SPORTING LIFE

The Renaissance loves sport, particularly hockey and baseball.

That said, there is a problem. This morning we have in the news a sort of "twin killing" of our illusions about sport at the highest level.

First, we have the McLaren F1 team fined $100,000,000.00 by Formula One's governing body for spying on Team Ferrari. They will be displaced as the Constructor's Champion and their participarion next season will be decided later.

This same morning we have the New England Patriots of the N.F.L. being found guilty of using a video camera to record and use opposing team's bench signals, contrary to clear league rules.

Both McLaren and the Pats have said in their respective defences that the information received was not used to gain a competitive advantage. The Renaissance Man says "suuuurrrreee", but even if it's true, it's a lame defence. They cheated.

In recent months we have seen an NBA referee charged and admitting to cheating in his calling of games to assist gambling interests. We have seen the doping debacle of the Tour de France, which has lost all credibility. We have seen countless steroid and blood doping scandals in sports as varied as track and fireld to wrestling. There is great concern among many, including the Renaissance Man, that China is the new East Germany and that its technological prowess in the field of athletic cheating will allow them to dominate the Peking Olympics.

The Renaissance Man is still seeking a solution. All he knows is that money has corrupted sport, in general, and that day by day the joy is bleeding out.