Sad?
/Here on TNT tape-delay and not long ago we had the segment on Gary Player's comments about steroid use (and kudos to TNT to talking about it, something the American networks might not have done).
Bobby Clampett said he respected Player's views and had heard second hand rumors of experimentation, but no concrete evidence. And then he said it was a sad day for golf, citing the usual and seemingly understandable reasons (the game has been clean, gentleman's game, shouldn't have to come to this, etc...).
How can broadcasters or golf executives ever call this a sad or dark day since the possibility of performance enhancing drug use became a reality when so many made the ridiculous claim that athleticism was largely driving the distance explosion?
Courtesy of the poor folks at TNT PR who have to transcribe the best of the broadcasts, Clampett and Peter Alliss's remarks about Gary Player's accusation:
“Gary (Player's) got so much integrity, he speaks from the heart. As a player, it saddens me that these kinds of reports would be coming out. This is a game of integrity that we have enjoyed being free of any of these kinds of allegations in the history of the game. It looks like we might have to move into drug testing of players, that saddens me.”
-- Clampett on Gary Player’s accusations that professional golfers are using performance-enhancing drugs.
“I have no idea (what prompted Gary Player’s statement) unless he needed the publicity. I don’t know why he waited until he was 70-odd years of age to come out with it and then not tell us who it is. Just taking a stick and stirring a muddy pond for no reason, it’s very stupid.”
-- Alliss on his reaction to Gary Player’s assertion that some professional golfers take performance enhancing drugs
