A Media Person's Musings

Dwain's Pain

You can run but you can't hide. Never has that saying been more true when you observe the media spectacle that has surrounded Dwain Chambers since he stormed back onto the UK athletics scene after a 2 year ban for taking the banned steroid THG. Dwain, a former European 100m champion, ran his first competitive race on February 10 and was victorious in the  60 metres at the World Indoor Trials and UK Championships. The vwin qualified him for a place in the World Indoor Athletics Championships. After the win the media went into overdrive and the brouhaha revolved around whether drugs cheats in sports should be allowed to return after a lengthy ban or whether they should be banned for life. The general consensus was that they should be banned for life. And there are calls for the rules to be changed by the leading lights in UK Athletics.

I don't agree. Chambers was introduced to the drug when he was training in America and was being advised by a 'nutrtionist' expert Victor Conte. Conte introduced him to THG telling him that it would help him with his nutrition. Chambers should have questioned it, all athletes are fully knowledgeable of the dangers of ingesting any unknown substance, and he was suspicious. But he went ahead. He was totally influenced by people he had trust in. He made a mistake. A huge, calamitous mistake. Who knows what was going on in his head to do such a thing? How could he risk his whole life, his vocation, his crareer, the only thing he had ever known?  But he did.

I think you should allow everyone a second chance. He didn't kill anyone and even murderers dont get a life sentence. He cheated. People cheat. It is a fact of life. But he was punished, according to the rules and now he is back and being treated like a leper. The media is against him, his sporting colleagues and former friends are against him and the vast majority of the public are against him. I think that is a pretty horrible position to be in.

As it turns out the majority of the organisers of the top UK events have decided not to invite him to participate in their events. That is their choice and even without being banned it seems the powers that be can put him on a 'virtual' ban. I think they should try to show a little compassion - it is no mean feat to come back and win after 5 years out of the sport. If Chambers is prepared to clean up his act, stay drugs free and try to excel in the only thing he knows how to do well then he should be entitled to some support.

Talk To Me!

Last week a really good friend of mine was dumped by her boyfriend via a text message. The week before that I tried calling one of my US colleagues at least 15 times without success but was able to get an immediate response when I emailed. This week I had a full blown, humdinger of a row with one of my closest friends...on IM.

What has happened to the art of conversation? I just can't seem to get anyone to talk to me any more. Not only is electronic communication impersonal but it takes so much time to get across your meaning when a simple phone call would suffice.

Most of my friends send me texts and emails rather than phone. I hate it. I can't text anyway - it takes me ages to write what I could say in a couple of seconds. People argue that it is more simple, cost-effective and timesaving. I think it is lazy and sometimes even dangerous. I have got into far more trouble sending emails in anger or sending them to the wrong people.

That said, I think my friend can see what a lazy, thoughtless, classless twerp she was dating and I think that can go some way to making her feel better. And I PHONED my IM-bashed friend to clear the air and everything is fine now.

Fabio Rules!

The appointment of Fabio Capello as the new manager of the England football team was greeted with an inevitable media furore. Some journalists were up in arms because the UK's football authority couldn't find a decent enough English candidate to take on this highly paid yet unenviable role. Capello's credentials are impeccable and despite the challenges (he can't speak English and the press are just waiting for him to trip up) he is already making his mark.

Tonight the England team (and Capello has made some controversial selections) will play its first match under his direction. The match is a 'friendly against Switzerland b ut everyone is keen to see if Fabio has already made an impression on our lacklustre and overrated players.

Many pundits say that English football players are over-paid, over-rated and are not as professional in their approach to training and fitness as their European counterparts. It seems that Fabio agrees! He has implemented a new, strict system of rules that include timekeeping, access to players from WAGs (wives and girlfriends), diet, training and even how they address eachother. He is a consumate, serious professional and he is setting the standard for every manager out there who is managing young, petulant, super-talented players. The key to success is discipline and respect, something the youngsters in our society have no concept of because of the very bad example set by their spoiled role models. So well done Fabio, bring it on, I hope that you show us all that discipline and application will ultimately bring us the results we want.