It is time to get a new laptop! I have been remiss in blogging because quite frankly I no longer enjoy being on the trusty laptop. I loved this thing for years, and it has finally dawned on me that the frequent freezes, inability to view videos without causing those freezes, and fear of opening more than one application means old betsy has grown, well, old.
Anyway, let's get all synched up. It is track season. Now part of me wants to play track blogger and be all detailed, and deep about things track. BUT see I have a mild form of ADD, I know I will get going and get bored and just stop, so what I will do is update you on me and my group, Threshold Athletics Group, TAG for short, is alive! Skipping the time line restraints, I have 3 Italian ladies, Giulia Latini, Giulia Arcioni, and returning Martina Giovanetti. Those names are pronounced "Julia" and yes they both have the same name. They are hard workers, and three very different personalities. This is the earliest any of them have competed, and despite my internal goals, we are doing just fine. I still want more for them, and we work accordingly. My elder statesman, Ryan Wilson is world ranked again, 8th, and recently won Mt SAC, which is always a good omen for his season. A surprise addition to the team, has been the interlopers from Qatar. I swear God is good. When they say it is who you know, they were not lying! My ADD has kicked in, what else do I want to discuss...
From the headlines, what is this fascination with outting gay football players? I find it very interesting that people are so free with other people's privacy! Who said all those men, whoever they are, are hiding? Anyone ever consider they may want to avoid the scrutiny and keep their private lives, you know, PRIVATE! All this socio-political talk has us ignoring folks rights. Now the paparazzi, are running around chasing guys and posting pictures. People screaming for them to come out, and calling the league homophobic. Talk about crossing up subject matters. I am not arguing about gay marriage, nor whether or not the league is homophobic, I am saying, if someone wants to come out and tell you who they are sleeping with, that is THEIR business, and it is also THEIR business to not want to tell you.
Boston Marathon bombers deserve to die. One brother down, one brother to go. DO I really need to go into the why's of it all? They picked probably one of the most apolitical settings you can, a sporting event, hell a marathon! Marathon's are international sporting events. And in the end killed 3 innocent people, including an 8 year old. 8! My son is 8. I coach track, it is very easy for me to imagine him being at an event with me and this happening because of these clowns. I am glad they caught the youngest, he will be prosecuted, that is a good thing.
I am sure there is a thousand other things I can comment on, but I do need to blog more than once a year. So I will save it. Think on it. And say something about it. Maybe I will tell a story.... OH before I go, I am on the UCLA coaching staff. Please send me all young high hurdlers, please and thank you.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
TAG team down under
Happy Valentine's Day to all the ladies. I hope the special man in your life has shown his appreciation, as I did to my honey today.
I am sitting down here in Perth, Australia, taking the talents of TAG international. John Steffensen (400m) has his trials coming up on March 3rd, and as a part of his London 2012 campaign I agreed to come down here and prep him for 6 weeks. It has been like a boxing training camp. He and I down here in an apt, he on a futon and me on an air mattress. We eat, train and sleep. And all has gone well. He ran his first race this past weekend here in Perth and won in grand fashion. John Steffensen wins Perth Track Classic. We are off to Sydney tomorrow to run race number 2 and chase this A standard for the Games. The journey is merely beginning but it is good to see him healthy and competing again.
TAG team member and resident rookie, Nia Ali competed in the 100H. You talk about nervous! Winning was never a thought, health was my main concern, and she came through better than before she ran. THIS! Coach is well chuffed LOL. Such an early run, I will take the result, and it gave me a chance to see her under fire. She can compete and that is a great starting point. Her future is bright.
I think the last time I blogged I reminisced about the good old days. Hanging here with John has me remembering tons of stories, and like I said, they are still fun and happy times. Someone said I should write a book about it all, LOL, problem is I am not sure my memory is as good as some think LOL. That book would be about 50 pages long, thats more like a pamphlet HAHAHAHA! I do have one bittersweet memory...2000 was my first Olympic Games. I came to Sydney with my Saudi team. Hamdan al Bishi was a young rising quarter miler who would win World Juniors a month later, and Hadi Souan al Somayli was our secret weapon. He had been steadily improving over the summer, and no one took notice.
His last workout before the Games was 3x the first 3 hurdles. He was flying, and as we walked back to our bus, I said to him "That was great, how are you feeling?" With his nose in the air, and standing at his full height, he replied, "Now I am ready." And he was ready! He rolled into the finals as the fastest qualifier, the top American was Angelo Taylor but he had faltered in the semi and drew lane 1. He was my main concern, while the rest of the field was formidable, but Angelo was the threat and I will not lie, I was happy he was in 1. Long tale short, coming off of hurdle 10 Hadi and Angelo are running step for step to the line, Hadi had a slight lead but Angelo, the young 21 year old was selling out and refused to let it go.
