The difference between an amateur and professionals

Double standard? You have to ask yourself this question when reading that Marion Jones, an amateur track star, has been given six months jail time for lying to authorities about the use of performance enhancing drugs. Surely the public embarrassment, the forfeiting of the medals and the stain on her family honor was enough.

Compare and contrast this story with that of the major league sports figures, with their six-figure salaries, and high-priced lawyers, who blissfully deny any wrong-doing – safe in the knowledge that their lawyers and their union will keep them “inoculated” from humiliation and punishment!

I don’t profess to have “inside” information, but it seems blatantly obvious to me that such “bulking up,” and muscular development, didn’t happen because these players purchased a Bowflex! Isn’t this another case of “money talks?”

In the meantime, Ms. Jones serves jail-time and the professional players continue to pad the record books.

Robert F. Green