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.
Originally posted by aquageek
mattson:
I have tried to maintain my logic throughout this lively discussion. That, by itself, should separate me from Ion.
It's also none of our business, really. Who appointed us for this role? I believe the Australians can do what they want and if there is some infraction, I guess the IOC has their own standards board (probably driven by who gives them the most money or trinkets).
'Geek, I think Ion thought he was logical too! :p
I don't believe this is about logic, it's about opinion. Many have stated time and time again that the AOC has made their decision, done deal. Frankly I don't care who they let swim. Let's get the Wiggles in there! The octopus would be great!!! It's their country. The discussion, that is our business because we've chosen to discuss it (albeit it has no bearing on anything), is whether it was the right thing to do. Given the original information, the "rules" or "guidelines" that were in place, yadda yadda, this isn't fair to Stevens.
And I don't know why money and trinkets keeps coming up. Again, I can't imagine enough money would make this right. But, hey, I'm one of the ones who thinks rules are there for a reason. What do I know?! (Please don't answer that!!) ;)
Originally posted by aquageek
mattson:
I have tried to maintain my logic throughout this lively discussion. That, by itself, should separate me from Ion.
It's also none of our business, really. Who appointed us for this role? I believe the Australians can do what they want and if there is some infraction, I guess the IOC has their own standards board (probably driven by who gives them the most money or trinkets).
'Geek, I think Ion thought he was logical too! :p
I don't believe this is about logic, it's about opinion. Many have stated time and time again that the AOC has made their decision, done deal. Frankly I don't care who they let swim. Let's get the Wiggles in there! The octopus would be great!!! It's their country. The discussion, that is our business because we've chosen to discuss it (albeit it has no bearing on anything), is whether it was the right thing to do. Given the original information, the "rules" or "guidelines" that were in place, yadda yadda, this isn't fair to Stevens.
And I don't know why money and trinkets keeps coming up. Again, I can't imagine enough money would make this right. But, hey, I'm one of the ones who thinks rules are there for a reason. What do I know?! (Please don't answer that!!) ;)