I am screaming at Hadi to LEAN! Instead he dipped, while Angelo LEANED! New Saudi record, first SAudi Olympic medal in history secured, smiles all around, cheers throughout the team. I looked at Hadi from our front row seats, he looked at me, and all I could do was shrug, half ass smile and hold in my tears. 47.50 - 47.53. We had lost and I could feel the disappointment rising as all around me erupted in celebration. Training partners called down to me to say good job, and one saw the pain on my face. I went to the bathroom and slapped myself and grunted, and came out with a smile. Damn I wanted that gold, but we had won silver and run fast. It was a fantastic moment. Albeit bittersweet.
The tales of track are littered with such stories...
I am sitting down here in Perth, Australia, taking the talents of TAG international. John Steffensen (400m) has his trials coming up on March 3rd, and as a part of his London 2012 campaign I agreed to come down here and prep him for 6 weeks. It has been like a boxing training camp. He and I down here in an apt, he on a futon and me on an air mattress. We eat, train and sleep. And all has gone well. He ran his first race this past weekend here in Perth and won in grand fashion. John Steffensen wins Perth Track Classic. We are off to Sydney tomorrow to run race number 2 and chase this A standard for the Games. The journey is merely beginning but it is good to see him healthy and competing again.
TAG team member and resident rookie, Nia Ali competed in the 100H. You talk about nervous! Winning was never a thought, health was my main concern, and she came through better than before she ran. THIS! Coach is well chuffed LOL. Such an early run, I will take the result, and it gave me a chance to see her under fire. She can compete and that is a great starting point. Her future is bright.
I think the last time I blogged I reminisced about the good old days. Hanging here with John has me remembering tons of stories, and like I said, they are still fun and happy times. Someone said I should write a book about it all, LOL, problem is I am not sure my memory is as good as some think LOL. That book would be about 50 pages long, thats more like a pamphlet HAHAHAHA! I do have one bittersweet memory...2000 was my first Olympic Games. I came to Sydney with my Saudi team. Hamdan al Bishi was a young rising quarter miler who would win World Juniors a month later, and Hadi Souan al Somayli was our secret weapon. He had been steadily improving over the summer, and no one took notice.
His last workout before the Games was 3x the first 3 hurdles. He was flying, and as we walked back to our bus, I said to him "That was great, how are you feeling?" With his nose in the air, and standing at his full height, he replied, "Now I am ready." And he was ready! He rolled into the finals as the fastest qualifier, the top American was Angelo Taylor but he had faltered in the semi and drew lane 1. He was my main concern, while the rest of the field was formidable, but Angelo was the threat and I will not lie, I was happy he was in 1. Long tale short, coming off of hurdle 10 Hadi and Angelo are running step for step to the line, Hadi had a slight lead but Angelo, the young 21 year old was selling out and refused to let it go.
I am screaming at Hadi to LEAN! Instead he dipped, while Angelo LEANED! New Saudi record, first SAudi Olympic medal in history secured, smiles all around, cheers throughout the team. I looked at Hadi from our front row seats, he looked at me, and all I could do was shrug, half ass smile and hold in my tears. 47.50 - 47.53. We had lost and I could feel the disappointment rising as all around me erupted in celebration. Training partners called down to me to say good job, and one saw the pain on my face. I went to the bathroom and slapped myself and grunted, and came out with a smile. Damn I wanted that gold, but we had won silver and run fast. It was a fantastic moment. Albeit bittersweet.
The tales of track are littered with such stories...
Saturday, November 5, 2011
With age comes wisdom
"Age ain't nothing but a number!" One thing age teaches you is that this is a cliche of young people hoping to get old enough to become wise enough to realize this is untrue, and the other thing age teaches you is that this quote is just a catchy Aliyah song LOL. Never has this been truer in my life than this birthday week of mine.
I had a great birthday. The week started with the USATF Coaches summit where I have been going for almost 20 years to acquire the science that enables me to be a better coach to my athletes. It ended with watching 2 friends be inducted in the UCLA Hall of Fame. Life is blessed.
Now I had 3 critical conversations this week, that I never planned on having, 2 of which I had long ago written off as to NEVER having. Things happen in life, and as I stated in my previous post, we grow apart from some people in our lives. A few of these people I had banished to the no-not-never zone. Like I said with age comes wisdom. The fantastic reminder was God will reach out to you from places you least expect it. Boy if that wasn't ever true. HA!
