It seems that you can’t watch a sporting news report on television, read a newspaper or sports magazine, or open a sports-related website without being subjected to accusations concerning a new scandal. What happened to our trust in the integrity and goodwill of athletes and officials? What happened to the love of sports just for the sake of competition? What happened to the spirit of the Olympics that is summarized in three statements?
Olympic Motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (faster, higher, stronger).
Olympic Oath: “In the name of all competitors I promise that we will take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.”
Olympic Pledge: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
For many decades, there have been incidents of athletes and officials who, by cheating, have not honored themselves or the rules of the game. However, the frequency and variety of accusations of trespasses to these principles seem to have increased exponentially.
The smoke had not cleared from the automotive track at Richmond before the allegations of collusion were circling that several teams had conspired to control the outcome of the NASCAR race so as to fix the drivers who made “The Chase.” These allegations included an intentional spin out to cause a late race caution so that particular drivers could take advantage of a restart and gain a distinct advantage, as well as repeated unnecessary pit stops so that particular drivers would gain finishing spots and, thereby, deny other drivers their opportunity to participate in the championship chase.
Diana Nyad was hardly dry from her grueling and challenging open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida before allegations were floated that she must have “hitched” a ride with a tow rope. Making such a swim in 53 hours would be amazing for anyone, let alone a 64 year-old woman who had failed in four previous attempts. Someone had charted her swim and noticed a mid-swim increase in her swimming speed from 1.5 miles per hour to the astronomical rate of 3 miles per hour. Nyad’s explanation was that she caught an extraordinarily rapid current. A number of reporters quickly threw water on that explanation as highly unlikely.
Reports from the NCAA investigation of drug use and other improprieties in the football program at Oklahoma State University pointed to a widening circle of problems and people involved. We have heard claims about boosters providing $500.00 handshakes to football players. We have heard claims about student hostesses “entertaining” recruits. We have heard reports of coaches “turning a blind eye” to obvious violations of NCAA rules, institutional policies, and common decency.
Very recently there was a mild protest raised by the United States soccer coach when it was announced that the official for the World Cup qualifying game between the United States and Costa Rica was from Mexico. What was the problem? A number of US players had one yellow card hanging over their heads. If they received another yellow card in the game with Costa Rica, they would be ineligible to play in the next US game. The opponent for that game was Mexico. At one point during the game, a Costa Rican player walked up behind a US defender. Although the two made no contact, the Costa Rican player fell down and doubled over in apparent pain. The Mexican referee yellow carded the American player, making him ineligible for the next game against Mexico. After a review of the game, the world soccer federation FIFA has announced that the Costa Rican player is being investigated for faking a foul. Costa Rica is also in danger of being punished for its fans’ use of laser pointers and booing the American national anthem before last week’s World Cup qualifying match, according to the Costa Rican newspaper Al Dia.
Every day for the past month, there has been a story in the New York Times or on the home page of the ESPN website related to the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) by professional athletes. These have included daily updates on the status of the year-long suspension of Alex Rodriguez and his appeal. There have also been stories of slugger Ryan Braun telephoning former members of his fan club and personally apologizing for any embarrassment his actions may have caused them. A federal appeals court upheld the conviction of baseball star Barry Bonds for obstruction of justice related to the BALCO PEDs trials. In response, Bonds asked that his 30-day house arrest and two-year probation begin immediately. After years of vehement denials of the use of PEDs, disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has just recently returned his Olympic bronze medal.
The troubles of professional golfer Tiger Woods, on and off the links, have been in the news for more than three years, since his marital infidelities were brought to light after an auto accident at his home right after a confrontation with his wife. More than six months ago it was revealed that Woods was dating skiing star Lindsey Vonn. Recently, there have been reports that Vonn has been seen “cheating on Woods.” Vonn has also stated that she is not planning to get married any time in the future.
Former New England Patriots star, Aaron Hernandez, has been charged with first-degree murder in the execution style slaying of a friend. He is being held in prison, awaiting trial. Hernandez is also now a suspect in an unsolved drug-related, double murder in Boston.
Will we ever be able to trust anyone or anything in sports again? Is the age of innocence gone forever? Whatever happened to playing the game for the sake of the game? Have we been too naive to believe that there could be an Olympic spirit of hard work and fairness? Are we only left with an attitude of skepticism, an inclination to doubt the veracity of any accomplishment? Are we all just cynics, jaded with a curse of negativity? Have we all become misanthropes, people who hate and mistrust everyone else? Is there any hope left in the world of sports?