Much has been made on this blog about Bad Boy Floyd, BBF, and the Floyd Fairness Fund, etc. To be perfectly honest, when T-0-03 wrote about the Fund, my initial and gut reaction was just as incredulous. How could such a high profile athlete go out there and solicit monies to what seemingly looked like an insurmountable doping case?
Then Oude Granny looked into it. Some folks out there believe I think too much, but I contend that I was given a brain for a reason so why not attempt to use more than merely the 10% (which by the way is a complete myth!) that is said to be used for conscious thought.
So what does Granny make of all this? Well, the short answer: send money only if you believe its a worthwhile cause (words of wisdom from Oude Granny, which I think you should employ when contributing any part of your hard earned money).
What about the "meat" of the argument? Ey, there's the rub!**
**Proceed only if you care to hear me on my soap box.
I'm somewhat of a rebel at heart. And as such, its easy to find fault with some of the systems set out for our use, whether they be laws or rules for everyday use or those policies set forth by some athletic governing body. So after much digging...yes, I am in research...here's why I think contributing to a Fairness Fund, Floyd's or anyone else's, isn't such an inane exercise.
For those who follow sport, I liken Floyd's situation, but on a much higher plane, to what mogul skier and part-time football player, Jeremy Bloom, went through with the NCAA. Without going into too much detail, Bloom was banned from playing collegiate football because he had received some endorsement monies as a part of his "amateur" athletic career as a Olympic caliber mogul skier. The NCAA, basically considered him a pro athlete.
So how is this at all relevant? Many cases are decided on an un-level playing field and frankly don't make much sense. For instance, the NCAA allows for two sport athletes, say in baseball and football, to sign a minor league contract (thereby getting paid), but still be considered eligible (as an amateur) to play football. Huh??? Exactly! So Bloom, never played another down for the Colorado Buffaloes, and ended up skiing for the US in Nagano and then trying out for the NFL. If only he had been a baseball player and not a skiier!
So how does this relate to Floyd? After looking into Floyd's defense on the Floyd Fairness Fund website, it's just another case of an athlete being subjected to the supposed judiciousness from his sports governing body, who for all intensive purposes isn't exactly concerned with what is "good" for the athlete!!! So where do the means come from to help the athlete fight for what he holds true or practical? From his own pocket!!! Hence the reason so many athlete's end up taking their lumps and end up leaving the sport they love even though their case might be a viable one. How can a resource depleted person compete with such a huge, well funded, and highly political machine. They can't, therefore, making the system one-sided. Are any pro bono lawyers listening out there?
To the heart of Floyd's case.
Since his test found a high ratio of testoterone to epitestosterone, this blog had a lot of traffic and opinions. For the most part, people have conceded that he's a cheat, therefore, I'm not backing a cheater.
But if you take a moment to look at Floyd's Wiki Defense, one which I read about in ROAD Magazine (and thanks to Liz "Roubaix Girl" Hatch, a magazine that I'll now continue to read; hopefully more on/from Liz on this blog soon), Dr. Arnie Baker, makes a very comprehensive and stalwart case in Floyd's defense (I urge all to look at this Powerpoint Presentation, in .pdf form, as you'll see a cover up of blunders a mile long). Not really "exact" science!!
Still not convinced in Floyd's favor...check out the latest from ESPN, where Floyd's case might get thrown out after all the lab blunders (pointed out by Dr. Baker). So if this case is dismissed, you have to wonder who's governing the governing bodies of sport (or for any other discipline for that matter). Allez Floyd!
Here's a vid of Floyd in NYC announcing at the NYVelocity, Love Crank (an annual indoor rollers contest with much alcohol) earlier this month.
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