Just finished watch the HBO sports program with Bryan Gumbalt. Real Sport, I believe its called. (Allow me to pause for a moment and marvel at even the title of the show.)
Here's what was revealed:
The Atlanta Braves apparently engaged in a variety of illegal activities, including serious violations of immigration law and child labor laws in order to bring a 14 year-old kid into America from the Dominican Republic to play baseball. Examine, for just a moment, the irony of it all. A team which uses a word of virtue in its name, engaging in lawlessness and the corruption of a child to "win." They did this of course, so the child could "play."
But, hey, that's sports, right? Big money justifies it all.
On the same show, we watched as one man purposely ran another off the NASCAR track at perilous high speed in order to "teach him a lesson." The fan's of course, loved it because the target was a "Yankee" (a young guy named Bush, I believe) who of course has a lot of nerve winning NASCAR events and speaking the Queen's English as it was meant to be spoken. Again, there's money at stake so of course the lack of "sport" is justified. If he dies, its all part of the race "game," eh?
Or...
Is it that sport is no longer really part of our "games?" It is really about lawlessness, and cheating and money? Chemicals and steroids and lies? Clearly we have synthetically-created men and women breaking "records" set by the mere mortals of the past; glorified junkies in bright bits of cloth cheered by the drunken masses who revel in uttering their names and stats as they drool and vomit on each other in grandstands across the planet.
One can easily imagine the use of illegal stem-cell research activity to create the next "superstar." Far-fetched, you say? Think again. It may well happen in our lifetimes. We need only wait for the money "to be right."
[align=left]The Romans had their games and even yet today we murmur about their barbarism and decadence, but looking back I can say this for the Romans: At least they were honest with themselves.
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[align=center]"Even when I lie, I tell the truth."
-Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface
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One can easily imagine the use of illegal stem-cell research activity to create the next "superstar." Far-fetched, you say? Think again. It may well happen in our lifetimes. We need only wait for the money "to be right."
The Romans had their games and even yet today we murmur about their barbarism and decadence, but looking back I can say this for the Romans: At least they were honest with themselves.
When cancer spreads through the body, it can chew away at every organ, just as the moraless cancer is running through this country through every facit of every day life.
"Think again. It may well happen in our lifetimes."
... and for what reason? I'd be willing to bet these people can't cough up a truly legitimate excuse.
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We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
On the same show, we watched as one man purposely ran another off the NASCAR track at perilous high speed in order to "teach him a lesson." The fan's of course, loved it because the target was a "Yankee" (a young guy named Bush, I believe) who of course has a lot of nerve winning NASCAR events and speaking the Queen's English as it was meant to be spoken. [8D] Again, there's money at stake so of course the lack of "sport" is justified. If he dies, its all part of the race "game," eh?
VC I had to laugh at this portion of your post, normally you speak with a good deal of knowledge on a subject, but my friend you do need to avoid discussing NASCAR.
1. There is not a NACAR track on the entire circuit except the 2 road courses where a driver could run another one of the track.
2. There was no lesson being taught, it was called pay back for doing the exact same thing to him. It was not a high speed track and if you were familiar with NASCAR you would know how safe the cars are.
Quick question on this VC, if someone you were competing with in checkers slapped your face, would you slap them back or turn the other cheek?
3. You are right about Bush being a yankee who has won a few races, but if you knew about NASCAR you would know that Jeff Gordon who is from California has won 4 NASCAR championships of the years and does not go around spinning other cars out like Bush has been known to do. You would also know that unlike 20 years ago when 90% of the folks who raced in NASCAR were from the south, probably half of them don't any more.
4. Yes VC there have been deaths in NASCAR races, but very few, and every year the racing gets safer as more and more safety items are mandated by NASCAR. Did you know there are more rules involving required safety equipment in NASCAR then any other rules?
Okay now that I hope you are a little more knowledgeable on NASCAR I will comment on the rest of your post which for the most part I concur with, the steroids and the under the table deals done in the proffesional sports world is disgraceful.
I have a nasty feeling that what we have heard about in profeesional sports world today is merely stratching the surface of everything going on behind the scenes! Drugs, bribes, cheating of every sort and as you mentioned illegal acts all in the name of winning!
Do I feel we are heading back to the blood sports seen at one time in the coliseums of Rome? Yes sir, take a look at some of the new full contact ultimate fighting as they call it! This is the type of sport where we will see more and more participantsgetting killed on a regular basis unless it is stopped. While the majority of main stream sports have been moving towards more safety for the participants, there are the new and upcoming blood sports that are going in exactly the opposite direction and all for the love of money!
