ItsTheBlog™
ITL: The blog itself is designed to serve as a means of entertainment to the public as well as to provide some insight into what we are all about here at ITL. ItsTheBlog stems from the website dedicated to all things sports, www.itstheleague.com. We love sports and we're always looking to make improvements and build on what we have, so feel free to leave us some feedback.Monday, October 8, 2007
Another Day, Another Doper
These days, everyone is trying to keep up with the Joneses. A few days ago, we learned the real reason why nobody could ever quite catch up. By now, nearly everyone that pays attention to the world of sports has heard of the latest steroid scandal. Track phenom Marion Jones finally admitted to taking steroids after numerous claims of adamant innocence.I just have to wonder when the powers that be are going to bite the bullet and target the real issue: flaxseed oil. Seriously, ban this stuff, and I guarantee on my expertise as a track and field enthusiast that steroid use in all of sports will decrease by 50-65%.
But let's be honest. We all know what's going on here. Your ambitious, over-achieving prodigy approaches a trainer and expresses their undying desire to succeed at the highest level of competition. The trainer hands over an unmarked bottle, smiles, and says something to the effect of, "Here, take this. Its flaxseed oil (wink-wink), it will give you the edge you're looking for." Let's look at what's at stake here: The trainer gains the favor of a rising star, with obvious promise of future business. The athlete tells him or herself that what they don't know can't hurt them and take the stuff in blissful ignorance.
We know this happens all the time, and probably with more athletes than we're willing to admit to ourselves. But the question has to be asked: Do we 
really care? We, a society that giggles in self-justification of illegal music downloads. We, a culture that willingly rationalizes academic collaboration with a wink and a grin. We, a community that openly glorifies the "do whatever you want, as long as you don't get caught" mantra that shows itself in countless ways in the world we have created. Do we care that someone that we pay to entertain us, whose job is to wow us with spectacular physical feat, takes a few illegal measures that, for all practical purposes, does nothing but increase the quality of that which we look to entertain?
really care? We, a society that giggles in self-justification of illegal music downloads. We, a culture that willingly rationalizes academic collaboration with a wink and a grin. We, a community that openly glorifies the "do whatever you want, as long as you don't get caught" mantra that shows itself in countless ways in the world we have created. Do we care that someone that we pay to entertain us, whose job is to wow us with spectacular physical feat, takes a few illegal measures that, for all practical purposes, does nothing but increase the quality of that which we look to entertain?If your answer to that question is yes, than you are either in the vast majority of self-righteous finger-pointers or the extreme minority of people that see this as a matter of integrity and character. If your answer is no, than this whole circus needs to be packed up and sent out of town. Cheating is cheating. If it doesn't matter to us in the classroom, in the workplace, or when we're filing our taxes, it shouldn't matter to us on the field.
Labels: cheating, drugs, Marion Jones, steroids
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
What Does it All Mean?
Frankly, I don't know. But, it's bad.
Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is being investigated by the FBI for betting on NBA games, both that he officiated and those that he didn't. What does that mean? Well, I don't know, but based on numbers crunchers, outcomes of games Donaghy reffed in the past 2 seasons were clearly altered. Over/Under bets were on average much more volatile, and, in what I think is the most damning piece of evidence, ESPN reports that the over/under bets shifted by more than a point in just minutes before the tip. That means that big money was being placed in the final minutes of games that Donaghy was reffing.
So, what does it all mean for the future of the NBA? Stern calls Donaghy's action an isolated incident--but is it? Who knows if other referees are acting in the same way? Who knows if this has been a long storied tradition among refs? What can stop them? Who let the cat out of the bag for Donaghy? I wish I knew the answers to these questions. We all do.
More importantly, did Donaghy effect the outcome of games? If he did, that unleashes a spiral effect on everything. If Donaghy even had an impact on a victory or loss of even 1 game, that could have ultimately had an effect on the way the playoff seedings played out, and therefore the playoff matchups, and therefore the NBA Champion. It's cheating. That's all there is to it.
Bonds (allegedly) taking steroids? Awful, but he still had to make contact with the ball.
Floyd Landis (allegedly) taking steriods? Awful, but he still had to pedal, train, and work hard
Pete Rose gambling on games? Awful, but it's hard to be solely responsible for the outcome of a game in baseball.
Donaghy? He's the ref. Everyone listens. He blows the whistle, and decides who gets kicked out of the game, who shoots free throws, and in general, who gets the ball, and when.
Foxsports.com says that Donaghy led the NBA in the last two seasons in technical fouls, free throw attempts, and foul outs per game.
There's a reason for that. And it's sad.
What does it all mean? I don't really know. But it's not good.
Labels: Bonds, cheating, Donaghy, Floyd Landis, Kevdog, NBA, Pete Rose, scandal
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