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Original poster

Podcast interview with Michael Johnson

14 replies

scratchedbymycat · 14/02/2023 11:10

In this, Alastair Campbell interviews Michael Johnson. I found it an extraordinary interview.

open.spotify.com/episode/4NgpKN4NE3jfhMJGUxvTEx?si=U5s54gtBRAWL1I6tXX6DOw

It starts with Johnson talking about why athletes should take a stand on politics because 'there is a war' going on. WRT racism, Trump, America now. Moral imperatives and all that.

Then he gets asked directly about transgender women in sport. This, apparently is complicated and difficult. Answered at length by not saying anything much at all. His stance on justice felt more along the lines of 'too scared to engage with this one'.

Moved on to doping. Oh, lots to say here. But the clanger for me was when he talked about a lot of friends he had who weren't at his level in sport. They'd done the sums and worked out how many of them were prevented from reaching higher levels because of doping.

Why is this clearly unfair, but men doping down is not unfair to the many women losing out on spaces?

OP posts:
NecessaryScene · 14/02/2023 11:17

I was thinking there was a relevant JKR quote, and it's this:

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

Except that, in many circles, it now takes far MORE courage to stand up to your friends than to "stand up" to your "enemies". Decrying Bad People is easy, and just reaffirms you as a Good Person.

Pointing out that the Good People have something wrong is the sort of thing that gets you excommunicated - clearly only a Bad Person would have a problem with the Good People.

crosshatching · 14/02/2023 11:41

But the voices @scratchedbymycat , the voices are SO LOUD. What's a fella happy enough to be interviewed on a podcast called Leading and very happy to talk about his incredible sporting record and business acumen to do?!

NotBadConsidering · 14/02/2023 11:49

It’s Michael Johnson, not Michael Jordan.

Michael Johnson is the track and field athlete, 200m and 400m runner who is a pundit on the BBC.

Michael Jordan is a former basketball player.

Two very different people, which explains why your OP didn’t make sense because Jordan isn’t very articulate IMO.

puffyisgood · 14/02/2023 11:52

haha.

I think the precise stat is slightly problematic (e.g. because of whether measurements are taken wearing shoes or not, also because of possible under reporting in the general populace) but I've seen very reputable sources in the past publish a stat that your chances of making it into the NBA if you're an American man who's at least 7 feet tall is something preposterous like 15%. so I think it's fair to say that MJ's is a sport where male skeletons could just maybe confer a teeny tiny advantage for participants.

puffyisgood · 14/02/2023 11:53

apologies, just seen that this is about the athlete guy. still a clear case albeit slightly less blindingly so.

puffyisgood · 14/02/2023 11:56

to be clear on the above stat, the 15% stat is your chance of ending up in the NBA whether you decide to go for it or not. literally that proportion of all seven footers, no matter how unathletic or otherwise unexceptional, end up on an NBA roster at some point.

Blister · 14/02/2023 11:56

NotBadConsidering · 14/02/2023 11:49

It’s Michael Johnson, not Michael Jordan.

Michael Johnson is the track and field athlete, 200m and 400m runner who is a pundit on the BBC.

Michael Jordan is a former basketball player.

Two very different people, which explains why your OP didn’t make sense because Jordan isn’t very articulate IMO.

Yes OP please do get the title changed. I was so confused for a bit.

Needmoresleep · 14/02/2023 12:01

There is also Michael B Jordan who, bizarrely, has become a part owner of Bournemouth football club.

Lets hope he understands the importance of keeping sport single sex. (Though the way the men are playing they might be better off fielding the women's team.)

Fenlandia · 14/02/2023 12:33

Michael Jordan (the basketball player) was always famously reluctant to have any kind of position on anything non-sporting (he used to say something like "Republicans buy sneakers too"). But it's disappointing that Michael Johnson can't state the bleeding obvious about men in women's sports.

Original poster
scratchedbymycat · 14/02/2023 13:04

NotBadConsidering · 14/02/2023 11:49

It’s Michael Johnson, not Michael Jordan.

Michael Johnson is the track and field athlete, 200m and 400m runner who is a pundit on the BBC.

Michael Jordan is a former basketball player.

Two very different people, which explains why your OP didn’t make sense because Jordan isn’t very articulate IMO.

Oh crikey ! So sorry. That's how much I know about sport. I'll ask MN to correct the title.

OP posts:
MNHQ
KimMumsnet · 14/02/2023 13:07

Hi, OP. We've changed the title and the name in your post now.

Original poster
scratchedbymycat · 14/02/2023 13:10

Thank you @KimMumsnet

OP posts:
JellySaurus · 14/02/2023 13:17

Why is this clearly unfair, but men doping down is not unfair to the many women losing out on spaces?

'Doping down' is not an expression I've heard before, but it is genius! If doping up to get into the top of a category is unacceptable, why is doping down to get into the top of a category acceptable?

Original poster
scratchedbymycat · 14/02/2023 14:47

LOL, I am an accidental genius, but that's how I think of the sport thing.

In terms of EQUALITY, why are some of the competitors allowed to dope to achieve what they want to achieve in sport, but others aren't?

I sometimes muse that instead of arguing about bones, heart size differences, lungs etc, women should argue discrimination (not sure what kind) and go to court on the basis they are denied the right to take performance based drugs, but other competitors can.

Following on from that, if TW can dope down to compete with women, why aren't trans men allowed to dope up to compete with men? Not just testosterone, but the whole blood thing Lance Armstrong did as well. In the case of trans men, not for cheating of course (sarcasm) but to level up and match heart lungs etc.

Why are TW allowed this, but not TM?

Let's see what Michael Johnson says about that. Especially if a TM ever knocks out a male competitor who can't dope. Unlikely I know, but I'm sure the Russians could muscle up a scary Frankenstein racer if given half a chance.

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