SO the first convo I had came from left field but it was directly related to the 2nd convo, which is the only one I figured I would be having, I just did not realize it would be this week. See I had been dreading this conversation, simply because I had no idea how to have to talk. I was too angry, too hurt, and wanted my pound of flesh, as it were. So I waited. I waited until the time came to me where I could have the conversation in a construction or non destructive way. It took roughly 2 years.
Now the wisdom is in the message from the 1st convo that allowed me to have the 2nd convo. I will use another cliche, I was cutting off my nose to spite my face. Or throwing the baby out with the bath water. I was allowing my frustration to fester into petulance and I was called on it in a direct but useful way. I will share the key point of the convo because wisdom has taught me that somethings are meant to given away. The question was simple, would you give up 5% to better your 95%? BAM! A light went off in my head. Just like that 2 years of "How?" was solved. In the moment I was overvaluing my 5% at the expense of bettering my 95%. Everything else in the conversation followed that theme and I was instantly happier and could not wait to have the 2nd convo. I had it the first chance I got, and it was finally done. I am truly focused on my 95% which allowed for me to receive the 3rd convo.
The 3rd convo would have NEVER happened prior to these previous convos. And both of us knew it. But it did, and I received a wonderful message on a fantastic night. Yes my friend, people grow apart but that does not diminish what was for me in any way. I traveled this earth and saw some fantastic things. I got better as a coach, and learned nuggets of info along the way. Those memories are never far from me.
I am amazed at how my previous blog about the HSI days struck some people. I was just recounting what I always assumed were general memories, boy I was mistaken. Wisdom! People do not remember, retain, nor cherish what you cherish. Share those memories and you may bring some sunshine to an acquaintances day without you ever realizing it.
Alright, I am off to finish my birthday week, it is ending with a smile, and an opportunity. Man this life thing is great. I wonder what I will write about next? Hmmm, maybe about the NOW instead of the past, yeah maybe...
I had a great birthday. The week started with the USATF Coaches summit where I have been going for almost 20 years to acquire the science that enables me to be a better coach to my athletes. It ended with watching 2 friends be inducted in the UCLA Hall of Fame. Life is blessed.
Now I had 3 critical conversations this week, that I never planned on having, 2 of which I had long ago written off as to NEVER having. Things happen in life, and as I stated in my previous post, we grow apart from some people in our lives. A few of these people I had banished to the no-not-never zone. Like I said with age comes wisdom. The fantastic reminder was God will reach out to you from places you least expect it. Boy if that wasn't ever true. HA!
SO the first convo I had came from left field but it was directly related to the 2nd convo, which is the only one I figured I would be having, I just did not realize it would be this week. See I had been dreading this conversation, simply because I had no idea how to have to talk. I was too angry, too hurt, and wanted my pound of flesh, as it were. So I waited. I waited until the time came to me where I could have the conversation in a construction or non destructive way. It took roughly 2 years.
Now the wisdom is in the message from the 1st convo that allowed me to have the 2nd convo. I will use another cliche, I was cutting off my nose to spite my face. Or throwing the baby out with the bath water. I was allowing my frustration to fester into petulance and I was called on it in a direct but useful way. I will share the key point of the convo because wisdom has taught me that somethings are meant to given away. The question was simple, would you give up 5% to better your 95%? BAM! A light went off in my head. Just like that 2 years of "How?" was solved. In the moment I was overvaluing my 5% at the expense of bettering my 95%. Everything else in the conversation followed that theme and I was instantly happier and could not wait to have the 2nd convo. I had it the first chance I got, and it was finally done. I am truly focused on my 95% which allowed for me to receive the 3rd convo.
The 3rd convo would have NEVER happened prior to these previous convos. And both of us knew it. But it did, and I received a wonderful message on a fantastic night. Yes my friend, people grow apart but that does not diminish what was for me in any way. I traveled this earth and saw some fantastic things. I got better as a coach, and learned nuggets of info along the way. Those memories are never far from me.
I am amazed at how my previous blog about the HSI days struck some people. I was just recounting what I always assumed were general memories, boy I was mistaken. Wisdom! People do not remember, retain, nor cherish what you cherish. Share those memories and you may bring some sunshine to an acquaintances day without you ever realizing it.
Alright, I am off to finish my birthday week, it is ending with a smile, and an opportunity. Man this life thing is great. I wonder what I will write about next? Hmmm, maybe about the NOW instead of the past, yeah maybe...
