Anyone else have sports scandals burn out?

[nfotiu]

The top 4 headlines on espn are Michael Vick, The NBA ref, Barry Bonds, and yet another failed drug test by a tour de France rider.

I can't even really find mention of the result of a game or anything.

Jon Lester pitched a very good game after missing a year to battle cancer, and doesn't even get front page coverage.

I guess golf decided they weren't getting enough coverage, so they have to go make up a scandal about golfers being on steroids! There's even an article about the need for drug testing NASCAR drivers!

Sports is supposed to be a fun escape, not filled with all this distasteful drama. I wonder when people will say enough is enough and decide they don't want their money to go to all these seedy athletes.

[habernac]

It sure is getting old. I'm almost glad we don't have the greatest testing in hockey because we would no doubt be going through the same thing cycling fans get stung with every year. I was finally getting psyched for the Tour again and then Vino gets busted. Idiots.

[JiriHrdina]

The Vick thing is the hardest to shake just because of the appalling nature of the alleged acts. It's one thing to be a cheater, its an entire other to harm a helpless animal. I have a hard time looking past that.

Other than that, my attitude now has reached a point where I don't pay much attention to the scandals. I watch sports for enjoyment, so I focus on the aspects that I enjoy.

I will say though that I find myself watching less of Sportsdesk and what not. I tune in for my highlights but as soon as they go to the nightly scandal update, I turn the channel.

[Bobblehead]

I still WANT to believe that a clean athlete can succeed, but with every revelation that gets harder and harder. Gary Player announced pro golfers are taking steroids, for gods sake.

I saw a few headlines talking about Griffey Jr reaching another milestone, and the headline was something along the lines of "A clean player we can still root for!" I found myself wondering if that was true. I think that is a sad thing. I've lost a lot of interest in baseball, yet growing up I wanted to be a baseball player more than a hockey player (even though, through some quirk of fate, I was a much better hockey player). Now I get excited about the younger, unknown players, but couldn't give a hoot about any of the established players.

Money has ruined sports, but I don't begrudge athletes getting their due. They are the ones performing. It was their blood, sweat and tears they are being rewarded for, that people are paying to go see.

But has pursuit of the almighty dollar superseded respect for the game? I think it has.

I'm a sports nut. Always have been. But with every scandal I feel a bit more alienated from all sports.

[troutman]

The WHL is a nice escape from all the scandals in pro sports.

[Lurch]

Originally Posted by troutman

The WHL is a nice escape from all the scandals in pro sports.

It's not like junior hockey has a rep for cleanliness, i.e. the Q had a pretty big scandal/allegation a couple of years ago. I somehow doubt the WHL is really all that much different.

To add to the overall fatigue over drug scandals, MMA has had a huge # of positive tests over the past several weeks as well, including both fighters in a title bout (Sherk vs Franca).

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I still WANT to believe that a clean athlete can succeed, but with every revelation that gets harder and harder. Gary Player announced pro golfers are taking steroids, for gods sake.
...
Money has ruined sports, but I don't begrudge athletes getting their due. They are the ones performing. It was their blood, sweat and tears they are being rewarded for, that people are paying to go see.
..
I'm a sports nut. Always have been. But with every scandal I feel a bit more alienated from all sports.

Well, in some cases, it actually ISN'T their blood, they borrow someone elses!

[jonesy]

Maybe they need to separate it, like in some car racing, they have 'stock' car racing, which limits what mods they can do to the vehicles, and then the insane ones, where anything goes.
Have a 'super stock' league, with no dopin', and a 'drag race' league where then can do what they want. That would be interesting.

[Dr GonZo]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Maybe they need to separate it, like in some car racing, they have 'stock' car racing, which limits what mods they can do to the vehicles, and then the insane ones, where anything goes.
Have a 'super stock' league, with no dopin', and a 'drag race' league where then can do what they want. That would be interesting.

This is an age old question, cyclists have been on the dope since the '50s, or perhaps even earlier. 'Unfortunately' a league for dope users can not work for so many reasons. Firstly, it seems quite unlikely that any company other than hormone stimulant providers and such would want to be associated with drug inhanced (and therefore promotional) sports. No sponsoring = no cash. This is linked with cultural dilemmas as well. I highly doubt the masses could accept a 2nd 'no holds barred' league; it seems unethical and it will be very difficult to take both leagues seriously.

