From a high school student who looked up to NOP, this situation is so depressing

Say what you want about NOP, but only liberal idiots hate algebra.

There's no evidence against NOP, no reason to lose hope. With that said, I dont believe in the history of ever has someone been at the top and been clean. For any sport, political party, industry, etc

Algebra is useless wrote:

I really want to believe there are good decent people in the world, everybody swears up and down they are doing the right thing, but no the world is full of cheaters, liars, rapist, murders, I want to believe there are decent people in the world, I just never see it. Even when people do something kind, it is for a selfish reasons.

I don't mind breaking it to you but the fact that there are cheaters, liars, rapists and murderers in the world does NOT imply that there aren't people who are none of the above.

So, algebra may indeed be useless but LOGIC is not.

n00f wrote:

There's no evidence against NOP, no reason to lose hope. With that said, I dont believe in the history of ever has someone been at the top and been clean. For any sport, political party, industry, etc

Haha. Only plumes of smoke coming from something you claim isn't a fire.

****None of the Oregon Project athletes has ever tested positive****

And isn't it funny that Nike is USATF's biggest sponsor. Couldn't be any impropriety there at all.

To the OP, aim high and run for your own reasons.

Algebra is useless wrote:

I really want to believe there are good decent people in the world, everybody swears up and down they are doing the right thing, but no the world is full of cheaters, liars, rapist, murders, I want to believe there are decent people in the world, I just never see it. Even when people do something kind, it is for a selfish reasons.

Actually, the world is full of decent hard working people who play by the rules. It's the one's who don't play by the rules who want you to believe everyone is a cheating liar, so they feel better about their horrible selves.

If you don't understand Algebra, then you'll never know the correct exchange rate between apples and oranges. Pretty important stuff.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Nothing has been proven. How would you feel if someone accused you of something that was not true?

Algebra is useless wrote:

I really want to believe there are good decent people in the world, everybody swears up and down they are doing the right thing, but no the world is full of cheaters, liars, rapist, murders, I want to believe there are decent people in the world, I just never see it. Even when people do something kind, it is for a selfish reasons.

First of all, OP you and many people are feeling the same things (emotions, feelings? Only for children, which is what makes it so sad) that people felt when Lance Armstrong was convicted.

But it's an American dream issue. Winning 7 Tour de Frances or whatever that bike race is called... wow that's like so many times, Lance must be so good! Yeah freaking right. You win that many times and there has got to be a high level of suspicion.

But, ok, back to the point. I don't blame Lance for doping and I don't blame the NOP for "doping" because that's what it takes to satisfy the "American dream."

Read the Great Gatsby and you'll understand.

Side note though: Kinda explains why Galen Rupp was always getting minor colds throughout his WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE. Read the article: Prednisone, if overused, and inhibit the immune system. He has asthma, and that's believable and all, but c'mon it's a little suspicious from the get go. Salazar was on Prozac on his comeback run, so you can see how he would use that kind of personal experience to fuel "research" into supplements/drug enhancements.

In my book though NOP colors are black for a reason. The truth about the sport, distance running etc, is that we are in an ERA where doping is necessary to be in the elite group. We can sit back and let Kenya/Ethiopia/rest of Africa/Bahrain dominate distance running or we can play out the fantasy that Galen Rupp, the Luke Skywalker of running, is going to hit it big. This is of course is that alternative storyline where Darth Vader realizes his "career" mistakes and seeks out Anakin to coach him through life and banishes Obiwan Kenobi (Magness?) cause he has "moral ineptitudes."

In lesser words: If Rupp doesn't win GOLD then what the hell is Nike doing?

[quote]Use your brain wrote:

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Nothing has been proven. How would you feel if someone accused you of something that was not true? [quote]

And Lance [Nike icon] Armstrong never tested positive.

Algebra is useless wrote:

I really want to believe there are good decent people in the world, everybody swears up and down they are doing the right thing, but no the world is full of cheaters, liars, rapist, murders, I want to believe there are decent people in the world, I just never see it. Even when people do something kind, it is for a selfish reasons.

You are appealing to an errant philosophical viewpoint, i.e. the idea that selfishness is evil. It's not. All humans act in their own self-interest, differing only in the course of action they deem best for themselves. People only act kindly for selfish reasons. Genuine people are kind to others whom they value selfishly (lovers, friends, family, etc.). People who extoll the virtue of selflessness are not really motivated by goodwill toward others; instead, they are social climbers and power-lusters. Selfishness is not the same as dishonesty, so it's important not to conflate the two. It is always in one's best long-term interest to be honest.

Now as for sport. It's always disappointing to hear that the people we admire are liars and cheaters (I've always known that Saladbar is a hack who does nothing but use social connections to ride the best genetics to the top, so it's no loss for me). Just know two things: 1) "rules" that are not or can not be strictly enforced are not really rules at all, so the people who break them aren't cheating, and 2) most people who do cheat in a major way DO get caught eventually, as the repeated downfall of some of the biggest names in the sport proves clearly.

Algebra isn't useless. I actually use it in real life (not just for my job) 30 years after learning it.

Sorry you had to learn the hard way about NOPers.

Not wanting to sound like a d1ck, but ... welcome, you are taking your first steps into adulthood. It's a bit like finding out that Santa Claus isn't real. There are lots of decent and honest people out there.

Algebra is useless wrote:

I really want to believe there are good decent people in the world, everybody swears up and down they are doing the right thing, but no the world is full of cheaters, liars, rapist, murders, I want to believe there are decent people in the world, I just never see it. Even when people do something kind, it is for a selfish reasons.

angry willy wrote:

It's a bit like finding out that Santa Claus isn't real.

Dude! Can you add some Spoiler Alerts? We have kids here.

Algebra is useless wrote:

I really want to believe there are good decent people in the world, everybody swears up and down they are doing the right thing, but no the world is full of cheaters, liars, rapist, murders, I want to believe there are decent people in the world, I just never see it. Even when people do something kind, it is for a selfish reasons.

Root for second-tier runners, they'll never let you down. Chris Derrick, Phoebe Wright, Will Leer...that's the gravy train. They're good people who will never break your heart.