Terror threat to Serena Olympics bid

times online uk ^ | 3-29-04

[longtermmemmory]

Is doping (or steroids) allowed in tennis?

[cyborg]

Wow it's that bad.

[scotsman1]

Whine,whine,whine.......thank god the US populace isnt as big a coward.....and to those bragging about security and 'Euroweenies',I have two words:Atlanta bomb.......

[Alberta's Child]

Good point. I don't know about Venus, but Serena is so bulked up on steroids that she ought to be competing in men's tennis.

[longtermmemmory]

Large spongy #1 fingers are a USA phenomenon.

Considering the origin of the games was "Truce". Often warring city states would lay down their arms just to compete. It is an aspect of civilization lost on the terrorists' comprehension.

However it should not be lost on those of us with a few hundred years of advancement. It is not just competing, it is competing before the whole world.

No nutcase hiding in a dirt cave shold push anyone around.

I know I fully intent to be there.

[longtermmemmory]

oops "now in use"

[BushisTheMan]

Frankly I don't blame her. Besides, many Greeks would not serve Americans or Brits in their restaurants after the U.S. went in to rid Iraq of Saddam.

Frankly, I hope the Greeks lose money big time on their Olympics as a message from Americans that we only provide financial support to countries who are "with us"

[spetznaz]

If she doesn't go, she'll be allowing the terrorists to set the rules and run her life. Obviously, the Olympics and her country aren't that important to her. ----Mass55th

When it is someones life on the line then i personally let them make their own decisions on the matter (unless they are soldiers and have taken an oath to protect their nation). You might say that by not going she is 'allowing the terrorists to set the rules and run her life' and that she doesn't think the 'olympics and her country are that important to her.' On the other hand she would probably say that her life is worth more than any sport competition, which is what the Olympics is. She even said something along those lines: 'My security and my safety and my life are a little bit more important than tennis.'

Now, both your statements are valid, but hers more so since it is her life on the line. Were you going there and she was staying here then, in that case, your points would become more valid since your life was on the line.

I believe LTM plans on being there. Perfect. That is the good thing to do for LTM. Serena does not want to go. Perfect. That is the good thing to do for Serena. Both people have made their own decisions, and since it is their own life then i respect both decisions. I would not criticize LTM for going and Serena for not going. Honestly the only person in this thread who can criticize Serena is LTM (or any other freeper who will attend the games), because he/she is going to attend.

It is one thing when terrorists are planning to hit you at home. There is no need to fear and live your life subjugated with the constant feeling that today mgiht be the day some Islamic nut decides to meet his virgins. Hey, i'd live my life with gusto and dare the terrorists to do all they want to do. I would not spend a second of my life trembling at what they might do.

However that is at home. Just because i refuse to give terrorists the time of day does not mean i would go to a place overseas that is a huge target for terrorism. The Olympics this year has everyone, including respected terror analysts, saying it is a huge target. A perfect target. If a person does not want to go there that is fine by me. And that does not make them a coward in my book. Just prudent.

I am not afraid of robbers. They come into my house they will not like the experience (even if they are a whole bunch at least one or two will not be going home). However i would not go trotting down the seedy parts of LA in a Brioni suit and my Rado watch because robbers do not give me pause.

[cyborg]

I'm not a tennis fan, but I will respect her decision not to go if that is how she feels.

[Brytani]

She's right not to trust overseas security measures. This past weekend, during the World Ice Skating Championships, Michelle Kwan was preparing to take the ice when a man wearing a tutu came went onto the ice and began stripping to reveal an ad of a gambling website painted on his chest and back.

The Championships took place in Germany where security concerns had been raised. If a nutcase wearing a tutu was able to get onto the ice during a Championship meet, how many nutcases will be able to infiltrate the Olympics in a country that is rather sympathetic to terrorists.

Instead of a promo for a website, I shudder to think what another nutcase could do in Greece.

