either. Before games, the boy’s baseball team does not allow the starting pitcher to stretch with them or speak to them in the dugout before the game starts. In the same sense, the girl’s softball team strictly forbids any of their players from walking on the solid white foul line. These superstitions work for some athletes. Do not think that professional athletes are exempt from placebos, either. Even though they are very common at the recreational, high school, and college level, superstitions run rampant in professional sports league. One of the players on the New York Mets, Turk Wendell has a superstition of his own. Wendell wears a necklace during every game made from the teeth of various animals he has hunted and killed. He is not the only baseball player to believe an accessory brings him luck, but he is one of the only to make his own accessory and even further make his out of teeth. Golf player Tiger Woods exemplifies superstitions in his attire during his matches. During every game on Sunday, Woods can be found wearing a red shirt. When asked about it in an interview, Woods explained that his mother told him at a young age that as a Capricorn, his power would be highest when he wore a red jersey. A former Miami Heat player, Caron Butler strays from originality
in the sense that instead of drinking water or sports drinks, Butler drinks Mountain Dew to hydrate during a game. Now Butler plays for the Dallas Mavericks, but this tradition originally began when he was in college playing for the Heat. He would drink half of a two-liter bottle of the ultra-caffeinated soda before the game. Around half time, he would drink the other half. One of the strangest yet most predictable superstitions of them all, takes place in soccer. Ecuador’s national soccer team believed their talent wasn’t enough to gain their success in the World Cup of 2006 in Germany. So naturally, they called in a witch doctor to perform voodoo before every game. Power balance bracelets are another good example of superstitions in sports. These bracelets basically promise athletes who wear them that they will be balanced, energized, relaxed and ready. “Power balance bracelets typically aren’t a superstition, because they actually can, depending on what they’re made of, redirect energy flow,” Physical trainer and sports medicine teacher Ms. Michelle Benz said. “When they’re being shown in a store, you can actually see that they do help relax your muscles.” Essentially candy bars in disguise, protein bars are all the rage. Instead of fighting fatigue, improving concentration and boosting your
work out, protein bars tend to do the opposite. The bar leaves you with loads of sugar, oil and excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals. Athletes seem to think that eating a protein bar is the same as eating a full meal before a game. “Sometimes before I work out I don’t really have time to eat a full, balanced meal,” sophomore Samantha Ganter said. “So I just grab a protein bar because it leaves me feeling as full as I would if I ate a real meal.” Choosing a well-balanced meal or snack is always better than cutting corners and eating a protein bar. Although the bar does give you protein, fiber, and necessary nutrients, a whole meal will provide all of the above and more. If an athlete should choose a protein bar, they should choose one without hydrogenated oils or saturated fats and avoid hidden sugars such as sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, or dextrose. Superstitions and rituals are small sacrifices athletes choose to make. None of these rituals are proven to help athletes succeed in their sports, but they set something off in the athlete’s mind that makes them think they are playing better.
Victoria Arguelles Staff Writer v.arguelles.thepanther@gmail.
What nutrients are you really getting? Iron: Essential for the proper growth and development for the human body. It also helps muscles function.
By Sereena Gee
Magnesium: Helps to prevent cardiovascular disease and treats migraines, insomnia and depression.
Vitamin A: Beneficial for healthy eyes and prevents formation of urinary stones.
Sodium: Important for blood regulation, enzyme operations, and muscle contraction.
s.mccrink.thepanther@gmail.com
INFOGRAPHIC BY ALEXIS BARKOW AND RYAN TROUT
Staff Writer s.gee.thepanther@gmail.com
DANIEL LEDBETTER
Electrolytes: Helps replenish what you lose after you sweat. It can be found in gatorade drinks.