Monday, October 3, 2011
Blog about my last blog
How interesting, my last blog was linked by Track and Field News, which was cool because it was unexpected. I have written other things I wish were linked, oh wait I never posted those LOL.
A few people have written me saying how they enjoyed the stories. I am glad I have them to share. Maybe someday I will write a book, or a series of stories about my adventures in Track and Field. In the meantime, i will continue on my varied blog. Talking and posting and ranting and observing. For example...
What a tremendous end to the season. The Diamond League ended with a bang. I enjoyed the meet a lot. BUT the negative is the powers that be will walk away believing their league is a success. It is not. It is a decent blueprint but needs some fine tuning to say the least. What I would appreciate the most is a circuit and some rules that are more athlete and fan friendly.
While we all understand what pays the bills, television, it is unhealthy and destructive to make rules that are and events that seem more geared towards TV, than the betterment of the product. I know, I know, don't say too much or rock the boat. Welp, since I am going to ride in this boat I will comment on the boat. I am willing to offer up some elbow grease.
What catches my attention the most is the strictness of the rules that govern the sprints over most other events. And for the life of me I do not understand the logic in it. We all know the show events, 1500, 100, shot put. Yes, mostly an American construct but from what I have seen it is a lot more universal than many care to admit. As of late, the straight away events have carried the sport in the entertainment realm. So why the draconian rule making? Why almost ensure losing star power, as we saw in Daegu? A completely avoidable occurrence, that most see as just a consequence of the sport. Far from it folks, it was a consequence of a bad rule change that served no real purpose other than to hold sprinters responsible for lost TV time.
I have summarized a complicated issue for a purpose. To show the general interpretation of the "business" rule changes. While I am positive TV had a serious issue with the false start delays, I am equally as sure the No False Start rule was overkill. Money is on the line, this is not comparable to a state championship nor a collegiate championship. Usain Bolt lost 60k to that false start. Some think he was trying to cheat, others think he was scared of Blake, I think he was just a sprinter trying to get the perfect start and perfect race, in his quest to make history, AGAIN. I could prattle on for a few more paragraphs, but I will save that for a separate blog.
Ok now I am ready for the season to start again. I may even muster up some excitement about indoors. NAW! lol
A few people have written me saying how they enjoyed the stories. I am glad I have them to share. Maybe someday I will write a book, or a series of stories about my adventures in Track and Field. In the meantime, i will continue on my varied blog. Talking and posting and ranting and observing. For example...
What a tremendous end to the season. The Diamond League ended with a bang. I enjoyed the meet a lot. BUT the negative is the powers that be will walk away believing their league is a success. It is not. It is a decent blueprint but needs some fine tuning to say the least. What I would appreciate the most is a circuit and some rules that are more athlete and fan friendly.
While we all understand what pays the bills, television, it is unhealthy and destructive to make rules that are and events that seem more geared towards TV, than the betterment of the product. I know, I know, don't say too much or rock the boat. Welp, since I am going to ride in this boat I will comment on the boat. I am willing to offer up some elbow grease.
What catches my attention the most is the strictness of the rules that govern the sprints over most other events. And for the life of me I do not understand the logic in it. We all know the show events, 1500, 100, shot put. Yes, mostly an American construct but from what I have seen it is a lot more universal than many care to admit. As of late, the straight away events have carried the sport in the entertainment realm. So why the draconian rule making? Why almost ensure losing star power, as we saw in Daegu? A completely avoidable occurrence, that most see as just a consequence of the sport. Far from it folks, it was a consequence of a bad rule change that served no real purpose other than to hold sprinters responsible for lost TV time.
I have summarized a complicated issue for a purpose. To show the general interpretation of the "business" rule changes. While I am positive TV had a serious issue with the false start delays, I am equally as sure the No False Start rule was overkill. Money is on the line, this is not comparable to a state championship nor a collegiate championship. Usain Bolt lost 60k to that false start. Some think he was trying to cheat, others think he was scared of Blake, I think he was just a sprinter trying to get the perfect start and perfect race, in his quest to make history, AGAIN. I could prattle on for a few more paragraphs, but I will save that for a separate blog.
Ok now I am ready for the season to start again. I may even muster up some excitement about indoors. NAW! lol
Thursday, September 29, 2011
How I came to this Threshold
The world is full of misinformation and wonderful lies. I will write this in part PC prose and straight talk. If you are a child there may be cussin' in the next few paragraphs, you have been warned.
