How Does Jose Canseco Use Steroids Ethical?

The use of steroids in major league sports has greatly influenced the way America’s pastimes are enjoyed. In the story of Jose Canseco, he attempts to convince me on several fronts that his use of steroids was neither bad nor significant. Throughout his story he explains to the readers about the shortcomings of baseball through opinions and his own personal experiences. After all is said he does make a compelling argument about the use of performance enhancing drugs, however he fails to convince me on all pillars of persuasion. He tells us ethically that his use had very little influence on him, while making us passionate in his quest to be the best, all the while making his argument logical. I found that his argument here is flawed regardless

“It’s just human nature to feel awkward and afraid when you first experience something, and when I had my first couple shots of steroids, I was so nervous it was just ridiculous.” (49) Can something really be ethical if it makes you that nervous? Canseco is trying to justify his use of steroids by simply saying well everyone gets nervous. Due to Canseco’s steroid use his baseball performance was at a peak which allowed him to travel playing baseball and meeting “road beef.” (96) “Any girl you met on the road and had sex with….It just meant a piece of meat, a piece of ass for the player to enjoy while he was away from home.” (96) Jose was gifted with the ability to play baseball and travel mostly due to his steroid use, while away he could not even stay loyal to his own wife. The same wife who helped him inject himself, he cheats on for women met on the road. Jose Canseco says that his use of steroids did not contribute to a “roid rage” effect however Jessica may have a different perspective. When Jose says “Jessica and I started arguing while we were in a friend’s car…. I pulled her hair.” (189) Could these arguments have started with or without steroids, possible. However not in the same magnitude due to his steroid use. Commonly people believe that steroids have the ability to make people go into a “roid rage” or an agitated delirium. Canseco tries to trick us

This is where you see the typical underdog battling the odds to achieve the most, which who does not enjoy a story as such. “I remember every now and then, Ozzie and I would play around, either kicking each other or trying out some of Bruce Lee’s other moves.” (24) Jose is forming his rapport with the reader, he connects by bringing up nostalgic memories of playing with family members. In forming this connection he also succeeds in covering up his present reputation given by racial factors. “My dad earned a good living in Cuba during the Batista years, working as a territory manager for Esso Standard Oil.” (17) By saying this Canseco proclaims being Cuban resulted in a negative experience both in life and baseball specifically. With deep roots in the Cuban culture, for him to come to America puts him completely out of his comfort zone to a point where he questions himself being here. “They are nothing to mess around with casually, and if anything, devoting yourself to the systemic use of steroids means you have to stay away from recreational drugs.” (1) As Jose says this throughout the novel he talks about people he helped inject and then people who died due to drug interactions. Jose has good intentions with stating this on the first page however completely contradicts himself as the book progresses. Additional Jose