Before anyone tells me to loosen by tin-foil hat, I will remind you of a "small" incident at an Olympics where Israeli athletes were slaughtered by terrorists.

[rabidralph]

The sisters competed in the 2000 Olympics and were not cited for steroid use. Do you have some proof they're using steroids? Here's a note to all you girly-men out there, just because a woman is bulked up doesn't mean she is using steroids. I can remember some of the girls on our track teams and basketball teams in the mid-70s looking like Serena or Venus and none of them were on any muscle-enhancing drugs. Please present your proof of steroid use.

[alisasny]

A guy got on the ice rink at the world figure skating championships the other day right before the American skater Kwan was set to skate. She was already on the ice. Had his intent been to attack her he easily could have.

The event was in Germany and sadly not much media attention or outrage from the athletes.

[Badeye]

I'm in the Security Industry, and there are many experts here at home quietly expressing concerns about Greece's ability to secure the site for the Olympics.

Don't know anything about Serena Williams, beyond the fact she's a real live "amazon"...don't know if its related to steroids or not, don't want to know to be honest.

But its her ass on the line...if she chooses not to attend because of a very real concern, I won't slam her about it. We each make our own choices on things like this.

I won't be attending, thats for sure.

[scotsman1]

Bollocks,I went on holiday to Greece DURING the Iraq war and had no problem.Nor did any English friends.......

[DameAutour]

What evidence do you have that Serena Williams is using steroids? Just because she has muscles?

Where did you hear that she is on steroids? Are those allowed in the Olympics? She won a couple of medals in 2000, I'm sure she was tested. Has something changed since then?

[BushisTheMan]

Don't bollocks me. I read this in many newspapers...not Liberal ones.

[Alberta's Child]

She won a couple of medals in 2000, I'm sure she was tested. Has something changed since then?

Something HAS changed since 2000. She got real big, and she started winning a bunch of Grand Slam tournaments. Compare a picture of Serena Williams in 2000 to a picture of her in 2003 -- and you'll understand why people have speculated that she has been using performance-enhancing drugs.

I heard a fascinating interview on a local sports radio station last year with a reputable physical trainer. He described the physical characteristics that he used to determine whether or not someone was using steroids, including a pronounced change in muscle mass in a short period of time (he claimed that nobody using "natural" methods could add more than 10-15 pounds of muscle mass during a typical off-season period) and a noticeable change in an athlete's head size and facial features.

He then rattled off a list of well-known athletes who were "on the juice," including baseball players Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Jason Giambi, along with Serena Williams. Anyone who still thinks Bonds, Sosa and Giambi were clean is delusional, as evidenced by the fact they showed up for spring training this year looking like toothpicks (conveniently, this was right after their trainer was indicted for marketing steroids).

If Serena Williams competes in the 2004 Olympics, watch how she magically sheds about 20 pounds of muscle mass before she shows up in Athens.

[w1andsodidwe]

That's why I maintain the position that the whole US delegation should stay home for these Olympic games.

And what freedom are you willing to give up next to appease the terrorists?

What bunk. I have gone to Europe every year since 911. I have been asked if I am afraid. Of course I am, but I won't allow the terrorists to dictate my freedoms.

I do not believe that anyone should be representing America if they are such a coward. Freedom and liberty do have a price.

[DameAutour]

The difference between Serena Williams and those baseball players is she is constantly tested in order to perform in tournaments such as Wimbledon or the various Opens, and also at many of the other minor events. All of these major competitions test the athletes. They don't thoroughly test or care in baseball because performance-enhancing drugs are not completely banned the way they are in other sports.

I've never heard anything about either Williams sister failing a drug test. In recent years, pro tennis has been testing more and more for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. That's why I was wondering if you had access to some kind of evidence, like a failed drug test or even an inconclusive one. Serena Williams has probably been tested dozens of times in the last few years since she won the gold medals at the Olympics.

By the way, if she and her sister could sweep the Olympics without drug use, why couldn't they rack up the grand slam matches?