We're hitting the road in several weeks. First stop: Philadelphia. Next up is Denver. Finishing it out in Minneapolis. Guess which stop is going to produce the most fireworks: Denver, by far.
In looking at the attendee list for Sport Accord, it appears to be the most stellar group of people in one place for a long time. I can't even remember at an IOC session the caliber of attendees being this prominent. Everyone from the former NFL commissioner to Ted Turner. Plus the associated characters in between. Some people I haven't seen since Guatemala City, and can't wait to see again. The others? I will file them under the heading of I'm Just Not That Into You. Not too many in the latter, a lot in the former (of which I am most grateful.)
I caught the last few minutes of The Breakfast Club tonight. It's a movie I have seen a zillion times before. I had to laugh becuase there is a line in the film that goes something like "you are going to see us as you think we are" and names some of the above characters. I had to start laughing because I could link a name of someone who will be in Denver to the above characters. The Princess has everyone fawning over her. The Nerd has a heart of gold. The Jock is totally larger than life and has lived a thousand lifetimes. The Principal: I just roll my eyes when he walks by-a total waste of space.
It's going to be one heck of a week in Denver. I am looking forward to it. New city-new ideas.
Don't you forget about it.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
That Phelps photo
You know the one.
The one that England's News of the World paper published on it's front pages (both on-line and in it's newsstand copies.)
He's apologised, and made the usual "error in judgement" statement to the public.
But what is really disgusting is that people are so quick to give him a pass on this one.
I am just outraged that some people have said because it was an out-of-competition situation, that it shouldn't be an actionable offense and that WADA should stay out of it as well as the USOC (even though USOC has issued it's own statement on the matter.)
Others have said that because he was at a private party of a girl that he was dating at the time, that folks should mind their own business. It's part of life at college they say; school/beer/parties/pot.
Even more have said that just because he had a bong to his mouth, that doesn't prove he was smoking anything. Wrong, bucko. I remember Cheech and Chong doing all that marijuana-related humor and you can't say that they didn't toke it up from time to time-a lot.
Same thing.
WADA can make cases sometimes years after an alleged violation. They took away someone's medal from Sydney just recently. Ditto for Athens. Some got their chain yanked there too.
The USOC and IOC will have a PR nightmare on their hands if they *don't* get involved. Phelps, like it or not should realise he has a responsibility to set an example just because of the mere fact he is a public figure.
If he doesn't want to set an example fine. But once that 8th gold meadal was awarded, he was in that position-like it or not. And his out-of-the-pool behavior no matter if he is competing or not should be scruitinized, all for the fact that he has been held up as an example of what is right with sporting in America.
My message to the USOC, IOC and WADA is to *get* involved, and if necessary, re-test (even though according to everyone he has never failed a dope test) while in competition. And if necessary, start to yank medals.
Shame on you Michael. I expected better-and so did America.
The one that England's News of the World paper published on it's front pages (both on-line and in it's newsstand copies.)
He's apologised, and made the usual "error in judgement" statement to the public.
But what is really disgusting is that people are so quick to give him a pass on this one.
I am just outraged that some people have said because it was an out-of-competition situation, that it shouldn't be an actionable offense and that WADA should stay out of it as well as the USOC (even though USOC has issued it's own statement on the matter.)
Others have said that because he was at a private party of a girl that he was dating at the time, that folks should mind their own business. It's part of life at college they say; school/beer/parties/pot.
Even more have said that just because he had a bong to his mouth, that doesn't prove he was smoking anything. Wrong, bucko. I remember Cheech and Chong doing all that marijuana-related humor and you can't say that they didn't toke it up from time to time-a lot.
Same thing.
WADA can make cases sometimes years after an alleged violation. They took away someone's medal from Sydney just recently. Ditto for Athens. Some got their chain yanked there too.
The USOC and IOC will have a PR nightmare on their hands if they *don't* get involved. Phelps, like it or not should realise he has a responsibility to set an example just because of the mere fact he is a public figure.
If he doesn't want to set an example fine. But once that 8th gold meadal was awarded, he was in that position-like it or not. And his out-of-the-pool behavior no matter if he is competing or not should be scruitinized, all for the fact that he has been held up as an example of what is right with sporting in America.
My message to the USOC, IOC and WADA is to *get* involved, and if necessary, re-test (even though according to everyone he has never failed a dope test) while in competition. And if necessary, start to yank medals.
Shame on you Michael. I expected better-and so did America.
