Throwing Vijay Under The Bus

A thought came to me while watching the Canadian Open:

The CBS television crew were praising Vijay Singh, who is leading the tournament after three rounds, for his record breaking success on the PGA Tour at his relatively advanced age (he has won 19 tournaments since turning 40, breaking Sam Snead record of 17). They (and in the past Singh himself) credited his work ethic and a focused workout regiment as part of the reason Singh was able to have such success ‘late’, temporarily surpassing Tiger Woods as the number one golfer in the world in 2004.

A look at his bio shows he went from winning one or two tournaments a year from 1997 to 2002 to winning 4 tournaments in 2003 (the year he turned 40), 9 in 2004 and 4 in 2005. The amount of events played from year to year didn’t change appreciably; he ranged from 26 to 30 events played each year.

Does this sound familiar? An athlete near the top of his profession gets better at an age where most other players start to fade? Aren’t there athletes in other sports under heavy scrutiny that follow a similar career trajectory?

Recently another athlete was lauded for his worth ethic and strenuous workout regiment. Sean Sherk is the current lightweight champion in the UFC. The week before the most recent pay-per-view (where Sherk held on to his title with a commanding decision victory), the UFC aired UFC All Access on Spike TV to promote the event. Part of that program focused on the ridiculously difficult training Sherk puts himself through before a fight. During the fight, the commentators referred to Sherk’s training as a reason he was able to fight at a high rate.

Sean Sherk later tested positive for steroids.

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I have no idea if Vijay Singh is using anything stronger than Advil to be the best golfer he can be. I do know every second the major golf tours delay implementing drug testing, questions like this can’t be easily swept under the rug.

Especially when Singh has been accused of cheating before.

Feet Dragging on Drug Testing

Gary Player's comments regarding illegal drug use in the golf world received predictable reactions in the golf community, from the typical this couldn't happen in golf (David Howell):

I was amazed by the comments. If there was one person in the world [taking drugs] I would be amazed. I'm shocked by his comments, but maybe I am naive. It's not even on the radar. I could be absolutely wrong, but of the people I know, no chance. I don't think we have a problem."

to lets shoot the messengeer (Reteif Goosen):

I don't know what Gary was trying to prove saying what he said. I'm actually very shocked at his comments. I don't know if he is trying to damage the sport, damage golf. He mustn't come and say 'I know of 10 guys taking drugs out there' and not say what it is. He might as well not have said anything.

Someone else noticed Dick Pound, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, who doesn't miss an opportunity to interject himself into any issue where drugs and athletes intersect:

It comes from one of the icons of golf who has no particular ax to grind out there now, other than to try to maintain the integrity of the sport. It's a wake-up call that has not come in such stark terms to date from the golf community. I don't know how widespread it is because there is no testing.
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I have said: 'Look, this is your opportunity to lead, not to be forced to follow, so get on with it. The time is now. You should do this while you still have the initiative, rather than being forced into it as the result of a scandal. Then you are going to have the whole of golf regarded with suspicion. Do it now before there's a big public problem.

I am no fan of Dick Pound. I think his dream scenario is WADA officials being allowed to burst into any athlete's home at any time and take as much blood as they can. Due process is an obstacle to his goals. In short, he is an asshole. What the golf establishment is doing with their slow dance towards any type of drug testing is allowing an asshole to be right.

Imagine if the name of J.B. Holmes (because he hits the ball really far) or Fred Funk (because he is able to compete on a high level at an age where other players are on the Championship Tour) or David Duval (once elite player who has suddenly lost his way) comes up in a Balco-type investigation. The public opinion will turn from 'these guys aren't on the juice like the baseball players' to 'the WWE has a stronger testing regiment than the PGA Tour. Then, as baseball is learning currently, it is harder to gain the public trust back.

I'm sure Gary Player is right and someone playing golf somewhere in the world is using performance enhancers. It is in the golf establishments best interest to get off their inherent arrogance of how honest and true their players are and be the organizing party that catches that person, and not a member of the Orlando Sentinel or the FBI.

Daly's definately juicing

PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem has announced the PGA Tour has begun to develop policies regarding performance enhancing drugs, incluing testing. This is a reversal of his original stance; that golf didn't need such a policy due to the arrogance of the golf elite integrity of the game. This annoucement led to writers going for the easy laugh, pointing to pictures of Mickelson and Angel Cabrera and saying 'these guys are on steroids?' Besides being more hacky than Robin Williams, they miss the point.

First off all, as baseball has taught us, steroids/human growth hormone/whatever the newest drug the cycling world is using these days are more important to extend a career or recover quicker from an injury. With all the money available on the PGA Tour, is it that hard to believe an older or injured golfer would throw down some HGH during the offseason, work out like his livelyhood depended on it and make a bunch of cash late in his career?
Second, isn't one of the main complaints about the current game is today's professionals hit the ball too far? Is it inconceivable enhancers could have something to do with that? I own a Taylor Made R7 driver (damn Sergio Garcia commercials) and I'm not hitting it 300+ yards. Could it be more than just the equipment?

Third, steroids are not the only performance enhancer out there. Craig Parry has brought up the possible use of beta blockers to steady nerves during play (perhaps someone should have told Aaron Baddeley about them before his round with Tiger).

Finchem has learned the lesson the NBA learned the hard way in the 80's with their cocaine scandals and MLB is still learning with their steroid scandals: it is easier to keep the trust of your fans then try to gain it back after you lose said trust. Professional golf may not need drug testing due to a doping epidemic, but they do need their good name. A little urine in a cup is a small price to pay for that.