Our initial SOUND OFF column was entitled “Her Name Was Katrina” and was dedicated to Charles Hawkins, drug free Mr. Universe, Katrina survivor, and a true Natural Champion.

In “It’s Time For A Change”, our second SOUND OFF column, we listed a wide array of performance enhancing drugs that have pervaded the world of sports, including several varieties of anabolic steroids, noting that it’s not just about steroids but that the list includes human growth hormone, IGF-1, insulin, EPO, diuretics, central nervous stimulators and a variety of anabolic steroids. We also examined the denials of the negative physical and mental side effects of such drugs by listing some of the known side effects – and the tragic end results. This is a must read for anyone who is considering using steroids and/or other illegal substances as well as for coaches, athletes, parents and anyone who is interested in fitness and athletics.

In July, 2006, “It’s Not Just The Big Boys ‘N Girlz” underscored the fact that the use of performance enhancing drugs is not limited to the more visible and high profile performers such as bodybuilders, power lifters and football and baseball players, but that the use of such substances has pervaded virtually every corner of the sports/athletic worlds.

The August, 2006 column entitled “Tilting The Playing Field” examined the oft used excuse “everybody’s doing it” to justify the use of performance enhancing drugs when the reality is that such use doesn’t ‘level the playing field’ – it tilts it.

“Sometimes You’d Rather Be Wrong Than Right” (September, 2006) referred back to our July “It’s Not Just The Big Boys ‘N Girlz” column in which we had said

“The public image of drug use in sports tends to begin and end with images of huge, ripped bodybuilders, suddenly hulking baseball sluggers whose home run production increased in tempo with their body size, football running backs who pack more beef on their frames than the linemen of yesterday, or perhaps the track stars, male and female, with lean racehorse bodies propelled on incredibly muscular and powerful legs. But what about the ‘little’ boys and girls…the less bulky and muscular athletes who compete in tennis and cycling and volleyball and swimming and skiing and….well, table tennis??”

News that the Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, not exactly a muscular giant, had been disqualified for testing positive for testosterone and major league baseball pitcher Jason Grimsley blowing the whistle on big time baseball’s widespread use of growth hormone and amphetamines proved us to be something of prophets…but, as we said, sometimes we’d rather be wrong than right.

“The Other Side Of The Coin” October, 2006, looked at the legitimate medical role of substances such as anabolic steroids and human growth hormone in anti-aging medicine.

We closed out 2006 with December’s column entitled “Use It Or Lose It – We Love When Science Catches Up To What We Already Knew” with a review of a scientific article indicating that exercise is more effective in combating fatigue than a pill. If you know anyone – and everyone does – who complains they’re ‘too tired’ to exercise, show them this article.

2007 started off with “We’re Killing Our Children” – a sobering view of the epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. A must read for anyone, especially parents!

February 2007’s column entitled simply “McGwire” commented on the latest Baseball Writer’s Association of America Hall of Fame voting in which Mark McGwire was denied entry to the hallowed hall, presumably due to the legendary slugger’s alleged use of steroids – and his “I’m not here to talk about the past,” remark during the 2005 Congressional hearing.

The March 2007 column “In The Mind Of The Beholder” commented on the sad and disturbing fact that a large segment of the general population now equates physical excellence with steroids and other drugs – and that a large percentage of athletes and competitors are convinced that drugs are the key to success. A good ‘food for thought’ column.

Last month we ran an interview by David Robson, noted bodybuilding author and our August, 2006 cover Introducing… column feature, with bodybuilding pioneer and publisher Dan Lurie in which Dan expressed his views on steroids and the negative impact drugs have had on sports in general and bodybuilding in particular. If you missed this one, go back and read it!