Diamond Dog wrote:sloopjohnc wrote:Diamond Dog wrote:My question to you is - okay, ban people for two years. But what about the guys that don't get caught? Is it right, in your view, that a drug enhanced athlete beats a clean one - as they assuredly will- and gets all the accolades/titles/medals/acclaim?
Like Lance Armstrong?
Yeah, like Lance Armstrong. If he has taken drugs, do you think it's right that he gets all the accolades?
If he's taken drugs? I'm pretty dang sure he has, but has had as good of lawyers as the drugs he took.
So, let's get some things straight. I'm not saying "dirty" athletes shouldn't be punished. Just not as harshly as the rest of you guys. Take an Olympic athlete out for four years and essentially you've taken away his or her prime. If he or she hasn't learned a lesson from that and can come back as clean, then more power to 'em. Also, with pro athletes. Take away a season where they lose millions in salary and they have two choice: come back clean or even get more dirty to make up for lost time. I think the second, especially with random drug testing most sports do, they wouldn't get away with it. If they do, then ban 'em for life.
Let's also get back to the "ethos" of sport, which I understand to be sportsmanship, and break it down a little.
We all want a level playing field for athletes competing. I know I did. I don't want the other team getting 10 points on the scoreboard before I even take the court.
But if that's so, then all athletes should have access to the same training, same coaches, same gear, etc. Why not make all golfers play with the same make of club? That way we know who's truly the best.
I have to say I've broken that sacred "ethos" a few times myself. I've intentionally fouled guys and claimed I didn't. I've trapped fly balls in the outfield and held 'em up like I caught 'em and I've had balls go out of bounds off myself and pointed in the direction of my team's hoop. Heck, you see it in soccer all the time when players fall claiming opponents fouled them.
I think almost every athlete plays these kind of tricks on officials to gain advantage. It's not fair sportsmanship, but it's the game within the game. According to you guys and your pure ethos, it's almost as if you guys would like to see these guys punished too.
My point is where do you stop and where do you start with the severity of this kind of stuff. Leagues set standards for sportsmanship, like intentionally injuring guys, but yet players aren't punished for routine bad sportsmanship. Where's the message in that?
With all that in play, I think taking away an athlete's prime for an Olympics and outside competition is enough punishment and taking away a season doles out the message reasonably enough for an athlete to reflect what he or she is missing yet still gives them some hope of competing down the line.
We all mistakes some way or another but deserve a second chance.
Maybe we can all make them live with the British monarchy so they're roundly condemned by the masses.