The reasons for me writing this particular blog are varied and span many years, so this blog shall cover many years. I will enjoy reliving some of this, as i excise some demons and tell the wonderful tale of how i came to be a coach in this hellish realm of track and field...
in short, I was born a coach of track. well i was born in to the sport, that is for sure. I have known about track for as long as I can remember. All over my parents house and my grandparents house were pictures and trophies of my uncle and his success as an athlete. I remember loving the clipping from JET magazine. My uncle was in JET! lol I loved the trophies, they were amazing, i particularly loved the huge marble stones that sat in front of the fireplace. Those damn things were heavy! Then there was the laminated picture of him setting the wr in the 440 yd dash. Not to mention the clay statue in the garage that now sits in a museum somewhere. Yup, track is in my blood.
The funny thing is I was more taken by the UCLA on his chest than the sport itself. The sport came along later. I am anti baseball so after a year of tee ball, and having been struck out on a called strike that the umpire never saw, I told my parents I wanted to try track. I was 6. My original trophy is still around here somewhere. The beauty of this decision was my natural speed. I was the fastest boy in my neighborhood. Notice I said boy, there was this one girl everyone avoided racing. Including me. lol I raced this other kid early on, he was tall and lanky, and fast. His name was Steve Lewis.
by age ten I was a long jumper. Sprinting passed me by after the first round of puberty. All my friends that i used to destroy mysteriously got faster, all at once, and BAM the long jump took prime position in my personal hierarchy. Oh I was good at it. This was the point Coach Harris started telling us about hurdles. Fantastic! Now, in my early years of hurdling I raced this other tall kid, he was muscular and looked grown. We wanted to see his birth certificate because there was no way he was my age. his name was Quincy Watts.
Going into high school I had made the decision to hurdle. I won the "C" level City championship in the 300IH. Oh boy I was well on my way to being the man to break Edwin Moses win streak! Until my junior year, then senior year disappointments and I was well on my way to walking on at UCLA. To be coached by none other than my uncle. Heaven!
Life dominated track and by 1991 I had run my last race. Now this is where I start my journey. Christmas 1991 my uncle asked me to come back out to the track as a manager and his assistant to his soon to be pro team. Well, hell yes! Off we went. The dream was sold, we would take over the world, and as success came to the group our collective fortunes would rise, collectively. The group was Kevin Young, a young Quincy Watts (still at USC), and Andre Cason. Many of my teammates dreamed of matriculating to the pro group after their senior years. After the 92 season Nike LA welcomed its first official member, Jon Drummond and Jason Rouser. My boys. I spent more time with these 2 scoundrels than my family. JD would make the world team in 1993 as the lead off of the 4x1 that tied the wr, the still standing AR (37.40). Fantastic. We are on our way.
By this time I have been to conference champs and NCAA champs. The future was bright. I was having a ball. Life was hard but that was ok, I was in love, track had me.
1994 saw Dennis come to the group and become the number one sprinter in the world. He dipped under 10 six times that season, a record at the time. JD dipped four times, the second most in a season. On the UCLA front Ato was busy committing. In 1995 he won the 200 after jumping out of the 100. In 1996, Ato set the UCLA record in the 100 and 200, JD made the Olympic team, Marie Perec had come to town and would be the second woman to win the 200/400 double. Oops I have to go back.
Following 1992 circumstances dictated that John seek representation, and thus the ground work for HSI was laid. John meet Emanuel.
Ok, so as I was saying, in 1996 HSI was dominating the scene, and would officially announce our presence with the signing of Ato. Hello world, the dream is alive and real. JD, Ato, Marie Perec and Antwon Maybank all headed to Atlanta, HSI! The takeover had begun. I watched on TV as the troops performed with Ato winning 2 medals and looking like the next great thing. Marie shocked herself and pulled off the 200 gold. Lovely woman but the faces she made to win that 200 gold were downright scary lol.
That fall saw the arrival of Mo, the next great thing. Now it did not start that way, he was struggling with all things LA; the training, the living, the INCOME, but he was listening. He was always confident. Quincy had returned to the fold and he and Mo were fast friends. I recall the moment Mo acknowledged he had it figured out. Most people think it was when he won nationals that year but it was before that in a race no one except us paid attention to. It was Prefontaine, and Mo was in Lane 8 of the 200! I believe he ran the 100 and got his hat handed to him. As he tells the story he was filling out job applications by this point in the season. Anyway, in this 200 he was torched by Allen Johnson on the bend and a couple of other sprinters on his inside. Coming down the home stretch he ran back by Allen and finished 4th. I think he ran 20.42 or something like that. He came to the back and proclaimed "I got it!" Half way down that straight away, the movement clicked for him. He felt it. The next time he would see a track would be at US Nationals.
