’s also those fairy-tale happy endings where the prop is removed and the person finds he had the ability all along, such as with the magic dancing shoes that weren’t really magical, or the ring that wasn’t really the Schwartz but a toy from a Cracker Jack box. Maybe Profar thought he just needed the steroids to boost himself up, and after that he could maintain his abilities without doping. But real life endings are usually unhappy, precautionary tales, and that seems to be the case here.
Ethics Alarms 
Jack, thanks for the CotD. But great sacred bovine, that analysis by Brittany Ghiroli is chilling. It almost makes me wonder if MLB is silently encouraging players to dope by allowing such incentives to persist. After all, if most dopers pass without getting caught, that means more exciting games, more hits, more home runs, more stolen bases, and maybe thus more fan involvement and more money flowing into the program.
It also reinforces my conviction that players like ARod, Bonds and Manny Ramirez were especially heinous and indefensible. They were already stars and cheated anyway.
“It almost makes me wonder if MLB is silently encouraging players to dope by allowing such incentives to persist.”
Wonder what the MLBPA thinks…
PWS
Sure. Think about it. The Steroid Cheats liked and like that they become superstars with supertalent. It makes sense. It is allure of fame and fortune and the Fountain of Youth. It is in line with plastic surgery to remove crows’ feet and sagging skin and other perceived maladies that accompany the inevitability of aging. Narcissism? Maybe.
But, the other side is the effect of aging: José Padilla (I made up the name) was an up-and-coming third baseman for the Nashville Songsters. He has been in the majors for two years after languishing in the minors for 6 seasons. Is three year $7 million contract is up for renewal this year. He bats .293, is OBP is .325, and he has 58 career HRs. He had his best season last year. Now, he is 31 years old but sfffers from chronic ACL issues, missing 30 games last season. He has an ex-wife and child support.
There is a 21 year old hotshot out of Oklahoma, hitting .325, has 50 HRs in college, and is expected to go No. 1 in this year’s draft, probably commanding $40 million a year in guaranteed salary plus options and bonuses. He is also an outstanding 3rd baseman and the Songsters are hot to get their mits on him.
Where does that leave José? José is facing non-renewal and has to compete with an unmitigated challenger to his place on the roster. If he doesn’t perform and is continually hurt the Songsters are not going to renew him. He is not strong enough to interest other teams. He is effectively done. His choice is to work out to improve his game in the off season. Or, he can get some chemical assistance to help him get to the next level.
jvb
If memory serves, I recall reading that the wehrmacht routinely issued amphetamines to the troops on at least the Eastern Front, I think because the pace of combat operations was so fierce and grueling.
I think I’ve also read about them being freely available in either NFL or MLB clubhouses, don’t recall which (if not both).
Enhancements of many types can be addictive or perceived as essential. Without makeup, for example, I look like something the cat barfed up. But I’m not breaking any laws or rules.