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Low detection rates and high costs are dimming the future of high school steroid testing, says an Associated Press article (www.dailynews.com, 3-17-2009).
New Jersey, Florida, Texas and Illinois all have tried high school steroid testing since 2006. An examination of the results by The Associated Press showed that only 20 tests out of 30,799 came back positive. That number is far below what a University of Michigan survey conducted in 2007 and 2008 found 2.2 percent of high school seniors said they had tried steroids at least once. This was down from four percent in 2002.
Advocates of testing say the results show the program acts as a deterrent. Critics speak of flaws in how tests were conducted. In either case, state legislatures and school district officials probably are finding it difficult to justify spending up to $200 each on tests that seldom catch the users during a deep recession.
Missouri State Sen. Matt Bartlewas pushing for a state-wide steroid-testing program over concern young athletes might be emulating bad habits of professional athletes. However, he decided the effort wouldn’t be cost-effective after Florida dropped its program in 2008 after a high-cost one-year trial.
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When you attend a sporting event, what types of things do you see? Two teams, the fans on both sides of the court or field with their respective teams’ colors; you smell the food from the concession stand; and no matter where you are in the arena, you can sense the spirit of allegiance. That’s what sports do, bring people together…at least for that moment.
Sports are loved by people from all walks of life. Different cultural backgrounds, religions and zip codes all gather at the same place at the same time to watch or compete in their beloved sports. A common experience is shared by all present.
This spirit of unity and coming together is precisely what we capitalize on in Shout Ministries’ Hoopin’ 4 Jesus Basketball Tournament. June 19-20 will be its third annual tournament. The goal is to bring the Christian Community together for friendly competition in order to break barriers of race, denomination and socio-economic status.
The tournament will be held at Sullivan Park in Waterloo. The location is intentional. Sullivan Park lacks positive activities because of the negative reputation of the neighborhood. Shout Ministries believes that good always prevails over bad; light always wins over darkness. When people see a positive Christ-centered event happening in the neighborhood, that positive energy spreads. It snuffs out bad attitudes and brings a ray of hope and encouragement to everyone present.
Churches throughout the Cedar Valley are encouraged to form a team with both members and non-members of their congregation. This lends an opportunity to share a common experience, to work together and to share faith with others in the familiar setting of a basketball game.
The mission statement of Shout Ministries is to tear down walls of injustice through Christ-centered events, culturally relevant evangelism and discipleship. Hoopin’ 4 Jesus Basketball Tournament is one way to put hands and feet to the mission. Visit www.ShoutMinistries.org to learn more about the tournament and how to be involved.
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