I refer, sadly, to the imminent demise of the once wonderful sport of athletics. I was raised on the achievements of the likes of the late Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four minute mile barrier in 1954, with a little help from his pace-maker friends, Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher. A marvellous achievement, superb athletes and a truly great sport.
Then but not now!
Today, alas, the entire sport is smeared with, mainly but not exclusively, Russian dope cheating. It is a sign of how arrogant and stupid the Russian authorities were that such was the scale and carelessness of their cheating that they were easily found out and, mirabile dictu, they were chucked out of the sport. Perhaps, I thought, I hoped, the game is now clean and maybe some truly great events will take place.
Fat chance!
Today, after counting all those roubles in their bank accounts, the directors (bar two) of the laughingly titled 'World Anti-Doping Agency', WADA, invited Russia back into the sport even though they have failed to comply with at least two of the former requirements. Now one 'yuuuuuuge' question remains, if you are a scrupulously clean athlete, will you continue to be so when it becomes blindingly obvious the Russians are cheating again?
Sir Craig Reedie, chairman of the board, should have his knighthood revoked.
It is now a matter of "Let the best chemist win" or in some sports "the biggest tantrum".
I doubt we will see sportsman of the ilk of Roger Bannister, Herb Elliott et al again.
Posted by: AussieD | Friday, 21 September 2018 at 23:01
Lots of people used to laugh when we played rugby in the sixties, and turned up with twelve players and lost 56-3, but we all agreed that it had been a great game!
The beer and friendship flowed for several hours, and nobody gave a hoot about the result.
Don't think that occurs these days, so goodbye to all that...
Posted by: Scrobs... | Saturday, 22 September 2018 at 07:25
G'day Scrobs. Rugby Union is the game played in Heaven on alternate days to Cricket.
Being down three players out of fifteen is a sure recipe for a loss - unless of course it is the All Blacks playing a Club team. I would have said "Wallabies" instead of All Blacks but at the moment they would be pushed to beat a Club side that was three down.
I have fond memories and some aches and pains from many years ago playing Club rugby - not very well mind you.
Posted by: AussieD | Saturday, 22 September 2018 at 10:00