Dara Torres-Amazing

Our ever-controversial sports columnist, Jason Whitlock, wrote a column about Dara the other day: Full column: www.kansascity.com/.../693347.html There’s something fishy about old swimmer By JASON WHITLOCK The Kansas City Star A white Jewish mother 12 days older than I is the star of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, and the American media are treating her like she’s Barry Bonds. That’s progress..... Today there were two letters to the editor in response to that column: Is the “41-year-old mother of one” referred to in the news article (7/7, “Ageless Torres takes another race in record fashion”) the same person as the “white Jewish mother” referred to in Jason Whitlock’s opinion column (7/6, “Swim story sounds fishy”)? Yes, I am being sarcastic. The headline on Whitlock’s column with the word “fishy” indicates immediately that there was something suspicious about the ability of this woman to perform this well. If this person had been any other race, color or faith, would Whitlock’s column have so indicated? If it did, it would have been wrong as well. Yes, I am white, and I am Jewish. But I am sure people of other races and faiths are just as disgusted with Whitlock’s comments as I am. Bill Kaiser Overland Park "White Jewish," "41-year-old mother of an infant child," "12 days older than I", two surgeries, a "late bloomer" (even), wins an Olympics trial because she’s "sucking down asthma medication," Jason Whitlock says. Gee, Jason. Why do I doubt your take has anything to do with this beautiful lady Dara Torres being a winner? You might want to try racing Natalie Coughlin. We’ll give you a lap head start and a flotation device. I’m thinking desire, dedication, talent, persistence, ability and an Olympic swimmer’s body might have something to do with it. Bill Brewer Kansas City

Our ever-controversial sports columnist, Jason Whitlock, wrote a column about Dara the other day: Full column: www.kansascity.com/.../693347.html There’s something fishy about old swimmer By JASON WHITLOCK The Kansas City Star A white Jewish mother 12 days older than I is the star of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, and the American media are treating her like she’s Barry Bonds. That’s progress..... Today there were two letters to the editor in response to that column: Is the “41-year-old mother of one” referred to in the news article (7/7, “Ageless Torres takes another race in record fashion”) the same person as the “white Jewish mother” referred to in Jason Whitlock’s opinion column (7/6, “Swim story sounds fishy”)? Yes, I am being sarcastic. The headline on Whitlock’s column with the word “fishy” indicates immediately that there was something suspicious about the ability of this woman to perform this well. If this person had been any other race, color or faith, would Whitlock’s column have so indicated? If it did, it would have been wrong as well. Yes, I am white, and I am Jewish. But I am sure people of other races and faiths are just as disgusted with Whitlock’s comments as I am. Bill Kaiser Overland Park "White Jewish," "41-year-old mother of an infant child," "12 days older than I", two surgeries, a "late bloomer" (even), wins an Olympics trial because she’s "sucking down asthma medication," Jason Whitlock says. Gee, Jason. Why do I doubt your take has anything to do with this beautiful lady Dara Torres being a winner? You might want to try racing Natalie Coughlin. We’ll give you a lap head start and a flotation device. I’m thinking desire, dedication, talent, persistence, ability and an Olympic swimmer’s body might have something to do with it. Bill Brewer Kansas City