Charlie Sheen recently told writer Eric Spitznagel that he used anabolic steroids to prepare for the role of the fictional character of Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn in the movie “Major League”. The comments appearing in the July-August 2012 issue of Playboy Magazine were treated as breaking revelations of steroid use by several websites. However, first admitted to using steroids one year ago, and over two decades after “Major League” was released, in a confession to Sports Illustrated in the 2011 “Where Are They Now” issue.
“With steroids I went from a modest 78 mph to a decent 85, which on film can be made to look in the 90s,” Sheen told Spitznagel.
A year earlier Sheen told Sports Illustrated essentially the same thing.
“It was the only time I ever did steroids. I did them for like six or eight weeks. You can print this, I don’t give a fuck. My fastball went from 79 to like 85.”
But Spitznagel did encourage Sheen to reveal additional details about his six to eight week steroid cycle when he asked Sheen about the side effects. Sheen admitted experiencing injuries after the discontinuation of steroids. It is unclear whether Sheen utilized any type of post cycle therapy (PCT) but he admitted being under the guidance of the late former NFL football player Lyle Alzado.
Sheen felt confident that the steroid cycle was done as safely as possible due to Alzado’s long-term experience with steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Ironically, Alzado later changed his mind about the safety of steroids.
Alzado eventually ended up blaming steroids for irreversibly damaging his health and causing the primary brain lymphoma that ultimately led to his death. There has been no evidence to suggest that anabolic steroids can cause brain cancer. Unfortunately, Alzado’s assertion was taken at face value by most members of the media.
Charlie Sheen told Spitznagel that he didn’t have a problem with baseball players using steroids in MLB. Sheen felt the problem was the disingenuous concern about the message that steroid use by professional athletes sends to children.
“People who are critical of steroids usually say the same thing: ‘Oh, it sends a bad message to the kids,’ said Sheen. “How about the parents worry about that? How about parents become more heroic and send the right message at home before the kid gets to the ballpark?”
Source:
Spitznagel, E. (June 19, 2012). Playboy Interview: Charlie Sheen. Retrieved from http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/playboy-interview-charlie-sheen
