For a self-confessed sports nut, my following of the Australian Crime Commission’s report into drugs in Australian sport has been strangely lackadaisical. To say I’ve been detached from the drama would be an understatement.
I haven’t watched a single second of the television coverage, nor listened to a single second of the radio coverage. From a media point of view, the most engaged I’ve been with the topic is reading the odd newspaper headline, and casually scanning online stories.
The chatter amongst friends and family is probably where I have learnt most of my knowledge about the whole drama. Yet even then, my reluctance to fully enter the conversation has been duly noticed.
It seems strange that someone who writes for a sports opinion website doesn’t have an opinion on the biggest sports story in recent times.
The truth is that when it was first reported that drug use in Australian sport was allegedly rife, I wasn’t overly shocked, even if I was disappointed.
I think it’s arrogance or being naive – or a combination of both – to believe that Australia would be free 100% from drug cheats.
While as a country we love to believe that all Australians compete ‘hard but fair’ in the true Anzac spirit, you surely must have your head firmly in the sand if you think that some professional athletes in this country wouldn’t do anything they could to perform at the highest level.
Let’s just pause there for a second and analyse what a professional athlete is: someone who gets paid based on his or her athletic performance.
Is it really any wonder that some athletes will try to gain an unfair advantage in order to succeed at the highest level?
Think about what happens when you perform at the highest level. You win.
You’re rewarded with a larger contract. You receive more media coverage. You become desirable to sponsors.
You’re more attractive to the opposite (or same) sex. You become a celebrity. Kids ask for your autograph. You get the VIP treatment everywhere you go.
You’re revered and respected throughout the nation, and perhaps even internationally.
Being great at sport, particularly in this country, is certainly not a bad thing.
Considering all that, is it really any surprise that some individuals adopt a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality?
Not for one minute am I condoning drug cheating. But I certainly understand the motivation behind doing it.
Nor am I pardoning those that do cheat. I’d be more than happy to see cheats receive life bans, and if appropriate, face legal action and jail time.
However, I’m a realist. I know, deep down, that a percentage of elite level athletes will have done something illegal in order to be where they are.
And that’s why I wasn’t overly surprised by last week’s announcement, because my head is not in the sand.
Yet here is the delicious irony – when it comes to drugs in sport, I don’t put my head in the sand, and yet I most certainly do.
Whilst I don’t pretend that every Australian athlete is clean, I simply don’t think about it either.
I watch sport believing that everyone is clean. Why? Because ignorance is bliss, and I don’t want the knowledge that some athletes aren’t clean ruining sport for me.
I don’t want the big moments diminished by a nagging doubt. I don’t want feats of athletic brilliance tainted by suspicion. I want to watch and enjoy the spectacle that only sport can provide.
If it’s proven later that someone cheated, I’ll deal with it then. But I don’t want a moment of pure joy ruined by the suspicion of guilt, especially if said athlete is actually found to be innocent.
And that’s why I don’t care about the ACC’s report.
Especially until any individuals are actually named, along with exactly what they have allegedly done. Until then, it’s just a tabloid journalists’ dream, and athletes and a fans’ nightmare.
I love sport.
But if I’ve been cheated on, I’ll worry about it when I actually know.
After all, it’s better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.
hawker
Guest
FWIW i listen to the odd ESPN podcast and they brought up "the Australian government busting all these Australian rules football players for PEDs" when discussing possible US government in PED testing etc, so yeah I think people overseas do notice these things
Neuen
Roar Rookie
If you look at the Tour de France. It have been a tradition of cheating since the start of it. It just moved from sabotage and beating the other competitors up to using advance methods like designer drugs.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
First of all, what's with the 'White Australians' comment once again? How is that relevant? Why the racial undertones? You're quite right, numbers/support does not equal being correct. By the same token, considering the lack of actual evidence, and how the ACC report has since been found to be nowhere near as strong as first reported, can you really blame me and other Australians if we're not overly interested until something concrete is revealed? Why shoud I/we be? Because you said so? Who's being self absorbed now?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
You keep on saying 'ignorance' in the same comment that you say 'White Australia'. You're alluding to racism, and you know it. As for the Third World country reference, please go back and actually read the comment(s). You've totally missed the point there. Yet again. The conversation was about how some countries are disadvantaged compared to others. This is what Christo said: "Never mind drugs – you can make the argument that well resourced countries have advantages over the poorer countries. Better training facilities, equipment, diet, etc all tilt the playing field unfairly in my view. Particularly in sports where success and failure are measured in milliseconds and millimetres…" We're not talking about Third World countries being an obstacle to drugs, we're talking about some countries having advantages over another.