Shane McCrink Staff Writer
Among high school sports athletes there is an unavoidable competitive nature. Student athletes constantly compete for their coach’s attention and admiration. Coaches often unintentionally select favorites, creating conflicts within the team. Junior Ashlynn Dobbs, a member of the lacrosse team, says that the better players on her team get treated with more respect. “From coach, she definitely treats you with more respect, and respects your opinion more in certain things,” Dobbs said. “I feel like she is more friendly with the starters than the bench warmers.” When selecting the startering players, coaches first must decide between choosing players for the benefit of the team or giving everyone equal playing time. “I think our coaches are very fair,” said Ms. Yvette McKinney, athletics director. “I think the kids, the student athletes, want to win as much as the coaches do, so they want the best player to be playing also.” Selection varies between sports. Some sports allow everyone to play the same position, while others are more selective. “It depends on the sports,” Ms. McKinney said. “Most of them, let’s use football, there are 11 different positions, there are skills that you have to have for different things. Golf is pretty even.” Players treated with less respect than other members of the team typically feel unsatisfiedand upset with the lack of attention that they are getting. “Typically the most talented players are the top players,” said Ms. Kimberly Latshaw, a physical education teacher. “Whether their talent was a God-given gift, they worked harder, and it gives them an advantage to be in a starting line
High school PED rumors on the horizon
With the Biogenesis Major League Baseball (MLB) scandal and lawsuit coming to a close, Alexander Rodriguez and 12 other major league baseball players are in suspension after being accused of obtaining performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) from the Biogenesis Clinic. The Biogenisis scandal broke out in the middle of 2013 due to an annoyed ex employee that revealed their secret distribution of human growth hormone to various baseball players in the major leagues. The MLB later sued six people involved in the scandal, accusing them of damaging the sport by providing illegal substances to its players. After the break of this story, people are left wondering if the use of PEDs in the high school baseball level is a common occurrence. According to the Miami Herald, five past high school players from the Miami-Dade and Broward area, who are now in college, were also mentioned on the list alongside the 13 players suspended from the MLB. Although the alleged list has not been released yet, rumor has it that on the list are two current high school players from private schools in the area. “As a baseball player, I have no respect for other players who cheat their way to the top by using steroids to enhance their strength and game,” sophomore Brandon Brookins said. “This is unfair to players like me because I could be facing a player who has an unfair advantage.” Testing each and every baseball player in the area is not a simple task. Each test would cost up to $150 per athlete and there is simply not enough funding. Although, if the Florida High School Activities Association (FHSAA) is suspicious about a certain player, they will contact the school and ask the principal to hold their own investigation to determine if the accusation is true or false. They do not have the authority to drug test a student athlete themselves. “Even though I have never met someone who has used a performance enhancement drug, I think it’s a disgrace to the name of baseball,” junior Kevin Barbato said. “I think the players that use PEDs should be banned from the
game permanently and should be stripped of their accomplishments; they have tainted the name of the game.” In 2008, 600 student athletes at different schools and engaged in different sports were tested by the PED-testing program. After spending $105,000, only one positive test came back from a football player at Glades Day School in Palm Beach County. There was an exception to this occurrence due to a special grant from the state Legislature, otherwise this would not be permitted to occur. When a high school player tests positive for the use of PEDs, harsh punishments are usually implemented following an investigation. After the student is found guilty they will receive
Ambitions:
“I’d love to play golf in college. I’m talking to a few colleges, including Elon and Setson Univeristy.”
actions into their own hands rather than the FHSAA. “If our county had the funding I think we should make PED testing mandatory in order to participate in athletics,” junior Felix Garcia said. “Cheating your way to the college and major league level isn’t fair to the kids playing fair. After taking steroids for a few years your skills start to diminish anyway. I don’t see the point when you can exercise, eat right and practice the game. Many parents and coaches are guilty of pushing their kids or athletes to the major league level when they simply can’t handle it.”
Sidney Sterling PR Manager s.sterling.thepanther@gmail.com
PEDS by the numbers
8.8 5-12% THIRTY
13
percent of high school football players use steroids
of all male high school students have used anabolic steroids by the time they are seniors
fifty seven
baseball players have been suspended since 2005
of female high school students use steroids
per cent of hig h sc hoo l bas ket ba ll pla yer s use steroids
PERCENT of top ten homerun baseball players have used steroids
1930
anabolic steroids were created
INFOGRAPHIC BY ALEXIS BARKOW, RYAN TROUT, AND SHANE MCCRINK
MVP
Grade: 12 Sport: Golf Height: 6’0 Age: 17
a 90-day suspension, mandatory compliance of all rules, forced to take another drug test, placed in a steroid education program and possibly suspended from participation in that certain sport. When high school students are caught using PEDs the public immediately becomes interested and begins to pry into that individuals personal life. Just like the student from Glades Day School, the high school athlete will remain nameless due to them being a protected minor. In February 2009, a baseball coach at Jacksonville Wolfson High was found putting Creatine (a non steroid muscle builder) in the jug that the whole team used during games and practices to refill their bottles. This is another example of the school taking disciplinary
minimum penalty for getting caught with steroids
Vitamin B2: Crucial to breaking down food components, absorbing other nutrients, and maintaning tissue.
