Blame the dopers for doubts about Torres
2008 Olympic Games
 |
Medals
News
Analysis
- Rosenberg: Questions remain in Beijing
- Whitlock: Critics spurred Redeem Team
- Rosen: Team USA's road to redemption
Multimedia
- PHOTOS: Farewell from Beijing
- PHOTOS: Day 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1
- PHOTOS: Olympic beauties | Mascots
- PHOTOS: Women's beach volleyball
- PHOTOS: Opening Ceremony
The smart money for most heart-warming athlete (American division) is on Dara Torres, a 41-year-old mother who'll be competing in her fifth Olympics going back to 1984. Medal or not, hers is already an extraordinary achievement — defying time is an athlete's ultimate accomplishment — not to mention a rousing example for those who feel the limitations brought on by motherhood or middle age. It doesn't hurt, at least not for the purposes of television, that darling Dara isn't bad-looking, either.
It's not difficult to imagine, say, a month from now, Torres reconstituted as the Saint of All Soccer Moms, an icon for advertisers, a guest of Oprah, a cover for InStyle magazine. But there's a problem, a big one.
Fans today are different than they were just four years ago. They've learned the hard way that if a story is too good to be true, it probably is. They've been conditioned to believe at their own risk.
As Dan Patrick, a sympathetic interviewer, recently felt obligated to ask: "You're the fourth best in the world at age 41, and the mother of a two-year-old. Why shouldn't I question that?"
Responded Torres: "Nowadays any athlete does anything out of the ordinary and right away it's, 'Oh, they must be doping.' I knew that was going to happen, so I took a proactive approach and spoke to the head of the USADA, which is the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and said, "Is there any other test you can do to prove that I'm clean?" If I was taking something, do you think I would go to USADA and ask to be tested, not knowing what kind of tests they're going to be doing?"
Like me, you probably sympathize with Torres. Having never tested positive for banned substances, why should she have to defend herself? Why shouldn't she take umbrage at the suspicion? I could certainly understand her taking exception with the premise of this piece. But her frustration is as real as many Americans' doubts.
If Dara Torres wants to blame someone, she should look to the legions of users and enablers who've suspended our ability to believe.
The presumption of innocence is gone. In its place are other presumptions: First, the knowledge that the cheaters are more resourceful than the testers. (At this writing, China has women swimmers who may not be women). Second, the understanding that the most vociferous and categoric of denials are often meaningless.
I admire Dara Torres. I want to believe her. But, hey, I can remember wanting to believe in Mark McGwire, too.
And Paul Byrd, who was briefly to middle-aged men what Torres is to soccer moms, before he copped to using HGH during last year's ALCS.
Rick Ankiel, who came back from ruination as a pitcher, is alleged to have used HGH. Even though baseball hadn't outlawed the substance at the time, the news was heartbreaking.
I should've known better. Maybe everyone should've known better. And now everyone does.
How many examples do you need? How many times do you play the chump?
Are you that sucker who watched the Tour de France? Did you actually believe that Barry Bonds got better as he approached 40? Did you believe Rafael Palmeiro when he proclaimed his innocence under penalty of perjury before Congress?
Finally, consider the case of an erstwhile Olympic darling, Marion Jones. She never tested positive. Not once. In her autobiography, published in 2004, she issued a famous denial, taking up an entire page in large red type:
"I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNEQUIVOCAL IN MY OPINION: I AM AGAINST PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THEM AND I NEVER WILL TAKE THEM."
Marion Jones wanted to be believed. Now she wants clemency.
But don't confuse hers with a victimless crime. Those she hurt should now be heard from, starting with Dara Torres, and all those she inspires.
advertisement
