Customer Reviews

Dunks, Doubles, Doping: How Steroids are Killing American Athletics

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I heard this author on a local radio show and he sounded like he was presenting a good premise, and it was an interesting show, so I figured I'd pick it up. It isn't terribly long so I was able to go through it pretty quick, and I've got to say I was pretty surprised. I learned a lot of things from this book that, just like it says, you don't hear from the media. I think it's very different, but because there's a lot of experts and studies backing it, I tend to believe quite a bit of this well before I believe Geraldo's factless statements.

The book also had a lot of funny points; the interview with Gregg Valentino ("Man with the World's Biggest Arms") is hilarious and quite thought-provoking. Interviews with Gary Hall Jr and Megan Quann also gave some insight I hadn't had before. And there's a pretty good section on gene doping which was pretty educational. Overall, even just the interviews with all the physicians and athletes make it a well-worth-it read.

Nathan Jendrick takes the reader on a wide range of issues surrounding the use of steroids in sports and by the general public.

While his chapters seem just a bit smug - almost saying, "I am right because I am the one who has the real information" - the book has highs and lows based on who is being interviewed. And just for future reference, the spelling of the late Curt Hennig's name was not correct.

The top sections belong to Olympic champion Gary Hall - who feels that there should be a zero tolerance policy when athletes test positive for illegal drugs - to the final chapter on the potential of gene therapy as a means to take the "game" to the next scientific level.

A doctor who discusses a new psychological approach for athletes seemingly has a promotional pitch to explore and purchase his product.

The bodybuilder - featured in a recent cable special on steroids - wants to settle grudges he has against the industry. Who cares if some male bodybuilders earn extra cash by allegedly posing at parties for gay men. What does that issue have to do with the topic?

An attorney questions why professional athletes have seemingly avoided prosecution in steroid cases, while members of the general public have felt the wrath from the judicial system. But it is naive to assume that the power of the various leagues and organizations in this country will not do everything in its power to prevent their athletes being front-page fodder, being led away in handcuffs due to alleged drug transgressions.

The athletes outlined who feel remorse for their steroid use is laughable. If they weren't caught cheating I am sure they wouldn't have such tearful confessions.

While there is information that rarely is covered in major media sources, Jendrick never gets around to telling the reader, "How Steroids are Killing American Athletics."

Rather, it seems as if Jendrick leans to making the use of steroids legal for those age 21 and over, but reserving the right for governing athletic bodies to continue to make such usage illegal by its competitors.

Pretty unique information... not your everyday steroid bash, but I didn't get the feel anywhere that was like, "Wow this guy really likes juice." That's the feeling I get reading Yesalis stuff. This coupled with Game of Shadows were great. Game of Shadows more for the specific stuff on Bonds, this book Dunks, Doubles, Doping for the low-down on steroids, side effects, great interviews.

The anonymous stuff was pretty crazy too with the Olympic athlete and the coach.

Seems like this book aimed to disprove a lot of supposed facts about steroids... it hits the target. It's funny. You don't really hear any television personalities quoting studies when they bag on juice, but people believe it... this book totally changes that. Yes, it says steroids aren't as bad as they're made out to be for adult guys... and it uses studies to prove it. What a novel concept! it also makes some quality points on what juice is doing to sports. I personally think that steroids are an athletes right, but rules are rules i guess. Still a book that should be read.

I really enjoyed reading Dunks Doubles & Doping - it provided an objective insight into the effects of steroids on Olympic and professional sports. Jendrick's perspective is not flatly really pro-steroids, but rather pro-legalization for the mass market (cosmetic use by adults), while still keeping them illegal for competition in sports, which he goes on to explain and justify rather nicely. There are many points in the book where you find yourself saying "Hmm, I didn't know that!" For me, perhaps the most disappointing thing I learned was confirmation from various sources that all or nearly all professional bodybuilders use steroids and/or HGH.

The Interview with Gregg Valentino (and his enormous arms) was definitely a fun read. I also found the Doping sections in Chapters 13/14 quite interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about steroids, their effect on athletes, and on sports in general.

... this book nails the haters in the sack. Like a slam dunk or a quarterback sack, this book hits hard. Figured the hype was overated but its actually good stuff. Probably 4 1/2 stars is most accurate because I would have liked to see more stuff on the pro wrestlers, but for what its after it accomplishes. Definitely was educated by reading this.

Game of Shadows revolved too much around Balco which, I suppose is why you'd read that book... but I was hoping for more as the hype was really, really astounding. This book talks about Balco, but also talks steroids, the real changes we're seeing in sports because of them, and some really good interviews that really made me feel as if I were talking to these people myself. The Valentino interview and piece is a MUST read, even if only to further engrain into ones own mind that Gregg Valentino is an idiot. Funny, but an idiot.

If you're into sports, buy this book. If you don't care about sports but want some facts about steroids, but this book. If you're a hippie-loving FOX News watching bias-moron, don't buy this book.

Every single day I turn on the news, there's some new piece about steroids in sports. People are dying, children are crying, all that. But I always wondered why the news NEVER talked about the studies proving all of these nasty things really happen... after reading this book, I FINALLY understand. Because the media is full of crap! I really enjoyed this book and learned a ton from it. It is a bit outdated in that the IOC is now 4:1 and not 6:1 in T/E, but the points are all still valid. Highly recommended!

I was at first pretty weary about picking this book up. I had heard it was a very dominant book that was really in-favor of steroids, but the sub-title threw me off in the other direction. Just didn't seem to make sense so I wasn't getting the point. And then I read the back, and I was hooked. I normally buy my books from internet sites, but I wanted this one right away so I paid full bookstore price. Gasp! But let me say it was worth it so I don't mind. As mentioned previously the interviews are really good. The doctors are from a pretty wide range and they offer up some information you don't know but probably should. The Carlstedt Protocol stuff was great if you're in a scholarly mode, but if you're not, it's a little dry. Luckily there's enough there to skip over it and come back later, and that leads me to another point. You don't have to read this thing straight which I found pretty nice. It's like a reference to different bullets and covers a lot of ground very well. Five stars.

Jendrick, an amateur bodybuilder, claims that this isn't an anti-steroid book or pro-steroid book but in my opinion, it is very biased and pro-steroids. Jendrick rants about the government keeping us from our steroids and seems to suggest that steroids and PEDs aren't so bad despite all the credible scientific evidence to the contrary. I have no idea how a book like this got published. It is short of facts and long on rants.