This was his second proclamation of discovery lol. He ran 9.96 in the 1st round and John and I looked at each other and shrugged. Rookie went out too hard, we will see what he has for the other rounds. When we got to him in the cool down, John asked him how he felt, and he replied, "I can do that whenever I want to. Sub 10 is easy" Oh boy, what a rookie. Well the rest is history. He was right. LOL
By 2000, Ato, Mo and JD were the triplets. Dominating the sprint scene on all fronts, JD was the personality, Mo the confidence, and Ato the workman. The dream was in full bloom and HSI was on top of the world, literally. We flew flags at circuit meets, folks didn't like that, the IAAF passed rules to prevent it. True story. In 1999, I had the task of coaching the crew through the single greatest day in HSI history. Athens Greece was the place, and we showed out. Mo set the wr that day, 9.79. Ato took second in 9.86, his third such clocking (he would post a fourth such clocking in the next meet in Lausanne). Jeff Hartwig won the PV, I believe he went over 6m that day. Inger had joined the crew, the queen doubled that day, taking 2nd in the 100 (11.04) and winning the 200 in a then pr (22.10). Mo and Ato would follow up her double with their own double, Ato dropping 19.88 to win and Mo running a gutsy 20.02 to back up his emotionally draining wr. In between all of that Larry won the 110s in 13.12 in a photo finish. All victories were meet records at the time. We called John to tell him the good news, he was coaching UCLA at a home meet that day, June 16th, 1999. Yup I remember the day.
Over the next 4 years HSI would see more success, Olympic and world titles, more medals, and the inevitable growth and maturing of the athletes. The ebb and flow of life was treacherous at times, as is the case with any family and its moving parts. Some of us grew a part, but we are all enjoying success in various corners of track. Ato is a respected TV analyst, was a senator in his homeland of Trinidad. He has developed into the public guru for track fans world wide, doing all broadcast in the US and now venturing into web casting. Mo is still the personality. His charisma, and on track accomplishments keep him busy travelling, speaking and doing clinics. He has tried his hand at coaching also, leading a local high school here in the LA area and also coaching Miki Barber onto the 2011 World Team. JD is a trainer and coach in Texas, placing many kids into top high schools and college programs, while consulting (his word lol) a few world class level sprinters, AND COACHING Marshevet Myers. Larry Wade is the HC at Pasadena City College, Kaaron was the sprint coach for the Korean national team and is now John's right hand man, Antwon Maybank is in the midwest coaching, Jason Rouser is in Florida coaching and doing personal training. Gentry Bradley is now the sprint coach for the Saudi Arabian National team. and then there is me!
Hi folks. I have seen the earth traveling with my boys and my uncle over the years. I have touched every continent except for the artic regions. For a number of years I had the privilege of coaching the Saudi Arabian sprinters and hurdlers. In 2000 I made my first Olympic trip, guiding Hadi Somayli and Hamdan al Bishi to Sydney. Hadi would win Saudi's first ever Olympic medal, taking silver in the 400H, in a heart breaking finish. Still hurts to relive it, smh. Hamdan would pr at the Games but would enjoy his glory a month later at the World Juniors where he set the still standing meet record (44.66). Over the next 4 years I would guide my boys to numerous regional championships and records and awards. In 2003 I started my own group, DSports, this venture culminated in the bronze medal in 2008. Tasha would rise from the ashes to win bronze in Beijing, I the single proudest achievement of my career to date. DSports is now Threshold Athletics Group TAG for short. The many years of experience with my uncle have groomed me well for this next adventure. It was a thrill and far more fun and involved than many realize. I am forever grateful to my uncle for allowing me to grow under him and trusting me enough to guide the group when he was unable to be there. Can you imagine having the hopes and dreams of your friends in your care? That was me. At the ripe old age of 28. Now I am 40, a ton of lessons learned. not all rosy, but lessons just the same. The HSI days are long past, but the impact and influence remain. Those times, adventures, trials, tests, and successes helped shape me. I was born a coach, I will die a coach, but I do miss the friendships of yesterday.
I will say to all my guys, no matter where we stand today, I am proud of you all. Success breeds success, and we were damn good then and we are all damn good now. Keep striving to be the best, I damn sure will. See you all on the track.