sheek
Roar Guru
Hi Ryan, Obviously I misread the "When it comes to politics, I'm Harvey Norman (no interest)." It's a good line. A workmate of mine uses it all the time (in reference to himself). My reply about ignoring the perils of politics was in this general context. It appears to me in this current drugs announcement fiasco, the seedy side of politics is inexorably tied into the narrative, meaning (IMHO) we can't ignore the politics, even if we wanted to.
A1
Guest
Occasionally? We do it every day
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It's getting a bit boring explaining myself when everyone else seems to understand. In any case I do care about drugs in sport, but seeming as nothing has actually been proven or established yet, there isn't much to care about at this point in time. But if you want to get worked up over some 'intel', be my guest. As for my opinion being all about me, who else would it be about exactly? You're right, you're innocent until proven guilty. So until I know someone is guilty, why would I care? Why would I ruin my love of sport on innuendo? As for entitlement, a number of Roarers asked me for opinion on this matter, so I gave it. That's not entitlement, it's my job, and it's being respectful. Something you could learn a lot about whilst your name calling and country bashing. I will have a nice day, and I wish you the same. If it's at all possible with your attitude.
buddha9
Guest
oh incidentally i didn't say you were racist, i said you ignorant -(its different) and i should have added originally, just to clear matters up now and be as literal as i clearly need to be, that you are ignorant of the ins and outs of sports drug abuse -- as evidence by the comment about third world conditions being another obstacle -- my point being that 3rd world conditions actually on occasion assists drug abuse.
buddha9
Guest
yeah its a debate -- thats good -- does happen occasionally --- but not very often in the flesh none the less its good.
buddha9
Guest
Look Ryan calling out for the herd to justify yourself & support you is a trifle optimistic and well, slightly misguided-- their role is to simply bath in your presence and indulge in a little ritualized arse licking --I mean look at the comments, i mean look at them -- if i was you i'd rather have me on your side. Any case of course they agree with you, your giving them an excuse not to give a shit, to be passive and non involved. A much harder stance, a stance worth fighting for would to be demand that they get involved that they demand that the government release the names and that they act properly in closing down avenues for sports cheat and that they as punters basically say we won't pay sportsmen in any way or shape until its cleared up -- that would be a brave article but yours is just telling them to sit on their couch and do nothing and telling them its ok -- i'll make a prediction here, no matter what happens, how many names are released, how much info gets out, how concrete the details are or what the ACC prove, you and the majority of white australians will never deal with it and will always find a way to ignore it -- lets see who's right.
buddha9
Guest
Ok so you don't care about drugs in sport or the investigation into illegal substance abuse in sport -- fair enough but why bother wasting your time saying you don't -- its a serious issue what do you think you're contributing? anything positive? When something is proven I'll deal with it -- is this your stance? Well clearly it is, you said it - once again its all about you -- well Ryan we all wait with bated brief for the moment when you tell us you are dealing with it -- oh what a moment that will be, there'll be live-up-dates i'm sure -- so its all about you & nothing about the sport you played to which presumably you owe this gig and the channel7 one -- nothing about the fans who payed their wages so you could have a wage. Don't they deserve respect? doesn't sport offer the satisfaction of a honest result? Isn't that the joy of it? Two teams/competitors going at it honestly to see who comes out o top and isn't that honesty exactly what drug use undermines? These are the real questions Ryan, not self absorbed nonsense about who you'll deal with it. Like a lot of journos and ordinary aussies you seem to think this ACC thing is a report -- it isn't its a press briefing that's why there are no names mentioned or evidence present because there is a thing called due process and the law says someone is innocent until proven guilty in a court. As for roar calling you an expert yes they do and you let them, even though you have nothing positive to contribute and when it suits you you pretend it has nothing to do with you -- take responsibility for yourself and the choices you've made to be presented under that banner. Sorry but that is smug self deception and manifests a sense of personal entitlement -- and i'll explain it for you: IMO you feel entitled to write about something of great import without any real interest or knowledge or indeed again IMO any real knowledge of drugs in sport ( as proven by your comment further down) and yet you think your opinion is worthy of being heard -- that Ryan is a sense of entitlement - Ci Clar? Have a nice day
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It's a bit rich for anyone hiding behind a nickname and a keyboard to accuse someone else of masquerading.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Oh, and don't look now, but are Australians engaging in a debate, rather than just calling each other 'mate'. . .
