Volume III. No. 18
 12-04-04
 Cheats and Frauds
 { An Olympic-Sized Scandal Hits American Sports }
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2004
 

 Women who look like men. Men who resemble something out of a child's 
 comic book of the 1950's. And world records falling aside like dominoes. 
 Friday night on ABC's "20/20" news magazine show, Victor Conte pointed 
 an accusatory finger at some prominent names in the sports world. 
 Well-recognized personalities that included athletes from NFL football, 
 Major League baseball, and U.S.A track and field.

 Conte is the founder of BALCO. A disgraced company that is now at the 
 center of what may become one of the biggest drug scandals in the history 
 of modern sport. Cynically, Conte stated on the ABC program that, 
 "...it's not cheating, if everyone is doing it..."

 Whenever a person who is suspected of a criminal activity uses that kind
 of obtuse justification for their actions, you realize immediately that you 
 are dealing with someone who doesn't really have a moral center. Conte
 fits the stereotype of the slimy uncle that you're just not quite sure about. 
 The one who tells off-color jokes, drives a fancy car, wears nice clothes, 
 always has a gorgeous woman hovering around nearby who isn't his wife, 
 and has never really explained convincingly to anyone why is it that he's 
 always on extended "vacation" from work.

 Conte alleges that he supplied illegal performance enhancing drugs to 
 athletes such as track star Kelli White, { who has admitted her involvement }
 Tim Montgomery, { the world record holder in the 100 meters } Marion 
 Jones, { winner of 5 Olympic gold medals in the 2000 games in Sydney }
 and indirectly, to Barry Bonds who is soon destined to break Major League
 Baseball's most cherished of all records. If Barry Bonds actually indulged 
 himself, then this scandal is HUGE and may well tarnish the image of 
 America's favorite past-time for many decades to come. 

 The upset to the sport may be so all encompassing, that Babe Ruth 
 might even raise up from the dead to curse Bonds.

 Is the allure of the almighty dollar so great that athletes who are already 
 competive would risk ruining their entire lives on the chance that they 
 might set a world record, or hit a dozen extra home runs per year. Where 
 is the sense of proportion? Doesn't personal integrity account for 
 anything, anymore?

 And as far as the track athletes are concerned, not only have they 
 embarassed themselves beyond all measure, but they have also done 
 a great disservice to their country. Admittedly, a U.S.A. track and
 field uniform worn in the Olympics or at the World Championships 
 is hardly the equivalent of a military uniform. But, it is an honor 
 that should be cherished

 There have always been men like Victor Conte in the world who come 
 forth bearing gifts of forbidden fruit. They are small-minded men who
 pretend to be a bit wiser than everyone else, and regard themselves 
 as always ahead of the game. But, in reality they are not. They are 
 just thieves who will snatch success for a moment. But it is always 
 a temporary gain. A shift in fortune that will not last.

 What a shame that the athletes who are now accused as cheats and
 frauds, did not realize that what was really at risk  --- was their good 
 names.
 

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