TypicalFish 0 #1 October 10, 2005 ...to go to this much trouble to cheat in a water skiiing contest... why compete at all if you know it's not a competition? I don't get it. Host of ski contest admits rigging buoys He says event not first time he cheated By RAQUEL RUTLEDGE rrutledge@journalsentinel.com Posted: Aug. 1, 2005 It wasn't an illusion when water-skiers from around the world reported that the distance between the buoys at a competition course in Waukesha County appeared to widen after the first skier finished his run. Jim Michaels Recent Coverage 6/29/05: Walker: Oh buoy, dentist leaves a big wake 6/27/05: Sanctions possible if contest's buoys rigged 6/27/05: Nichols: Building own private lake is no tough feat for some 6/26/05: Claims of rigged buoys taint top ski contest On The Web American Water Ski Association Advertisement World-record-holder Jim Michaels - whose private lake near Dousman was the site of the event - admitted Monday that he set up an underwater mechanical system to manipulate the course and give himself a competitive advantage in the 2005 Malibu Open Waterski Championships and Wakeboard Exhibitions in June. And Michaels, through a public relations specialist, acknowledged that he had cheated other times in the past in setting national records in slalom events at his lake. "My competitive zeal got the better of me and clouded my judgment," Michaels said in a prepared statement released by a public relations consultant. "I have no excuse for this and recognize that it was a mistake." Michaels' statement followed a decision by the American Water Skiing Association on Monday to suspend Michaels, 48, from the sport for six years and strip him of his national records for what it dubbed "unsportsmanlike conduct." "I've been with the organization since 1993; I have not experienced anything like this," said Steve McDermeit, executive director of the association. McDermeit said the association's chief officials and dozens of pro skiers at the event noticed the distance between the buoys mysteriously grow about 2 feet minutes after Michaels finished his run. A lesser distance allowed Michaels to ski around more buoys with a shorter rope - criteria for winning the competition. The event, which drew about 2,500 spectators, was temporarily halted, and Michaels withdrew from the competition. He sent a letter to association board members Friday admitting he rigged the course. Stripped of records Both McDermeit and Michaels' public relations consultant, Evan Zeppos, said the June event was not the first time Michaels, a dentist, had cheated. Michaels held national slalom records in the Men 4 and Masters Men 55K divisions held on his private lake, Lake Lynn Louise, which he built several years ago specifically for water skiing. "He no longer holds any record that I'm aware of," McDermeit said. The American Water Skiing Association also recommended that its parent, USA Water Ski, suspend Michaels' membership from that group, forbidding him to participate in other sanctioned water-skiing events such as show skiing or exhibitions. In his statement, Michaels apologized to his fellow water-skiers, his coaches and family, all of whom he said had no prior knowledge of his scheme. "He feels very remorseful about the situation," Zeppos said. "He accepts full responsibility for his poor judgment. He feels very badly about it." Neither McDermeit nor Zeppos would say how Michaels controlled the underwater cables attached to the buoys, whether he or someone else pressed a button in the boathouse or whether the system was on a remote timer. Investigators found no evidence of other skiers' involvement. Zeppos said Michaels was not after the prize money, which totaled $100,000 for men's and women's winners in three events. "I think it was just his competitive desire to win," Zeppos said. Zeppos said Michaels doesn't expect his dishonesty with the water-skiing world will affect his dental practice. "There's a pretty clear divide between what happened with his skiing and his dental practice," Zeppos said. "In his mind, there is no correlation. It's a practice built on experience. He's an excellent dentist.""I gargle no man's balls..." ussfpa on SOCNET Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #2 October 10, 2005 Since prize money was involved in the contests, I consider that stealing. My Judgement : 2 years in jail, Audit dentist practice, 200 hours of community service. $10,000 fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