Oh, I skipped over years and more than a few stories, this damn entry was long enough. LOL
OH, OH, yeah the voice of this blog changed because like I said I enjoyed reliving it, so some of the demons were excised, and the energy changed. I will leave you all with this, Exodus 14:14
The reasons for me writing this particular blog are varied and span many years, so this blog shall cover many years. I will enjoy reliving some of this, as i excise some demons and tell the wonderful tale of how i came to be a coach in this hellish realm of track and field...
in short, I was born a coach of track. well i was born in to the sport, that is for sure. I have known about track for as long as I can remember. All over my parents house and my grandparents house were pictures and trophies of my uncle and his success as an athlete. I remember loving the clipping from JET magazine. My uncle was in JET! lol I loved the trophies, they were amazing, i particularly loved the huge marble stones that sat in front of the fireplace. Those damn things were heavy! Then there was the laminated picture of him setting the wr in the 440 yd dash. Not to mention the clay statue in the garage that now sits in a museum somewhere. Yup, track is in my blood.
The funny thing is I was more taken by the UCLA on his chest than the sport itself. The sport came along later. I am anti baseball so after a year of tee ball, and having been struck out on a called strike that the umpire never saw, I told my parents I wanted to try track. I was 6. My original trophy is still around here somewhere. The beauty of this decision was my natural speed. I was the fastest boy in my neighborhood. Notice I said boy, there was this one girl everyone avoided racing. Including me. lol I raced this other kid early on, he was tall and lanky, and fast. His name was Steve Lewis.
by age ten I was a long jumper. Sprinting passed me by after the first round of puberty. All my friends that i used to destroy mysteriously got faster, all at once, and BAM the long jump took prime position in my personal hierarchy. Oh I was good at it. This was the point Coach Harris started telling us about hurdles. Fantastic! Now, in my early years of hurdling I raced this other tall kid, he was muscular and looked grown. We wanted to see his birth certificate because there was no way he was my age. his name was Quincy Watts.
Going into high school I had made the decision to hurdle. I won the "C" level City championship in the 300IH. Oh boy I was well on my way to being the man to break Edwin Moses win streak! Until my junior year, then senior year disappointments and I was well on my way to walking on at UCLA. To be coached by none other than my uncle. Heaven!
Life dominated track and by 1991 I had run my last race. Now this is where I start my journey. Christmas 1991 my uncle asked me to come back out to the track as a manager and his assistant to his soon to be pro team. Well, hell yes! Off we went. The dream was sold, we would take over the world, and as success came to the group our collective fortunes would rise, collectively. The group was Kevin Young, a young Quincy Watts (still at USC), and Andre Cason. Many of my teammates dreamed of matriculating to the pro group after their senior years. After the 92 season Nike LA welcomed its first official member, Jon Drummond and Jason Rouser. My boys. I spent more time with these 2 scoundrels than my family. JD would make the world team in 1993 as the lead off of the 4x1 that tied the wr, the still standing AR (37.40). Fantastic. We are on our way.
By this time I have been to conference champs and NCAA champs. The future was bright. I was having a ball. Life was hard but that was ok, I was in love, track had me.
1994 saw Dennis come to the group and become the number one sprinter in the world. He dipped under 10 six times that season, a record at the time. JD dipped four times, the second most in a season. On the UCLA front Ato was busy committing. In 1995 he won the 200 after jumping out of the 100. In 1996, Ato set the UCLA record in the 100 and 200, JD made the Olympic team, Marie Perec had come to town and would be the second woman to win the 200/400 double. Oops I have to go back.
Following 1992 circumstances dictated that John seek representation, and thus the ground work for HSI was laid. John meet Emanuel.
Ok, so as I was saying, in 1996 HSI was dominating the scene, and would officially announce our presence with the signing of Ato. Hello world, the dream is alive and real. JD, Ato, Marie Perec and Antwon Maybank all headed to Atlanta, HSI! The takeover had begun. I watched on TV as the troops performed with Ato winning 2 medals and looking like the next great thing. Marie shocked herself and pulled off the 200 gold. Lovely woman but the faces she made to win that 200 gold were downright scary lol.
That fall saw the arrival of Mo, the next great thing. Now it did not start that way, he was struggling with all things LA; the training, the living, the INCOME, but he was listening. He was always confident. Quincy had returned to the fold and he and Mo were fast friends. I recall the moment Mo acknowledged he had it figured out. Most people think it was when he won nationals that year but it was before that in a race no one except us paid attention to. It was Prefontaine, and Mo was in Lane 8 of the 200! I believe he ran the 100 and got his hat handed to him. As he tells the story he was filling out job applications by this point in the season. Anyway, in this 200 he was torched by Allen Johnson on the bend and a couple of other sprinters on his inside. Coming down the home stretch he ran back by Allen and finished 4th. I think he ran 20.42 or something like that. He came to the back and proclaimed "I got it!" Half way down that straight away, the movement clicked for him. He felt it. The next time he would see a track would be at US Nationals.
