ATHLETES WHO TAKE DRUGS HURT TEAMS

In response to the letter concerning the Oneonta baseball player that was
"benched for dope" -- if his chance at a college or professional baseball
career is at risk, whose fault is it? The newspaper for printing that he
got caught, or him for taking the chance, knowing he was breaking athletic
rules.

Last year it was some other Oneonta baseball players in trouble. The ones
who suffer are the rest of the team. If an athlete wants to take the risk,
he deserves to lose the chance to make it. There are hundreds of other
athletes wanting the same thing who are smart enough to keep away from
drugs and alcohol.

How many times in the last year have we read about some of the area's top
talent getting into trouble? Maybe they get off too easy sometimes, but why
think it can't happen?

I have a son who is an ace pitcher. No one is perfect, but all through high
school he has put his dreams ahead of peer pressure, and I respect him
greatly for that. If teammates were to get caught and ruin his final
season, such as what happened in Morris basketball this year, he could
never get that back. Is it fair to those who work hard and make something
of themselves?

That student should have thought of the consequences. It really is too bad,
because he's obviously a talented ball player, but sometimes you get what
you ask for.

I agree with drug tests for athletes. If you sign the code of conduct, then
there should be no problem with getting tested. The only problem would be
not enough athletes left to make a team! I don't believe any of our schools
realize just how big their drug problems are.

Kathy Weber, Bainbridge