It has been a difficult month for athletes throughout the nation. Though much of the attention has originated from events that are fresh in the minds of many Americans, the tribulations of professional athletes have long been an issue in our society. Some of those problems are self-inflicted (i.e. Magic Johnson’s promiscuity with women), while others are not (i.e. Mike Tyson’s unfortunate upbringing in the Catskills).
Still, the most important factor in such scandals is knowledge; was the athlete caught in the act? Many people forget that sports competitors are just like you and me, normal people with normal flaws. Although a heightened profile would make getting caught that much more fathomable to the general populous. One would figure such individuals would be cognizant of this, and take the requisite steps to alleviate any public disdain or embarrassment. Sadly, many do not. As a result, not only do these individuals become punch lines during late-night talk shows; they place irreparable damage to their respective images. To put it simply, these athletes “Get got.”
Yes, adding more negative attention to such individuals probably isn’t the most polite thing to do, but my parents always taught me accountability is a paramount virtue. With that, I give you the pilot presentation of the “Ya-got-GOT!” awards. And this month’s winners:
Kelli White: The American sprinter accepted a two-year drug ban last Wednesday, which will cost her a trip to Athens this summer and every medal she has won in the last four years. This includes her gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters at last year’s World Championships in Paris, and a gold and bronze at the 2001 Worlds in Edmonton.
White tested positive for the stimulant modafinil, a memory-improving and mood-brightening psychostimulant, at last year’s World Championships and U.S. nationals. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said it also found evidence she used undetectable steroids and the endurance-enhancing hormone erythropoietin. White initially claimed she took the modafinil for a sleeping disorder, but chose not to appeal the suspension. Whether her claim was valid or not, to say she was caught abusing the erythro-whachamacallit would be an understatement.
Still, the most interesting aspect of the ban is that White said she agreed to help the USADA and intends to ask for early reinstatement from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) before May 2006. Chances are, she’ll get her wish, and for two very obvious reasons: One, White openly acknowledged her mistakes, and two, she is the first athlete to be suspended based on information from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) case. The Bay Area drug company is accused of illegally distributing steroids and performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes. If White knows something we don’t know, then that means other athletes, most notably five-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones (who has threatened to sue the USADA if it prevents her from going to Athens without a positive drug test) and Barry Bonds (whose personal trainer and childhood friend, Greg Anderson, was indicted earlier in the year on charges of illegally distributing steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to athletes as part of the BALCO probe) could soon be on this list.
All this should make for an interesting second half of 2004.
The Atlanta Braves: Yes, the Braves were facing Randy Johnson, unquestionably one of the most dominant pitchers of our generation. Yes, the man was on his game that night, as his last pitch came in at 98 miles per hour. But of all the teams in baseball, and of all the places to throw a perfect game, Turner Field would have been the last place I would have imagined. This team won 101 games last year, and though the team was only 17-20 at the time, it still had a lineup that featured Andruw and Chipper Jones, the emerging Johnny Estrada, and arguably the best hitting pitcher in the game in Mike Hampton.
All of that, however, meant nothing last Tuesday. Chipper struck out three times, Andruw lined out once and flied out twice, and the Big Unit struck out 13 Atlanta Braves. That’s just disgusting. What someone needed to do was make like Ben Davis when the former San Diego Padres catcher ruined then-Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling’s no-hit bid with a bunt single in the 8th inning. Yeah, he may have got a lot of crap for it at the time, but at least he can look his kid in the eye and say, “I broke up a no-hitter.” Can Eddie Perez, who came in to pinch-hit for Hampton in the 9th to record that final out, make the same claim? NOPE. As a result, the A-T-L “got GOT!”… hard.
Tony Parker: You want to know why the Los Angeles Lakers are in the Western Conference Finals right now? Look no further than the uneven performance of this young Frenchman in the second round. Through the Spurs’ first six playoff games, the man was a beast, averaging 21 points and almost nine dimes in leading the team to a sweep over Memphis. Those heroics continued in the first two games of the Spurs-Lakers match up, where he averaged 25 points and seven assists.
The Lakers realized something had to be done, so they did what no other team had done to him during the playoffs: they bodied the child. The Lakers bullied him for the next four games, and the hottest player in the postseason peed the bed. In those contests, all San Antonio losses, he averaged 12.3 points while shooting 31 percent from the floor.
Yes, Parker is 21 years old, but if the Spurs (who feature a veteran ballclub) are smart, they will dish Parker for a more established floor general — Jason Kidd anyone?
DOGGIE BITES: Congratulations are in order for the men’s baseball team, who took the regular season conference title with a win over Albany May 21 at Friedman Diamond. I don’t want to jinx the group, but I like their chances of returning to NCAA postseason play; to Derek Anderson, who smashed NU and America East records while winning the shot put (62’0.25) and discus (185’7) at the America East Championship on May 2. He followed that performance by becoming Northeastern’s first ever double-winner at the IC4As, taking discus with a throw of 176-10 May 14 and winning the shot put with 59-11 3/4 toss two days later; and to Chanda Gunn, who finished her illustrious career with All-New England honors, first-team All-America recognition, and as a recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award by the College Women Sports Awards for her athletic and community achievements.
— Evans Erlius may be reached at [email protected]. He can be heard every Friday from 3-6 p.m. on WRBB 104.9 FM’s “Dog Pound Sports Sound.”
