A thought.....
Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.
--Michael Johnson
--Michael Johnson
Comments
If it is indeed the self same man who was stripped of his medals, and I believe it probably is, the quote stands more to show the rest of us AND the man who uttered the words that in the brief moments he referred to, he chose not to do, or be, his best. I certainly know that in the brief moments I am given to shine photographically, I ALWAYS give my best.
It would be remiss of us to make Michael Johnson, or me, or any one of us, an offender for a lifetime over a moment in time decision which has already caused international humiliation and regret. The quote still holds and is true to me, and whispers "don't make the same mistakes".
Thanks for the comment.
Wasn't Michael Johnson stripped of his medals for steroid use and given a 2 year ban? Then he returned after the ban and did the same thing again?
Have I got it right? I'm pretty sure that's what they said on the olympic coverage I was watching.
If I'm clear on the facts, then his offences were not for a brief 'moment in time' as you say Craig, they were long standing and repeated. It seems that he was willing to experience the 'international humiliation and regret' a second time just to cheat.
Steroid use is not just a one-off, you have to take them over a period of time for them to have the desired effect. That being the case the dishonesty and deceit was calculated and not spontaneous.
Michael Johnson made himself an offender for a lifetime.
He didn't learn from the penalties he was given the first time around - he came back and did exactly the same thing, thereby sealing his own fate and causing his own loss of reputation and respect.
If it is indeed the self same man who was stripped of his medals, and I believe it probably is, the quote stands more to show the rest of us AND the man who uttered the words that in the brief moments he referred to, he chose not to do, or be, his best. I certainly know that in the brief moments I am given to shine photographically, I ALWAYS give my best.
It would be remiss of us to make Michael Johnson, or me, or any one of us, an offender for a lifetime over a moment in time decision which has already caused international humiliation and regret. The quote still holds and is true to me, and whispers "don't make the same mistakes".
I linked into this blog from Goldenrod's page because I read some comments you had made there. You seemed a complimentary and polite person from the things I read over there.
I read the first comment from anonymous and then read your response. I tried to google Michael Johnson's history because I had heard some things on a recent coverage about him. I was genuine in asking if I had my facts straight, genuine...I would still like to know if I have the right athlete because I was distracted at the time of watching the coverage.
Then I added some food for thought, observations only IF my facts were straight. I didn't slam or disrespect you for your point of view Mr Peihopa! Simply added some thoughts is all - trying to have an online conversation.
Your response - yadda yadda yadda...blah blah blah. I don't give a damn... Wow! That came across as rude and disrespectful.
It's nice that you see the quote in the context that you do. I find that interesting. But it's really disappointing that you would rudely slam someone else's take on things.
I just felt that the content of the MSG was lost in the facts about Johnson. Previous experiences on the blog have led
me to feel that I was again being set up to have the meaning of the message obscured to the point that I would become somehow tainted with the same brush because I dared to use the quote.
I also did not and will not vilify or condemn anyones actions. I may not agree with them, many times I don't understand them but in my mind, in my feeling and here on the blog the comment stands on its own accord.
Sorry
For the life of me, I can't see how my comments were tainting you with the same brush...unless you thought I was the same poster as the first anonymous coming back for more.
I like the original quote, and the content of the message was not lost on me, but I feel a real sense of sadness about that great athlete's fall. The circumstances of his self-induced fall (twice) places the quote in an altogether different light - yes, one that we can all learn from.
Am I vilifying him? No, not at all. I am recounting history as it stands. He had made history in a great way up until the point of making personal choices that proved to be his own undoing. Am I condemning him? Again no. His writing of his own history stands on its own accord.
You mentioned that thoughts of this nature had crossed your mind before you posted the quote. Seems to me then that you had a good sense of the potential for controversy. What's wrong with controversy? Nothing! You chose to post the quote anyway - heck, why not?
It's all good.