Re: t-and-f: rutto

[Richard McCann]

I don't think any of us have said "just shut up, Alan".  Rather, I think 
we've offered well-reasoned arguments, and have asked Alan for a 
substantive rationale that is logically and internally consistent.  He can 
ask the question, and he can offer proof, but if the statement comes down 
to "he ran fast, so he must be on drugs" then these type of statements have 
two problems.  First, they border on libel, which may expose the writer to 
legal actions.  Second, it simply runs down the sport without basis.   They 
become of a nature similar to the query "when was the last time you beat 
your wife?"  I don't think such statements have any place in a public 
forum, which is what this list is.

I don't know if this type of controversy rages among fans in other sports 
such as cycling or swimming, where doping issues continue to arise.  But my 
sense of what drives the discussion on this list is a continuing attempt by 
Ben Johnson supporters to vindicate his actions in 1988.  Maybe this occurs 
because so many people disliked Carl Lewis and can't stand the thought that 
he was the beneficiary of Johnson's foibles.  Or maybe its Canadians 
thinking they had finally triumphed over their more dominant neighbors and 
then finding that it was taken away.  Whatever the reason, the accusations 
made on this list have substantial emotional content that seems to go 
beyond simply making speculative statements.

RMc

At 07:46 PM 10/14/2003 -0700, t-and-f-digest wrote..
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 21:55:17 -0400
From: Keith Whitman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: t-and-f: rutto
Bob,
I'm not stating an opinion about the athlete in question, but isn't a
discussion list allowed to include the right to include an opinion?  Alan
simply said he was suspicious which is a fair statement given the state of
our sport right now.  We'd all love to live in that drug free athletic
utopia in which people just gravitate to the event they are best at and put
up astonishing marks.  Until that day occurs then suspicion will be
rampant.  Some will have the stones to make comments to that affect and
some won't.  At least Alan isn't sticking his head in the sand...