John Cena was sickened by MLB player Alex Rodriguez’ admission that he used anabolic steroids according to a recent interview. The actor and rapper is employed by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) which has experienced its share of steroid-related controversy including a recent Congressional investigation into steroid use in professional wrestling and the apparent widespread use of steroids in pro wrestling. Nonetheless, John Cena believes that steroid users should go to jail (”Cena works hard on his rags to riches story,” February 16).
What happened with Alex Rodriguez and the steroids revelations sickened him. He thinks if everyone really wants to get serious about cleaning up the game, “they should send the guys to jail.”
Cena is about as cut as they come, but he said he’s not steroid enhanced.
“I’m not only a guy who will say I’m clean, but I’ll beat my chest to the world that I’m clean,” he said. “I have very, very strong opinions on that.”
John Cena’s belief that individual steroid use should be criminalize is somewhat surprising since Cena appeared to share director Chris Bell’s disdain for the hypocrisy of steroid laws. Cena asked Bell about anabolic steroids when compared and contrasted with legal, acceptable drugs that are more addictive and harmful than steroids. Chris Bell, the director of the steroid documentary ‘Bigger Stronger Faster*’, offered an excellent response criticizing the demonization of steroids suggesting that society has “deemed steroids immoral simply because they are illegal.”
But any assumption that John Cena was on the same page as Chris Bell was clearly erroneous. Most people who have worked at Gold’s Gym Venice and have had the chance to interact with steroid users on a regular basis tend to be more critical of steroid laws that put otherwise law-abiding citizens in jail. But not John Cena.
WWE’s John Cena interviewed Christopher Bell, the director of the steroid documentary ‘Bigger Stronger Faster*’ about the hypocrisy of anabolic steroid laws. Cena asked about anabolic steroids when compared and contrasted with legal, acceptable drugs that are more addictive and harmful than steroids. Chris Bell offered an excellent response criticizing the demonization of steroids suggesting that society has “deemed steroids immoral simply because they are illegal” Read more
Since it was announced that Magnolia Pictures had acquired the distribution rights to the steroid documentary “Bigger Stronger Faster“, I’ve been looking forward to comments from Magnolia Pictures owner Mark Cuban regarding the film. Today, he finally made an entry on his weblog Blog Maverick with a few brief comments. I was disappointed that he took this opportunity to suggest anabolic steroid use was responsible for Gregg Valentino’s arms! This does not give a good public image of steroid users.
I love this movie because its a hysterical look at the sports world. Steroids are the common theme in the movie, but its a theme that is ripe for humor. How can a guy with guns like Gregg Valentino not be…
Although I’m a big supporter of the steroid film project and have written positively about the movie, I’ve also written about my disappointment regarding the use of Valentino in the movie trailer; it only spreads steroid misinformation about the effects of steroids. The public actually believes that Valentino’s arms are the result of steroids. The documentary does nothing to dispel this.
Overall, the movie is terrific at educating the viewer about the side effects of anabolic steroids and the issues surrounding their use in sports and society. But perhaps, the asterisk included in the movie title “Bigger Stronger Faster*” should have referred to the following clarification:
*Gregg Valentino’s arms are NOT the result of anabolic steroids.
I was fortunate to be in Venice, California this week when my friend Rehan Jalali invited me to attend the premiere party for “Bigger Stronger Faster*” in Hollywood on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. I had the chance to see director Chris Bell, producers and co-writers Tasmin Rawady and Alex Buono again since I last met with them in Dallas. I also had a chance to meet Chris’ parents and brothers Mark “Smelly” Bell and Mike “Mad Dog” Bell. I interviewed several of the “stars” of the film as well including Christian Boeving, Rick Schaff, and Rehan Jalali and other fitness celebrities and insiders in attendance like Mike Ryan. These raw, unedited video streams were originally broadcast live from the Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.
I’ve been staying in touch with director Chris Bell since I first learned he was making a steroid documentary. I have talked to several of the “stars” of the movie such as William Llewellyn, Rick Collins, and John Romano regarding their interviews and their appearances in “Bigger Stronger Faster.” I have interviewed Chris about the steroid documentary just before its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. All indicators suggest it will be a well-received and perhaps even a commercial success. Hopefully, it will come to a theater near you soon. If you are not fortunate enough to see the movie at Sundance, please enjoy the following movie posters for the steroid documentary, “Bigger Stronger Faster*,” in the meantime.
