Not Cheating? Then You’re Not Trying

Regarding the “Cheating in Sports” stories on Aug. 20, there’s not much mystery about why cheaters cheat: They cheat for victory, for fame and for wealth.

The more interesting question is why the rest of us aren’t turned off by the betrayals. Why do we keep rooting for Barry Bonds, Marion Jones and all the floppers in basketball and soccer? Must be because we think cheating isn’t a big deal.

BOB STONE

Los Angeles

Recent articles denouncing performance-enhancing drugs have vilified such professional athletes as Marion Jones, Floyd Landis and Justin Gatlin. Bill Plaschke went as far as labeling Jones “a great big fat lying drug-cheating athlete.”

Is it cheating when pitchers opt for elbow ligament replacements to prolong their careers as with a Tommy John procedure? Is it cheating for football players to have multiple arthroscopic knee surgeries? How about an athlete having a kidney transplant to prolong one’s career, such as Alonzo Mourning?

Whether it’s hormone replacements like THG and HGH, or red blood cell infusions of EPO, or ligament, tendon or kidney replacements, pro athletes should be allowed under the rules to find the edge to excel. Anita DeFrantz asks for “leveling the playing field.” Exactly.

As Al Davis puts it, “Just win, baby.”

DAN ANZEL

Los Angeles

Further proof, as if any were needed, that people are screwy: New York fans boo A-Rod while San Francisco fans cheer for Barry Bonds.

BURT PRELUTSKY

North Hills

So Marion Jones was “shocked” at her positive drug result. I would have been shocked if she claimed otherwise. Maid Marion?

More like “made Marion.”

JEANINE D’ELIA

Granada Hills