If I am reading this right, Swiminfo.com is reporting that Craig Stevens is indeed going to back out of the 400 and leave it up to Australia Swimming to "pick another member of the Olympic Team" to swim that race in Athens. If I am ANY other country, swimmer, the 3rd place finisher at the Trials or an organization interested in ethics, then I am raising a stink on this one!!!! Thorpe DQ'd and the Aussies are going to skirt the rule and get him in anyway. They would be relegated to the status of Ben Johnson, Rosie Ruiz, and the 60+% of MLB who are on steriods! This is FREAKIN' UNBELIEVABLE. I have no respect for any of the aforementioned and if this happens, none for Ian Thorpe and the Australian swim federation (or whatever official name they hide behind) are in that seeming, stinking pile.
I think there were two dominant reason the NBA players were allowed in the Olympics. First and foremost, we didn't like "our" sport being won by others. Second, $$ had to be some motivating factor for the IOC to somehow allow "amateurs" to participate who make tens of millions of dollars.
It's time to face facts, the Olympics are some pristine little competition among the lesser known and pure athletes of the world. It is the biggest sports business globally and rocked by more scandal than any other single sporting event.
Since the Olympics only happen every four years, thank god, it is natural to assume it is a very big payday for a select few who do well. As a result, the level of rules bending and interpretation is probably more rampant than any of us think.
And, other than Ion Beza's groupie squad on usswim.org, I don't think there is a more shameful bunch of folks than the IOC. Talk about crooks!
I think there were two dominant reason the NBA players were allowed in the Olympics. First and foremost, we didn't like "our" sport being won by others. Second, $$ had to be some motivating factor for the IOC to somehow allow "amateurs" to participate who make tens of millions of dollars.
It's time to face facts, the Olympics are some pristine little competition among the lesser known and pure athletes of the world. It is the biggest sports business globally and rocked by more scandal than any other single sporting event.
Since the Olympics only happen every four years, thank god, it is natural to assume it is a very big payday for a select few who do well. As a result, the level of rules bending and interpretation is probably more rampant than any of us think.
And, other than Ion Beza's groupie squad on usswim.org, I don't think there is a more shameful bunch of folks than the IOC. Talk about crooks!