Finally, which is probably the core reason for all these prior mentioned issues: where is the limit? And worse: how does one find the limit? When several athletes die of heart failure after using a specific drug?

Although I agree that it does seem like the easiest answer to start a second league where athletes may do what they wish to enhance their performance, the long-term, financial and cultural implications are even more complicated than the continued battle against the drugs in the first place.

[MissTeeks]

Here is a rant by Mr. Doh'boy on the whole overload of sporting scandal.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...c-82d5d9d2bfd2

I hope this link works and it doesn't need a subscription for anyone.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

The top 4 headlines on espn are Michael Vick, The NBA ref, Barry Bonds, and yet another failed drug test by a tour de France rider.

I can't even really find mention of the result of a game or anything.

Jon Lester pitched a very good game after missing a year to battle cancer, and doesn't even get front page coverage.

I guess golf decided they weren't getting enough coverage, so they have to go make up a scandal about golfers being on steroids! There's even an article about the need for drug testing NASCAR drivers!

Sports is supposed to be a fun escape, not filled with all this distasteful drama. I wonder when people will say enough is enough and decide they don't want their money to go to all these seedy athletes.

Being a crotchety old fart who has seen seasons come and seasons go ad infinitum . . . . . I actually find the scandals more interesting than a garden variety regular season game in most sports.

So keep 'em coming.

EDIT: Coincidentally, in the New York Times, a piece examining why fans are so willing to forgive sports heroes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/we...29longman.html

Cowperson

[JiriHrdina]

Eric Francis writes about some of this today:

Real sports journalists stop putting athletes on pedestals early in their careers, which is something sports fans have long had a hard time comprehending. Maybe now that almost every major sport is dealing with unsightly blemishes on the front page of the paper, it's easier to let go of the starry-eyed notion that athletes should be immune from the scrutiny they're subjected to."

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey...79078-sun.html

Boy Eric really think's he's the cat's meow now doesn't he. Us fans should apologize for taking so long to grasp what a real journalist like him has been telling us.

I long ago gave up the notion that just because a guy is a great hockey/basketball/baseball player that it means they are a great person. But Francis does fail to recognize that for every Mike Vick out there, you have the Andrew Ferances of the world.

[habernac]

the Tour de France being as embarrassing as spandex shorts...

Comments like this one are tiresome as well. 209 riders started the Tour this year. A paltry few were removed for doping and suddenly all cyclists are suddenly dirty. What's embarassing, Eric, are people like you (and most of the rest of North American sports departments) reporting on it when you don't have a clue as to what the sport is about.

[Slava]

I've certainly had more than enough of the scandals. I saw an interview of Damien Cox last night and he hits the nail right on the head when it comes to my thoughts.

Sports are supposed to be an escape, and once there are all of these scandals and stories involved they are not fun anymore. There is no escape from the "real world" when these other things get involved...at least for me!

[Dr GonZo]

Originally Posted by habernac

the Tour de France being as embarrassing as spandex shorts...

Comments like this one are tiresome as well. 209 riders started the Tour this year. A paltry few were removed for doping and suddenly all cyclists are suddenly dirty. What's embarassing, Eric, are people like you (and most of the rest of North American sports departments) reporting on it when you don't have a clue as to what the sport is about.

You're kidding right? It's common knowledge that everyone dopes up for the Tour. I'm not being sarcastic.

Check any interview with retired cyclists, the ones that admit it (which are plentiful) state that those that don't admit are lying.

Both the grueling nature of the Tour AND the culture of cycling have developed a state of "don't get caught" attitude. No wonder the ASO has broken ties with the UCI, they've made the whole anti-doping issue a very inconsistent matter.

Rumor has it the Tour wants to go back to competing with national teams instead of sponsored teams like in the 60's. IF they do decide on this, I wonder what measures can be taken (if any) to get the sport clean (for once; I'm not going to say 'again', as even in the days of Eddy Merckx, inluding himself, have been using illegal performance enhancing drugs).

Cycling has probably never been clean.

[habernac]

Dick Pound, is that you?

[Dr GonZo]

Originally Posted by habernac

Dick Pound, is that you?

Name calling.

How informative, and yes indeed, quite amusing.

[/sarcasm]

[habernac]

I just thought it was pretty funny that a guy who keeps touting "innocent until proven guilty" is trying and convicting everyone in the tour of doping.