The Marion Jones thing is the most recent. But you don't have to search very much to see that all athletes use drugs ... or at least some athletes in every sport. My favorite sport -- slam me if you think it's too wimpy -- cycling is one of the most notorious.
Is there any sport untainted by performance enhancing drug use? If so, what about the other forms of cheating are going on?
What does that tell us about ourselves?Are men inherently dishonest cheaters? Or has it just become so accepted that it doesn't bother anybody's conscience anymore?
Finally, I thought we introduce children to sports, and encourage it throughout childhood, young adulthood, etc. in part, because of the character building aspect of teamwork and competition. Looks like that aspect of it is absolutely gone.
I liked the punishment dished out to Jones: Banned from competition for two years. This kind of weak crap is sending the wrong message. If an athlete is found to have been taking performance enhancing drugs he/she should be banned from the sport for life.
Seems to me the most honest (not saying they are 100%, but rank better than most) sports are the ones where fame, fortune, etc. aren't a factor. 'Course not nearly as many people care to compete in curling.
I agree with Falcon--a slap on the wrist is no punishment. Reckon Jones will be required to give back all money made from any endorsements, etc? She (and anyone else caught) should be banned for life, IMO.
Chad
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
I liked the punishment dished out to Jones: Banned from competition for two years. This kind of weak crap is sending the wrong message. If an athlete is found to have been taking performance enhancing drugs he/she should be banned from the sport for life.
I didn't realize Jones was still competing. She's got to be pretty much "over the hill" by now, so a two year ban is probably the same thing as a lifetime ban. In two years, she'll be ancient history, and a bunch of young kids will be winning all the races.
No, I don't think there's any sport at any level, beginning with prep sports, that isn't tainted by this sort of thing or cheating of some sort.
The good news is that although the sports leagues themselves may be rotten to the core, there are still some very good athletes out there who are class acts, abide by the rules, and are excellent role models for our children. Peyton Manning in the NFL and Tim Duncan in the NBA are two who immediately come to mind.
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http://www.rightminded.net
Pong and Quaters, I think they should be in the Olympics next time we host them here.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
No, I don't think there's any sport at any level, beginning with prep sports, that isn't tainted by this sort of thing or cheating of some sort.
The good news is that although the sports leagues themselves may be rotten to the core, there are still some very good athletes out there who are class acts, abide by the rules, and are excellent role models for our children. Peyton Manning in the NFL and Tim Duncan in the NBA are two who immediately come to mind.
There was one in baseball, too, but he retired this year. BGO
Ispc, my definition ofa ban would include coaching, etc.--totally blackballed from the sport. I wouldn't even let them in to watch.
Chad
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
As humans are playing them, no, there areno honest sports. Sports are simply reflections of our own petty competitions. Dishonesty proliferates everywhere, not just on athletics fields.
Is there any honest sport?