Competitive Nature of Sports
21
$1,000
Johnny Manziel, better known by his trademarked nickname, Johnny Football, has had a busy offseason ever since last December when he became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman trophy. Johnny Football has been one of the most popular figures in sports throughout this past year due to his activities both on and off the field. Manziel got kicked out of a frat party at rival school University of Texas, threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game, attended Miami Heat playoff games, and was kicked out of the Manning Passing Academy due to arriving late after a night of partying. Amid his partying and irresponsible behavior over the past summer, he was also accused of making profit from selling autographed memorabilia to fans. He signed that in a Miami hotel room at the time of the BCS National Championship Game back in January, which is illegal according to NCAA rules. Although Manziel denies these allegations, he has several autograph brokers who confirm he committed the act. According to one broker, Manziel was paid $7,500 to autograph 300 football helmets. The same broker also has two cellphone videos of Manziel signing the memorabilia to prove it. It is possible that Johnny Football, due to his family wealth in the oil industry, has a "Daddy will take care of my problems" mentality which may be why he has been acting so irresponsible lately. This is not the first time we have seen scandals in the world of college football where players have made money from memorabilia and accepted improper benefits. Ohio State Quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, and teammates DeVier Posey, Daniel Herron, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas, were suspended for five games in the 2011 season for trading on-field awards for tattoos and cash. Pryor left Ohio State for the NFL after 2010 and did not serve his five game suspension. Also in 2010, Georgia receiver A.J. Green was suspended for four games due to selling a game-worn jersey for $1,000. Some think the NCAA is too strict and has way too much control over their student athletes. Others think college athletes should get paid considering that sports teams bring universities across the country millions of dollars annually. Some thought Manziel would lose eligibility due to the accusations, if they were true, but it turns out he was only suspended for the first half of Texas A&M's season opener against Rice. He had 3 TDs on 6-8 passing for 94 yards in his return to the football field. Manziel hopes to repeat as the Heisman winner in 2013.
When a person thinks of sports, sweat, hard work and dedication come to mind. What does not come to mind are placebos. A placebo is a stimulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to mislead the patient. Simply put, a placebo is something a person takes or does to make themself feel better when they are not actually doing anything to help themselves. In sports, placebos are referred to as superstitions, rituals, or traditions. Student athletes have superstitions. According to senior Shelby Denkert, her soccer coach Lyndsay Segara wears the same pair of shorts to games in hopes of getting a winning streak, only to stop wearing them after the team loses. “After we win, she’ll just keep wearing the same shorts until we lose,” Denkert said. “I don’t really understand it but she thinks it works.” Members of the cross country team believe if they don’t use the bathroom before they run, they will be distracted and impatient and won’t be as successful as they would if they had gone to the bathroom before the big game. “You always have to go to the bathroom before you run,” junior Aaron Maxwell said. “Always. Never forget to go to the bathroom before you run or it won’t be good.” The baseball and softball teams are not strangers to superstitions,
SPORTS
1%
20 SPORTS NCAA Buzz Hidden placebo effects power up athletes
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Claim to Fame
9 hole scoring average: 38 Best matching score senior year: 73 Went to states in tenth grade Districts: 76 Regionals: 75
“Daniel has been playing very hard and working very hard,” boys golf coach Craig Karpiak said. “He could possibly end up competing in college.”
Senior Daniel Ledbetter has been playing golf since he was just five years old. He began with little plastic clubs and soon moved up to a set of real clubs. Daniel Ledbetter isn’t the only golfer in the Ledbetter family, his entire family including his dad and grandparents who live in Sweden, regularly partake in the sport. His favorite part of the sport is “the challenge of it and getting the opportunity to play with kids all over the world. Practicing and playing golf everyday is hard to balance with school, but if I’m not at the golf course I’m usually doing homework,” Ledbetter said.