I Don't Normally Cuss in Titles, but WHAT THE FUCK??!!!

In the luxury of time today, I came across this from Steven Yip's blog. It's an article from Kosmo, a local tabloid.

Atlet maraton lega

"SATU langkah bijak."
Demikian ulasan yang diberikan jurulatih maraton kebangsaan, P. Sidamparam apabila pihak Imigresen membuat pemantauan semula kemasukan atlet jarak sederhana dan jauh dari negara luar, lapor YASMIN RAMAN.

Sidamparam berkata, langkah tersebut merupakan satu berita baik dan berharap atlet-atlet negara dapat menggunakan peluang itu sebaik yang mungkin.

"Saya gembira dengan keputusan tersebut. Ia serba sedikit membuka peluang atlet negara menunjukkan kehebatan masing-masing sekali gus menempa nama dalam sukan tersebut.

"Saya yakin ini adalah peluang terbaik untuk kita mengetahui setakat mana kemampuan atlet negara dalam usaha memantapkan lagi pembangunan sukan negara khususnya dalam acara maraton," ujar Sidamparam ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam.

Sidamparam mengakui dia amat gembira kerana langkah mengehadkan penyertaan atlet luar negara pada kejohanan berbentuk komersial akhirnya mendapat maklum balas positif.

"Pihak imigresen telah mengesahkan bahawa ada beberapa atlet jarak sederhana dan jauh dari negara luar ini masuk secara haram dan ia mungkin berlaku kerana ada pihak cuba mendapatkan keuntungan.

"Bagaimanapun isu itu akan mendapat pemantauan. Apa yang boleh saya banggakan ialah kini banyak pihak yang sudah membuka mata dan mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga," ujar Sidamparam.

Sidamparam menambah, dia difahamkan Kesatuan Olahraga Amatur Malaysia (KOAM) dan Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) juga turut memberi kerjasama dalam membuat penapisan tentang penganjuran sukan tersebut.

"KOAM dan MSN akan membuat pemantauan berleluasa tentang isu ini kerana saya difahamkan ada beberapa penganjur tidak mengikut syarat sebenar. Ini juga satu langkah yang wajar dilakukan.

"Saya pasti langkah ini juga mampu menolak sangkaan bahawa atlet negara hanya menjadi alat kepada penaja untuk menarik minat orang ramai menyertai sesuatu kejohanan yang dianjurkan," katanya.

The tabloid is so confused, I searched high and low for the date of this article but it's nowhere to be found. Based on Steven's post, it was written no later than 21st May.

This was what the NATIONAL marathon coach had to say:

Saya gembira dengan keputusan tersebut. Ia serba sedikit membuka peluang atlet negara menunjukkan kehebatan masing-masing sekali gus menempa nama dalam sukan tersebut.
[I'm happy with the decision (to restrict participation of foreign athletes). It will give ample opportunity for our national athletes to exhibit their talent and leave a significant footing in this sport.]

Here I go again, but WHAT THE FUCK?!! What kind of talent are you talking about? Sure, with enough restrictions, I can be the 'fastest Malaysian on the road'. Yes, me. An obese, don't-know-any-better poser. But would that win bring any meaning? And the only significant thing these athletes are getting is my foot.

He goes on saying:

Saya yakin ini adalah peluang terbaik untuk kita mengetahui setakat mana kemampuan atlet negara dalam usaha memantapkan lagi pembangunan sukan negara khususnya dalam acara maraton.
[I'm confident that (the restriction) is our best opportunity to learn about our ability and how far we can go in the effort of strengthening the nations sports development, especially in marathon]

We don't need the restrictions to know how well we are doing. I can tell you how well we are doing. We are slower than the Kenyans. Surprise! You don't need a rocket scientist to tell you that.

The issue on these athletes entering the country illegally is one issue, but restricting the participations of foreign athletes is a different issue altogether.

Why can't their participation be seen as a healthy ground for competition? The Kenyans are well known worldwide for their talent for being fast. Books have been written explaining the secrets of the Kenyans. Why can't national athlete take pride in competing alongside the world's best? At the very least you'll know how far behind you are and from that learn how much work is cut out for you to perform better next time.

Malaysia was ready to spend millions so that our boys and girls can train in a posh training complex in London, but when the best athletes come to us, we shun them away?

I must figure out how to write to the papers.