tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post109294099867731457..comments2023-10-24T11:05:25.288-04:00Comments on Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events: D.Q.ed and whistleblowersMark Rauterkushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481330.post-1093136020097935022004-08-21T20:53:00.000-04:002004-08-21T20:53:00.000-04:00SI reported: Quietly, (??? -- say what -- ???) onl...SI reported: Quietly, (??? -- say what -- ???) onlookers wondered if the short-lived disqualification had anything to do with Peirsol's claims earlier in the week that officials had overlooked technical violations by Japanese breaststroker Kosuke Kitajima, who held off Peirsol's teammate Brendan Hansen to win gold.<br /><br />Onlookers might grumble quietly -- but the wonderment of the D.Q. was clear to at least one blogger in a living room in the USA.<br /><br />Austrian Markus Rogan, a Stanford grad and Peirsol's close friend, went from silver to gold. "It's a bad decision," Rogan insisted. "Not fair. He beat me by seconds. He ran away with the race. An infraction like this is so subjective and so small. What does it gain? I felt really good about the silver medal, because it was a strong swim. I don't if I want to get a gold medal like this. It's not sporting."<br /><br />According to FINA, the sport's international governing body, its officials rejected the technical explanation of the poolside judge, and negated the infraction before the U.S. team had time to file a protest.<br /><br />Later, the British team filed a protest on behalf of James Goddard, the swimmer who went from fourth to third and back to fourth. The Austrians filed a protest, (as did the Brits), though Rogan insisted that they withdraw it. <br /><br />Why, he was asked, was he so accepting of the officials' bungled decision? "Aaron is one of my best friends," Rogan explained. "Nothing is as beautiful as friendship."Mark Rauterkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157914569686528007noreply@blogger.com