The Next Olympic Sport

Synchronized Smoking: Perhaps the next Olympic sport?

On the front page of the Sunday edition of Minneapolis Star Tribune was an article stating that they are drug testing the competitors in the World Ice Fishing Championship that is being held in our neighboring state, Wisconsin. Yes, that is right. The U.S Anti-Doping Agency ordered the fisherman to provide urine samples for a surprise test to detect steroids and growth hormones. Apparently the leaders of the ice fishing sport are trying to win a birth in the Winter Olympics. So, why the heel don't we have Synchronized Smoking as well? And earlier this week, the Olympic Committee crossed one of the oldest sports in existence, Greco-Roman wrestling, off of the list of sanctioned Olympic sports.

Now let me explain Ice Fishing. It is where a "bunch" of mostly middle-aged and out of shape anglers stand on a frozen lake, drill holes through the ice and catch fish. Typically a twelve pack of beer is involved. In fact, the paper quoted the chairman of the U.S. Freshwater Fishing Association saying, "We do not test for beer, because than everybody would likely fail." I promise you that I am not making this up. Read the article here.

The article reads like a Greek tragedy and I am appalled at the existence of this story, (though it did produce thunderous laughter when my wife read the article at the breakfast table). Lance Armstrong snuck by undetected for doping for nearly a decade. And Alex Rodriguez makes $24 million per year with the Yankees even though a doping clinic in Florida has admitted to juicing him. But the organizers of ice fishing tournaments are making a laughable bid for an Olympic berth and, in the process, they have squandered the focus of the anti-doping warriors.

As I said, it is so sad that it is hysterical.

Thank you for your kind regards on my blip of yesterday. Your comments brought an ear to ear smile on Isabella's face this evening. You are all so kind.