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Now you've resorted to calling everyone who disagrees with you dumb and ignorant? And you sign off your little rant by suggesting that we're racist as well? Deary, deary me. I think someone needs to go to the naughty corner, until they learn how to play nice.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Look at the number of comments on this piece, Buddha9, and look at how many actually support my stance. It would seem, unfortunately for you, that many people aren't just interested in what I'm saying, but that they actually agree with me.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
To clarify, Buddha9: - I don’t call myself an Expert at all, the guys that run The Roar do. - No one is making you pay attention to me. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. - As for walking into a debate, you’ve missed the point. Again. I’m actually walking out of the debate. I just thought it courteous to let Roarers know, because some had asked why I don’t have an opinion on this issue.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Touch a nerve? I’m more bemused than anything, to be honest. And slightly curious at how I could be labelled smug and self-absorbed, along with allegedly now having a sense of entitlement too. To use your words, I actually don’t ‘get that’. But you’re wrong, it’s your problem, not mine. Please allow me to answer your questions. Why did I spend time writing an article saying I’m not interested? The point I was trying to make was obviously too complex for you, so I’ll dumb it down: I have no interest in this issue until evidence comes up – until then it’s just damaging hearsay and rumour that negatively affects Australian athletes needlessly, and affects my (and others) enjoyment of sport needlessly. What do I want the world to do? Deep question for The Roar, but if you must: I’d like the world to be more respectful and less ignorant. I don’t think it’s self-absorbed to state that until an issue is fully resolved it’s pointless to get involved in it, but if you personally do, that’s fine. In any case, this is an opinion website, and that’s my opinion, so by that rationale, I guess you think everyone here is self-absorbed. Did I cheat as a sportsman? I once (or a few times, to be honest) didn’t walk when I knew I was out, batting in cricket. In basketball, I took many offensive fouls on defence when the contact was not equal to my reaction. Other than that, no. And I never took performance-enhancing drugs. Hope that cleared up any information gaps for you. Oh, and it’s Mr O’Connell, not Mr Entitled. (Now you can call me smug.)
buddha9
Guest
can't reply underneath your latest Andy so please take this as reply to that --- well, we do need more thought -- how is writing an article saying you don't care about it, you haven't watched it and you can't be bothered, helping anyone? That may have been clearer in the last post which got removed but the first post says it all -- tell me if you can, how is telling readers you're proud of your ignorance helping anyone -- and then thinking anyone would be interested in you saying that, well i'm sorry that is smug and self-absorbed ----- this is a serious issue not just an excuse for blokes to see their name in print.
AndyMack
Guest
At the risk of getting into an argument with you, i just think you need to go back and read your first post and ask yourself if it is reasonable or not. Just the first sentence will do. Even if i disagreed with ROC totally, i wouldnt begin the counter argument with your approach. Not helping anyone, not least yourself. And the comment on the hyphens was just a joke, but you did use 13 of them in your first post (yes im embarrassed to admit i went back to it to count them....)
buddha9
Guest
seeing as the moderator removed my earlier reply to you Andy i'll say it again -- the argument is very simple if Ryan doesn't know anything about it because he hasn't been watching or isn't interested enough to watch why is he an expert and secondly why are we pay any attention to him? As for him being smug well... if i walked into a debate where I didn't know anything about it because I hadn't watched anything and started by saying I wasn't interested but kept talking anyway well.... what would you call that behavior apart from self absorbed, smug and entitled? Also don't be scared of hyphens mate they're all around us -- some people might find it embarrassing if they were upset/put-off by marks on a screen --