Re: Webber's agent spins

[Cecil Wright <nocw1@nsh.library.ns.ca>]

It's not a question of whether it effects their game.  Have you not heard 
of "performance enhancing drugs"?  Ask Ben Johnson about it.

The point, and I'm very surprised you can't see it, is that this is an 
invasion of privacy.  If it were not, such tests would have been employed 
before now.  Alcohol is a drug also, in fact it causes more deaths and 
health problems than all the other drugs combined.  Are you tested for 
that at your job?  Should you be?  If so, does it make you a habitual 
user if you tested positive one day?  There are other implications which 
need consideration if these measures are inserted.

Do you care if a player is a member of the KKK?  It's not illegal either?

Cecil   

On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, Shawn Roth wrote:

> Cecil,
> 
>   Just one quick point before this conversation ends.  What does a player
>   sexual or religious preference have to do with how they play the game.  If an
>   athesist homosexual plays just as good as a baptist transsexual, more power
>   to them, but Drugs hurt your performance....
> 
> Shawn
> 
> P.S.  Homosexuality and Atheism are not illegal last time I checked. 
> 
> 
> Originally from Cecil Wright:
> > 
> > If you care so much, be sure to avoid frequenting those rock concerts 
> > because some of the performers may smoke up before, during and after the 
> > performance.  And by the way, be sure to educate all those other 
> > performers such as actors about actresses how wrong they are to be 
> > sucking all your hard earned cash from you.  Gee, I thought you made the 
> > decision about what you wanted to watch and who you want to see.
> > 
> > As far as holding them up to a different standard, the mistake is that 
> > this principle, if it should be held up at all, should be utitlized with 
> > the important positions in society.  Teachers, Police Officers and other 
> > Law Enforcement Officials, Firemen, Safety specialists, Counselors etc.
> > 
> > You want to know about whether they are smoking because you feel that 
> > you have that right as a paying fan.  Next you may want to know about 
> > their sexual preference, and if they have sex before games, as well as their 
> > religion if they are believers.  
> > And then where will it stop.  I think that is what Bentz was trying to 
> > tell you.  Just because you may be asked to be tested for your job does 
> > not mean that anyone else should subscribe to your train of thought.   
> > 
> > Cecil
> > 
> > On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, Shawn Roth wrote:
> > 
> > > I do care if any NBA player lights up a blunt right before taking the court.
> > > He is in the spotlight and as such is treated to a different standard.  They
> > > choose their careers, no one is forcing them to play a game for millions. 
> > > I do not want my pilot lighting up and I don't want NBA players lighting up.
> > > As a fan I feel cheated if an athlete is not performing at his peak ability on 
> > > a given day because he does something stupid like lighting up a joint.  I pay a
> > > lot of money to see a NBA game, and I really don't want to waste it on a bunch 
> > > of drowsy NBA players with the munchies.  I agree that NBA shouldn't have to
> > > have special laws banning substances, but other professions do.  I work as a
> > > computer programmer and I'm not allowed to smoke dope at my job.  Do I hold the
> > > lives of millions in the balance?  No I hardly think so.  I'm sure at your job
> > > you have similiar rules of conduct.  I would be punished/fired at my job if I 
> > > smoked dope, so why not NBA players?
> > > 
> > > Shawn
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Originally from Cecil Wright:
> > > > 
> > > > I believe you are misinterpreting this entire issue.  I'm talking about the
> > > > numbers involved.  In a plane crash, there are usually a significant amount
> > > > of lost lives.  In an automobile accident (and I don't even know why we are
> > > > discussing Webber behind the wheel), there is far less probability of
> > > > injuring tremendous amounts of people.
> > > > 
> > > > Webber is a basketball player.  His profession doesn't hinge on his being
> > > > drug and alcohol free.  Maybe you think it should, but the fact remains, it
> > > > doesn't.  Your Pilot, OTOH, does hinge on that factor, as well as others.
> > > > 
> > > > You are talking about Chris Webber the individual, not the basketball player
> > > > when you mention him behind the wheel of a car.  This discussion was
> > > > initially about drug testing in the NBA.  I stand behind my statement.  I
> > > > could care less if Webber smokes pot right before he takes the court, but I
> > > > do care if my Pilot lights up just before takeoff.
> > > > 
> > > > Cecil
> > > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
>