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The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
Posts: 24,186
RE: Chemistry and lies.
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But, hey, that's sports, right? Big money justifies it all.
That there is what has created the abomination. I was a college athlete, had a chance to go pro.. Even with my back ground, im appauled at what has become of sports with the influx of the all mighty dollar.
Disipline, pride, honor, has all been thrown out the window for the bigger better deal.[:'(]
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kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
normally you speak with a good deal of knowledge on a subject, but my friend you do need to avoid discussing NASCAR.
Taz, you're right about my knowledge of that particular subject. But c'mon, not everyone is amused by loud, shiny, things driven by paunchy, pastie-looking men in pastel and flourescent jumpsuits.
Off the track, into the wall what's the difference?
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There was no lesson being taught, it was called pay back for doing the exact same thing to him.
Teaching a lesson, payback, what's the difference?
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It was not a high speed track and if you were familiar with NASCAR you would know how safe the cars are.
See, this is why I don't bother with this primitive sport. Was it a low speed track? Was Bush not going fast enough that even touching his car caused him to spin out (off the track, into the wall, whatever...)[8D]
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Quick question on this VC, if someone you were competing with in checkers slapped your face, would you slap them back or turn the other cheek?
Neither. I'd wait till he was on his way home on the "low speed" freeway and then I'd run him "into the wall" for "payback,"[8D]
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.....but if you knew about NASCAR you would know that Jeff Gordon who is from California has won 4 NASCAR championships of the years and does not go around spinning other cars out like Bush has been known to do. You would also know that unlike 20 years ago when 90% of the folks who raced in NASCAR were from the south, probably half of them don't any more.
(*long drawn snoring sounds***)
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Yes VC there have been deaths in NASCAR races, but very few, and every year the racing gets safer as more and more safety items are mandated by NASCAR. Did you know there are more rules involving required safety equipment in NASCAR then any other rules?
*copius snoring; vc nods off, slumping from the neck and drooling over his keyboard in a comprehensive and catatonic state of well-honed disinterest*
Oh, look. They're going around the circle again.
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...which for the most part I concur with, the steroids and the under the table deals done in the professional sports world is disgraceful.
Location: The place that Harry Henderson calls home....
Posts: 1,672
RE: Chemistry and lies.
Gladiators who were in favor with the guards were given concealed weapons. Those in favor with the senators and emperors were given the choicest fruits and meats. What does this mean...read the following examples of "tampering"...
Destroying the running shoes of your closest rival the night before the marathon...since the times of the Greeks!
The Black Sox scandal...which was, oh what, 1919?!
Hiring a prostitute to seduce the star running back before the big game...ever heard of a guy named Jim Brown or Gale Sayers?
The invention ofcorked bats...Williams was accused of this in the 40s.
Brass knuckles under the boxing gloves...Marciano was believed to have hid these on occasion, particularly days after week-long drinking binges.
"Cheating" on your car chassis and hoping you're not caught...name any driver in NASCAR history, and you can bet they ran an "illegal" car more than once.
Steroids...which sport?
Sorry Charlie but misconception. deceit and downright cheating in sports has been happening since man realized the idea of "competition".
It is not a new phenomenom to "get the upper hand", or to "use any means necessary" to win. It's just more scrutinized now, period.
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"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight." Theodore Roosevelt
"Cheating" on your car chassis and hoping you're not caught...name any driver in NASCAR history, and you can bet they ran an "illegal" car more than once.
i'm sure ironhead never cheated, why do you think they hired gary nelson as head of the inspection dept. several years ago, he has probably forgotten more about cheating than anybody else will ever know[:-]
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You are right about Bush being a yankee
bush is from las vegas, just west of the mason-dixie line
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
I have to agree with Strut n Rut. Athletes have been trying to gain an edge ever since any type of contest was invented.......some legal and some not.
I am not a big Nascar fan but do keep up with who is in the chase, etc. Kurt Busch has not won many fans with his driving tactics........doesn't bother me a bit to see him in the wall.
Chemistry and lies.
Again, there's money at stake so of course the lack of "sport" is justified. If he dies, its all part of the race "game," eh?
, why do you think they hired gary nelson as head of the inspection dept. several years ago, he has probably forgotten more about cheating than anybody else will ever know[:-] 
