In the wake of the USADA report on Lance Armstrong and the
subsequent actions of the UCI, it is nice to see that my kindergartner is being
educated on bullies. From the outside
looking in, I consider Armstrong, the USADA, and Carl Lewis to be bullies. They exerted a huge amount of influence to
achieve their own ends. Armstrong threw
countless number of people under the bus.
The USADA uncovered every rock imaginable at huge tax payer expense and
effectively bribed people to testify with watered down sentences. Ben Johnson was attacked repeatedly and the
issue of his drinks being spiked with anabolic steroids has never been effectively
refuted. The actions of these
individuals and organization are not that different from Jeff Gillooly.
The simple fact is that anywhere money and prestige exist,
there will be an incentive to cheat.
Even when no rules exist, sports governing bodies are always playing
catch up. Consider what Graeme Obree
went through in setting the one hour record.
Further consideration could be given to events in which the scoring is
based on a panel of judges such as gymnastics.
Other professions are no different. Omerta is well in place in medicine, where
sub-par surgeons are allowed to continue practicing. Politics is very dependent on who you know
and being part of the establishment. The
business world can be extremely cut throat and that is why corporate law and
patent law are such lucrative fields.
Leveling the playing field is impossible. However, steps can be taken to be aware of
and deal with bullies. The Whistleblower
Protection Act was not established until 1989.
I believe it should be expanded beyond corporations and find a place in
government, medicine, law, engineering, and professional sports. Cleaning up society starts with one person
saying: “This is not right. I will not be a part of it and I will speak
up in the defense of everybody.”
Unfortunately the one to speak up has usually been on the inside and on
both sides of the fence. That individual
may be a baseball player or an inside trader.
While it is tempting to turn our back on tainted
institutions, it can be far more rewarding to be part of the solution. It is my hope that fewer teens will be
willing to cheat. The fear of being
caught may be the motivation, but the satisfaction of succeeding simply due to
talent and hard work should one day be that motivation.
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