>> And to think I thought all these postings were in >> regard to the bs Dan wrote in his ignorance to the >> chide of Cheryl Taplin and LSU with his thoughtless >> and narrow mindeness views of a group of hard working >> and devoted group of athletes and coaches who rose to >> the top. It is easy to point and shoot.
I know nothing about the LSU athletes other than their success scoring points at NCAA in the sprints and horizontal jumps, but what kind of defense is that? Is there any elite athlete in the world who has been caught for doping, who didn't achieve that level 95% by being hard working and devoted (and the right genes), with that slight extra 'boost' to get them to the very top coming from the doping? I have to assume that every athlete at the top national and world levels is hard working and devoted to their 'craft'. That alone tells us nothing about whether they are doping or not. If you want to defend them, you need to cite something that sets them apart from the dopers. (and I fully realize that's almost impossible, because you're reduced to citing things like they go to church every Sunday and answer to coaches and professors as yes sir and yes mam and volunteer hours serving food in a homeless shelter- all noble things that imply honesty & integrity but don't really prove anything; or you end up with the same defense as James Templeton's defense of the Kenyans- "cheating is just not in their nature"). I'm afraid if nothing else, they're tainted by being successful in a sport which now has a dirty reputation. And, like Dan said, there appears to be a rumor circuit about LSU which goes beyond mere jealosy by rival schools- there are rivalrys at many universities across the country but not rumors like this (other than a few individuals). I'm not saying where there's smoke there's fire, but it's probably healthy these days to be skeptical. When athletes find success at a national or international level today I will be the first to shake their hand and congratulate them, but I will no longer put any of them on a mental pedastal like some people treated heroes in the past like Ryun and Prefontaine. I can find personal heroes outside track & field. Randy
