Is there any “Purity” left in sport? 

 

It has become increasingly apparent that the “thrill” of competition has lessened. The enjoyment for the team and/or athletes and entertainment for the fan is no longer enough. Let’s forget about two sides competing with the best team winning.

 

Here’s a look at recent examples of what sport has evolved into:

 

 

I am flabbergasted at the huge endorsement for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Those supporters suggest it’s his team and he can choose to do whatever he wants. Really? This isn’t late in the season preparing for playoffs. Popovich’s decision is nothing less than sticking his nose up in the air at the league because he didn’t like the schedule and the four games in five nights.

 

What about the fans, the ones that pay the bills? There is an obligation to the fans, sponsors and the integrity of the game to put the best product on the floor. Could you imagine Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan agreeing to take a game off especially against another league power? Would Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull or Wayne Gretzky ever agree to have a maintenance day in November and not even join their team for a road game? Boy, have times really changed!

 

This is nothing more than Popovich thinking he is bigger than the game. The Spurs were fined $250,000. As stiff as that punishment seemed, it wasn’t enough.

 

 

 

All three are linked to the era of the steroid scandals. All have the stats to get to Cooperstown but none of the three will get in because they are perceived as cheaters who had their stats embellished because of the use of performance enhancing drugs. Bonds is a 7-time MVP and Clemens the only 7-time Cy Young winner but fortunately voters realize those achievements do not pass the smell test and are
badly skewed.

 

 

The Winterhawks were reprimanded because of a series of player benefit violations. Head Coach and GM Mike Johnston was suspended for the rest of the season, including playoffs. Moreover, the Winterhawks were banned from participating in the first five rounds of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft and the team has been stripped of its first round bantam picks in the years 2014, 15, 16 & 17. The league has also fined Portland $200,000.

  

Even in the junior ranks, teams are doing what it takes to gain an edge, crossing their fingers that they do not get caught. The WHL threw the book at Portland because an independent investigation (by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers) identified 54 violations involving 14 players which occurred over the past five seasons.

 

The (23-4-1) Winterhawks are the top team in the league and ranked #2 in the CHL. They are the defending Western Conference champions. Even P.G. Cougars coach Dean Clark says “it kind of makes you wonder whether they would have that” when referring to the Winterhawks recent success.

 

 

The NHL is into its 83rd day of a lockout, the third work stoppage under Gary Bettman’s reign. The NBA had a work stoppage last season that was not resolved until Christmas. The NFL started the season locking out the referees and they had the audacity to use incompetent unqualified refs for the first three weeks. The real ones returned to the field after the Green Bay-Seattle Monday night fiasco.

The Miami Marlins have reduced their payroll to a paltry $38 million by trading their top players for prospects and farmhands.

 

In addition, and yes this is extreme, but the sadness in sports took a much more dramatic tragic turn when Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher committed suicide in front of the team’s head coach (Romeo Crennel) and GM (Scott Pioli) the same day he fatally shot his girlfriend.

 

I am not suggesting that sport from 20, 30, 40 or 50 years ago was free of ugly issues, embarrassing incidents or skull duggery, but it seems to me, now more than ever, the landscape of sport revolves around a win at all cost mentality and a me/my team first attitude driven by the almighty dollar.

 

The values, integrity and honesty which were implanted by the fore-fathers of the game have been lost with increased business aspect of the sport. Our new generation will rarely be able to experience the richness and purity of competition. This is a shame.

 

Of course you and I, the sports fans, will continue to watch and cheer, but maybe not with the same enthusiasm. 

 

 

Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall says some players are taking viagra as a PED. Man, talk about getting up for the big game.

Comedy writer Gary Bachman 

 

 

Brandon Marshall says some NFL players are using Viagra as a PED. It’s easy to tell who they are, especially when they have to stand sideways to keep from being offside. 

Comedy writer Jim Barach  (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/) 

 

Brandon Marshall says that NFL players are using Viagra as a PED. Imagine when a coach calls time out and demands a measurement. What do you mean I’m an inch short!

Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)

 

 

While hunting quail, Robin Yount accidently shot Cubs manager Dale Sveum—he was aiming at Dick Cheney’s lawyer.

Portland Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard is scared of statues. Good thing he never played against Mark Eaton.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

 

Really? SI’s Sportsman of the Year is Lebron James?! Are they going to have a one-hour television special about how they came to that decision?

It’s the first weekend in December, and you know what that means. We’re barely a week away from the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Californiawww.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

 

 

 

 

According to Forbes, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the first NHL team valued at  $1 billion. This just in: there’s been a jump in the price of laughing stock.

 

 

South African police arrested a drug smuggler and discovered 220 diamonds, worth $2.3-million U.S., in his stomach. When asked what tipped them off, they said a gut feeling.

 

Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com      

 

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.