March 17, 2010





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nattybumpo wrote on 07/28/2008  at  11:35 AM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
RE: Ms. Torres
If she is not doping, then it clearly isn't fair to presume that she is. But, intellectual honesty requires, as both guests suggest/say, that we believe that she is probably doping. Obviously, this presumption shouldn't impact her treatment as an athlete, but it does mean that when I hear that a 41 y.o. woman has broken records in an olympic competition that I don't chastise myself or try to correct my initial response that she is probably doping. That is, my initial gut-response is fully justified by the available evidence and that the available evidence is ample.
Speaking for myself, I have a consistent policy of this. A few years ago, when Barry Bonds was much in the news, I remember telling friends that Roger Clemens is the pitching version of Bonds and that his numbers were so aberrant that he was almost certainly juicing just as Bonds had. Of course, evidence has since surfaced (of greater or lesser reliability) which has helped bring this issue to the fore. In any event, the fact that Clemens put up such great numbers as a 40+ y.o., figures prominently, and should figure prominently our evaluation.
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piscivorous wrote on 07/28/2008  at  11:48 AM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Should we even care about doping? Just because the doping agents of today are better than the ones of yesteryear should in no way dictate that the athletes of today should not be allowed to use them. Let the dope fly; everyone will use them openly and competitiveness will be restored.
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InJapan wrote on 07/28/2008  at  02:59 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Well, I could not care less about the Olympics, but I did check out the links to the uniforms. Yes, no doubt about it, the Canadian uniforms set some sort of benchmark - maybe for the most confused fashion concept of the decade. Also agree that the Australian uniforms make the athletes look like they work for an airline.
And what of the US uniform? Looks like something an Ivy league graduate who is running for President from Illinois might wear - elitist.
On the doping - basically agree with piscivorous that the athletes ought to be allowed to do what they will, as long as they are not being forced or coerced into doing it, and are read the proper medical contraindications.
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AemJeff wrote on 07/28/2008  at  03:08 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Quoting InJapan: On the doping - basically agree with piscivorous that the athletes ought to be allowed to do what they will, as long as they are not being forced or coerced into doing it, and are read the proper medical contraindications.
I'd be afraid that competitive pressure would create an environment in which winners would would be compelled to go to extremes. The end result could be that the cost of Gold would be an athlete's health. I think I can justify that in libertarian terms, so long as the sanctions are put in place and enforced by the Olympic Committee, and have no force of law.
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harkin wrote on 07/28/2008  at  04:37 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
I can't offer any solutions. The olympics have been filthy with doping and roids for over 30 years, but careful before you say they should just open up everything. With advances in this stuff happening so fast, long-term contraindications will probably not be known. And this is if the athlete is even informed - the East German swimmers were told they were taking vitamins.
I'll never forget the moment I heard that the American cyclists were using a home in Mission Viejo to do blood doping before their events in 84'. The myth that only the commies were doing it was shattered forever.
It would be nice if the olympics could be clean and our only worries were terrorists and whether up-close-and-personal vignettes and previews of the fall shows on NBC would be shown more than the games themselves.
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ohcomeon wrote on 07/28/2008  at  05:51 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Loved the part about loving snatch.
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uncle ebeneezer wrote on 07/28/2008  at  05:55 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Not even gonna touch that one! --UE
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breadcrust wrote on 07/28/2008  at  05:56 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Mein Gott! Heidi Krieger => Andreas Krieger. The people who didn't know she/he was doping were probably the same ones who were surprised when Ellen DeGeneres "outed" herself.
These German secret-dopers were convicted of an absurdly specific and superfluous crime, "... the intentional bodily harm of athletes." Whatever happened to assault?
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themightypuck wrote on 07/28/2008  at  08:18 PM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Any doctors or scientists with any actual data on the dangers of doping (as opposed to the dangers of training and engaging in the sports themselves at an elite level--sans doping?)
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Wonderment wrote on 07/29/2008  at  12:42 AM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
Should we even care about doping? Just because the doping agents of today are better than the ones of yesteryear should in no way dictate that the athletes of today should not be allowed to use them. Let the dope fly; everyone will use them openly and competitiveness will be restored.
Reply With Quote
I'm inclined to agree with this. The anti-doping regimes are just too complicated and excruciatingly intrusive. Too many substances, too many ways to game the system, too many philosophical questions about what constitutes a performance-enhancer. Coffee, tea or milk?
A doped-up sports world is depressing, especially for kids, but the purity and nobility of sports is probably overrated. Who really cares what Barry Bonds does or doesn't do to his body? It's just a game.
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Nate wrote on 07/30/2008  at  01:32 AM
Re: Summer Olympics Preview
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/131...5&out=00:47:50
I am very fond of snatch, too. I think we are talking about 2 different things, though.




uncle ebeneezer: We know how you feel, Mike! 

bjkeefe: Hear, hear! 

uncle ebeneezer: What does it really mean? 

uncle ebeneezer: Is Tom purposely trying to steer interest away from his profession? 

themightypuck: Bob the Baptist comes out. 

uncle ebeneezer: Will formulates a scenario where the terrorists, literally, win! 

sapeye: Hmmm, is Bob guilty of serious stereotyping? 

Stapler Malone: No, Bob. It’s not. Nothing ever is.  

d7greene: Lawrence Lessig knows a juice-boxer when he sees one. 

Toryentalist: Matt is great, Matt is great—listen and repeat. 

thouartgob: Joel’s elegant refutation of Bob’s point. 

uncle ebeneezer: George Johnson, hopeless romantic! 

themightypuck: Robert Wright, Asteroid Cowboy. 

bjkeefe: Spelling is fun-damental! 

nikkibong: The joy of taking stuff out of context. 

bjkeefe: Who stole Matthew’s tie? 

uncle ebeneezer: The Art of Subtlety. 

bjkeefe: Heather slaps the entire BhTV community. 

bjkeefe: Can anyone find a case where this is not ultimately Mickey's advice to Dems? 

Ken Davis: The racial blind taste test. 

Stapler Malone: Go forward, not backward; upward not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom.... 

Simon Willard: Bob steps outside himself here. 

JonIrenicus: Puzzle spelled out. 

uncle ebeneezer: George's response here was absolutely priceless. 

graz: Bob takes Tom Jones down a peg. 

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