USE DRUGS, THAT'S IT, YOU'RE OUT

Recently, I was on the bridge of a container ship heading up the ship channel from the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans. The ship was being guided by two pilots. In between the heading instructions they gave to the helmsman they talked among themselves. I could not help but overhear their conversations. They were big fans of the National Football League. Among other subjects, they discussed the problem of drug use among professional athletes in football, basketball and baseball.

One of the pilots said, "In our job, you use drugs, that's it, you're out." They felt it should be the same way in pro-sports. "They should tell the players, WE PAY YOU BIG BUCKS, SO DON'T DO DRUGS. PERIOD." The pilots agreed that the player contracts should contain a standard clause prohibiting any use of performance enhancing substances and any drugs other than those prescribed by a qualified liscensed physician. All player contracts should specify that any illegal use of drugs, including the smoking of marijuana, would result in their immediate and permanent suspension with no possibilty of reinstatement as a player or in any other capacity within the league.

The pilots also agreed that the team owners and the player unions would each vehemently oppose any such clause. The owners make an awful lot of money off their star players, while the main business of the unions is the protection of their members, the players. The pilots then discussed whether a lesser penalty might be acceptable to the owners and unions. Their alternative was a full-season suspension for the first-time use of drugs and a permanent ban from playing for any subsequent use of drugs. They also felt that the owners and unions would be just as opposed to this proposal.

Athetes have been pampered from high school through college. In basketball, the majority of players never graduate from college - some of them couldn't spell "cat" if you spotted them the "c" and the "t." Many pro-football players have also failed to obtain a college degree. The pampering continues in the professional leagues. The current penalties for drug use are a joke in all leagues.

In many occupations, the illegal use of drugs mandates a license revocation and a permanent ban from working in that occupation. And so it should be with professional athletes. The pilots got it right when they said that any illegal use of drugs by a professional ball player should result in an immediate and permanent suspension from any further participation in any league activity. A standard contract clause calling for such a penalty would be a powerful deterrent to illegal drug use. It's a shame the team owners, the player unions, and the players themselves don't see it that way.