From America
Big Money vs Big Ideas
Republicans have to make a choice between Romney’s moderate politics and Gingrich’s extravagant idea
The Republicans: Veer Right and Right Again
The electoral process and the Tea Party risk jeopardising the Republican bid for the White House
The Silly Season
This must be a confusing time for those in Europe and around the world to try to figure out what America is up to.
Meat or Veg?
Main Content
A Reductionist View of Sport
Lance Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour de France, had this to say about pending investigations of fraud and his alleged use of banned performance enhancing substances : “Like I said, as long as we have a legitimate and credible and fair investigation, we'd be happy to co-operate. But I'm not going to participate in any kind of witch hunt. I've done too many good things for too many people." There’s a lot of psychology in that remark.
Barry Bonds hit more major league home runs (762) than anyone else. He may soon stand trial to determine if he lied to a federal grand jury regarding an investigation into his alleged use of banned substances. Marion Jones, who won five Olympic medals in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, was sentenced to six months in a federal prison for lying about her steroid use and involvement in check fraud. She returned her medals. Even thoroughbred race-horsing is now under scrutiny. A horse named Big Brown won the 2008 Kentucky Derby on steroids.
I’m not sure how Europeans feel about all of this. Michelle Smith of Ireland won four swimming medals in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Her Dutch coach and husband, a discus and shot-putter, had been suspended from Olympic competition because of a failed drug test. Smith was subsequently suspended from competition for four years for allegedly tampering with a urine sample. During the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002, a house rented by Austrian cross-country skiers was found with syringes and blood bags. Some Eastern European countries seem to have been pioneers in the use of steroids to enhance athletic performance.
Here, in America, many fans scoff at the time and money spent on all these investigations. Will we think less of Lance Armstrong if he admits to using performance enhancing drugs? Michelle Smith practices law in Ireland now. Do the Irish think less of her new career because of the way she handled her former one? Marion Jones is currently playing pro basketball. Will some not root for her success?
It is hardly surprising that some highly motivated athletes and coaches go to great lengths, including the use of banned substances, to gain an edge on the competition. The combination of lucrative endorsement deals and celebrity status seems to be a tempting one. And, the distinction between winning and fame and fortune is not so easily recognizable to some.
As fans, we have something to do with this. We love our sports heroes. It’s easy to revere individuals who can accomplish what we never could. We pay the ticket prices, watch the television, surf the internet (The 2010 FIFA World Cup has been described as the most popular web event ever) and buy the merchandise. However, we also seem to tire easily of our heroes nowadays. It’s as if there is a timetable on their utility to us that didn’t exist before.
Marketers and sports agents know this better than most and I imagine their counsel is part of the reason why some athletes are compelled to do the things they do.