do genetic advantages make sports unfair

[wc1934]

http://io9.com/science-could-give-us-super-athletes-so-why-dont-we-1259675166

entire article in the new yorker - Malcolm Gladwell

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2013/09/09/130909crat_atlarge_gladwell

[EricEstlund]

Ummm...

One: Nature gives some athletes an unfair advantage.

No it doesn't. It makes some athletes superior. That's nature. In sport, some people are supposed to be superior.

Two: Technology has consistently provided athletes with an ever-increasing competitive advantage, enabled participants in many sport to reach new heights of athletic excellence. (See also: technological doping.)

Providing everyone with the same hydrophobic swim suit or bottled O2 seems fine, so long as it's noted. Sort of like the Athletes Hour in cycling.

Three: Science has the power to elevate athletes to an unprecedented plane of performance. So why don't we let it?

Because that's not, you know, sporting.

It seems like we discuss sport eugenics every now and again. Sport, by definition, pits varied athletes against each other or a feat. If they were all the same, it would be like seeing which painted wall dried fastest, only to have them dry to the same rate. The differences in performance and ability are the whole point.

[bicycletricycle]

Sometimes cliches are great.

Life's not fair.

[jtakeda]

The differences in performance and ability are the whole point.

Exactly what I was thinking. The point is to see who is naturally better.

[wallymann]

Exactly what I was thinking. The point is to see who is naturally better.

and who maximizes their genetic gifts to their fullest potential thru as natural a means as possible. i.e., trains harder/smarter/etc.

[Louis]

Sometimes cliches are great.

Life's not fair.

I'm often at work late, when the cleaning crew comes through to empty the trash and clean up the bathrooms, so every now and them I have a bit of conversation with some of them. It's clear that at least a few of them have some sort of learning disability, or at a minimum, problems interacting socially with others. After a day of working with engineers (some of whom you might argue have their own set of problems, but that's a separate issue) it can be a dramatic change, and I can't help but feel for them.

I don't see it simply as a "Life isn't fair" thing, but whether you're talking about what's in your head or in your muscles, folks vary in a number of ways.

[velotel]

Of course, pretty obvious. That's why doping should be legal, levels the playing field. Like that old publicity saying years and years ago, better living through better pharmaceuticals. ;)

[Chance]

Sometimes cliches are great.

Life's not fair.

Very true.

And sports is such a small part of it.

[redir]

It's all relative, if you dope an amateur athlete as well as a genetically gifted pro then you still get your arse kicked. If you dope an amateur and not the pro you probably still get your arse kicked. Doping and science work sure but it's never going to bring the ranks of amateur up to pro.

I wish I could play the guitar like Ana Vidovic but I never ever will, she is gifted and that is why it's such a pleasure to hear. But none the less it's still fun playing the guitar.

99.9% of us which basically means all of you are not special and not gifted and that's just the way it is.

[Tony T]

Handiicaps (like in golf) should be given in all sports to level the playing field so that no one loses.

"We're all winners!" ;););););)

[cdn_bacon]

That is easily counterbalanced with PED's...:bike:

[Rueda Tropical]

Competitive sports is supposed to be about the optimal combo of genetics + training + heart/head.

In the real world its about genetics + training + heart/head + pharma program + PR/media team + business acumen.

[avalonracing]

Contrary to what we seem to teach our kids... Life is unfair.

Is it fair that Mr. Gladwell (who I would willing to bet was always the last kid picked in gym class) has fame and fortune from writing pretty boring books that point out obvious things?

[Chance]

Contrary to what we seem to teach our kids... Life is unfair.



Who do you know that actually teaches a kid this?:rolleyes:

[Chance]

Handiicaps (like in golf) should be given in all sports to level the playing field so that no one loses.

"We're all winners!" ;););););)

Know your comment was meant as humor. However, handicapping like in golf is an awful idea.

The only type of "handicap" that makes any sense to me is like in boxing or wrestling -- based on objective measurements. In these cases a handicap based on weight works great. But in sports like golf or cycling, how can we set up a handicap system that wouldn't be open to corruption?

Guess that if we can have women's basketball we could also have a league of guys under 6-feet tall.;) That too could work even if no one watched a single game.

[avalonracing]

Who do you know that actually teaches a kid this?:rolleyes:

A lot of my friends have kids who are constantly whining "It's not fair!" tantrums. It's because their parents have raised to play fairly and to share and not cheat. But they forget to explain that rest of the world and the life itself does not play by those rules and we cannot expect that.

It's not my job nor my place to correct my friends or their children but the sooner they realize that life isn't fair the more than can accept and adapt to the challenges ahead.

[Clydesdale]

I highly reccomend David Epstein's book "The Sports Gene." A really interesting look at genetics and athletics. Some people are simply "made" to do certain things better than others. All the rest of us can do is try to get to our personal potential. Even if you doped everyone, the exceptional ones would still win.

[PS - sorry, I didn't read the article first - Gladwell is actually talking about Epstein's book]

[Chance]

A lot of my friends have kids who are constantly whining "It's not fair!" tantrums. It's because their parents have raised to play fairly and to share and not cheat. But they forget to explain that rest of the world and the life itself does not play by those rules and we cannot expect that.

It's not my job nor my place to correct my friends or their children but the sooner they realize that life isn't fair the more than can accept and adapt to the challenges ahead.

Accepting life as not being fair and cheating are two very different subjects/issues in my mind.

[torquer]

We could argue all week about what's fair, but maybe the question should be do genetic advantages make sports boring?
What makes an athlete worth watching, for me, is what she does with her "natural" abilities. Maybe that's why I'd rather spend my time watching a local little league game than the Yankees.

[chromopromo]

We could argue all week about what's fair, but maybe the question should be do genetic advantages make sports boring?
What makes an athlete worth watching, for me, is what she does with her "natural" abilities. Maybe that's why I'd rather spend my time watching a local little league game than the Yankees.

I am in the opposite camp. I love watching professionals because they are so much better then everyone else. They demonstrate the limits of whats humanly possible. Sure they hit the genetics sports lottery but thats what makes them interesting. Guys like Joe Dombrowski who gets on a cross bike and immediately destroys everyone. Is it fair -- who knows -- but its beautiful to watch.

[Shortsocks]

Its genetically impossible for me to be a porn star. :mad:
UnfortunatelyI've learned that my genetic shortfall has become an impediment in my world of porn, I've had to make due with cycling. Having genetically small attributes have caused me to become VERY aero. :banana:

[jmoore]

Genetic fairness in athletics = LOL.


I should have told Hollis Conway it wasn't fair that he was multi US National Champion and Olympic medalist in the high jump when we were competing against each other in college.

http://youtu.be/FaijDxfgtWk