Sports Beat
By Adam Hickman
Sport is about participation. It’s about playing for the love of the game — winning, losing and having fun.
Professional sport, for most athletes, is an extension of those ideals. The times are faster and the dollars are bigger but, all in all, each athlete is involved because at some time as a kid they had a passion and a dream.
What sport is not about is changing the rules to suit one’s needs — which is what Casey Martin has done.
Martin is the golfer who successfully sued the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) because he felt its rules discriminated against people with disabilities. Martin claims the PGA Tour’s golf cart ban violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Martin has a rare circulatory disorder in his right leg which prevents him from walking long distances. But the PGA says walking the fairway is a major part of the sport, and allowing Martin to ride a golf cart would give him an unfair advantage.
It’s one thing to be inclusive and relax the rules at a less competitive level. But these are the big leagues where athletes should be competing on a level playing field using their skills and strengths.
If a player can’t compete under the current rules, he shouldn’t be there. It may sound cold, but competitive sport is about who can run the fastest, jump the highest, hit the farthest. It’s a battle of elite athletes. The beauty is there is no preferential treatment — competition is based exclusively on talent.
Martin has set a precedent sending shock waves across the sports world. The result may change the fabric of elite sports. It’s a shame, because pro sport isn’t about equality.
To many people, Martin is a hero. It’s an easy argument. He overcame a personal obstacle, reached a high level of golf, and courageously took on the system and won.
But, it’s not that clear. A hero is an individual who achieves success by overcoming odds and obstacles. A hero devotes his heart and soul to make his dreams come true. A hero doesn’t ask for special treatment when the going gets tough.
Heroes put in the best effort they can. Jim Abbott didn’t ask for anything special and he pitched in the major leagues with one arm.
And when Terry Fox embarked on the Marathon of Hope, he never aked for anything — certainly not a golf cart. These athletes are true heroes.