The NFL’s divisional playoff round was slightly overshadowed this weekend by the death of 26 year old budding NFL star Gaines Adams.  The official cause: cardiac arrest.  The likely culprit: an enlarged heart.

Anyone else thinking, “I wonder what he was using?”

I’m in no way attempting to minimize the tragedy of Adams’ passing.  Nor am I accusing Adams of any self destructive contribution to his passing.  I’m merely admitting to my first reaction, a response conditioned by the increasingly unfortunate company that is dead (young) athletes.

Get used to it, ‘cause I’m afraid we’re just getting’ warmed up.

Welcome to the GNC generation – where kids, I’m sorry…young adults, can walk into their neighborhood store and pick up anything from vitamin C to anabolic poppers.  Take a guess at which is the better seller.

Bigger, faster, stronger…at any cost, at much younger an age. 

Unfortunately, what isn’t being sold with the bottle is the following disclaimer:  The supplement downed to make possible your participation at the highest level, is precisely that which will make impossible your body’s ability to maintain under the rigors of the highest level. 

Translation: that consumed at 16 could kill you at 26.

It’s entirely possible that Gaines Adams was clean…has always been clean.  But what is clean? 

Every year, every sport adds a substance or two to the list of the banned.  If there’s one fact we know about substances, it is this: the chemistry of PEDs is always a step ahead of the testing.  Athletes today are using substances that their respective sport doesn’t even know about yet.  And worse, using substances that their sport is aware of, but hasn’t yet banned.

I pray to God that Gaines Adams suffered from a genetic heart defect that couldn’t possibly have been identified. 

I pray to God that Gaines Adams’ story is not one of: kid wants ticket to the big time – kid takes supplement - supplement helps him gain the necessary edge – supplement causes irreversible scarring of the heart…adult pays the ultimate price for the mistake of a kid.