This was his second proclamation of discovery lol. He ran 9.96 in the 1st round and John and I looked at each other and shrugged. Rookie went out too hard, we will see what he has for the other rounds. When we got to him in the cool down, John asked him how he felt, and he replied, "I can do that whenever I want to. Sub 10 is easy" Oh boy, what a rookie. Well the rest is history. He was right. LOL
By 2000, Ato, Mo and JD were the triplets. Dominating the sprint scene on all fronts, JD was the personality, Mo the confidence, and Ato the workman. The dream was in full bloom and HSI was on top of the world, literally. We flew flags at circuit meets, folks didn't like that, the IAAF passed rules to prevent it. True story. In 1999, I had the task of coaching the crew through the single greatest day in HSI history. Athens Greece was the place, and we showed out. Mo set the wr that day, 9.79. Ato took second in 9.86, his third such clocking (he would post a fourth such clocking in the next meet in Lausanne). Jeff Hartwig won the PV, I believe he went over 6m that day. Inger had joined the crew, the queen doubled that day, taking 2nd in the 100 (11.04) and winning the 200 in a then pr (22.10). Mo and Ato would follow up her double with their own double, Ato dropping 19.88 to win and Mo running a gutsy 20.02 to back up his emotionally draining wr. In between all of that Larry won the 110s in 13.12 in a photo finish. All victories were meet records at the time. We called John to tell him the good news, he was coaching UCLA at a home meet that day, June 16th, 1999. Yup I remember the day.
Over the next 4 years HSI would see more success, Olympic and world titles, more medals, and the inevitable growth and maturing of the athletes. The ebb and flow of life was treacherous at times, as is the case with any family and its moving parts. Some of us grew a part, but we are all enjoying success in various corners of track. Ato is a respected TV analyst, was a senator in his homeland of Trinidad. He has developed into the public guru for track fans world wide, doing all broadcast in the US and now venturing into web casting. Mo is still the personality. His charisma, and on track accomplishments keep him busy travelling, speaking and doing clinics. He has tried his hand at coaching also, leading a local high school here in the LA area and also coaching Miki Barber onto the 2011 World Team. JD is a trainer and coach in Texas, placing many kids into top high schools and college programs, while consulting (his word lol) a few world class level sprinters, AND COACHING Marshevet Myers. Larry Wade is the HC at Pasadena City College, Kaaron was the sprint coach for the Korean national team and is now John's right hand man, Antwon Maybank is in the midwest coaching, Jason Rouser is in Florida coaching and doing personal training. Gentry Bradley is now the sprint coach for the Saudi Arabian National team. and then there is me!
Hi folks. I have seen the earth traveling with my boys and my uncle over the years. I have touched every continent except for the artic regions. For a number of years I had the privilege of coaching the Saudi Arabian sprinters and hurdlers. In 2000 I made my first Olympic trip, guiding Hadi Somayli and Hamdan al Bishi to Sydney. Hadi would win Saudi's first ever Olympic medal, taking silver in the 400H, in a heart breaking finish. Still hurts to relive it, smh. Hamdan would pr at the Games but would enjoy his glory a month later at the World Juniors where he set the still standing meet record (44.66). Over the next 4 years I would guide my boys to numerous regional championships and records and awards. In 2003 I started my own group, DSports, this venture culminated in the bronze medal in 2008. Tasha would rise from the ashes to win bronze in Beijing, I the single proudest achievement of my career to date. DSports is now Threshold Athletics Group TAG for short. The many years of experience with my uncle have groomed me well for this next adventure. It was a thrill and far more fun and involved than many realize. I am forever grateful to my uncle for allowing me to grow under him and trusting me enough to guide the group when he was unable to be there. Can you imagine having the hopes and dreams of your friends in your care? That was me. At the ripe old age of 28. Now I am 40, a ton of lessons learned. not all rosy, but lessons just the same. The HSI days are long past, but the impact and influence remain. Those times, adventures, trials, tests, and successes helped shape me. I was born a coach, I will die a coach, but I do miss the friendships of yesterday.
I will say to all my guys, no matter where we stand today, I am proud of you all. Success breeds success, and we were damn good then and we are all damn good now. Keep striving to be the best, I damn sure will. See you all on the track.
Oh, I skipped over years and more than a few stories, this damn entry was long enough. LOL
OH, OH, yeah the voice of this blog changed because like I said I enjoyed reliving it, so some of the demons were excised, and the energy changed. I will leave you all with this, Exodus 14:14
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Love in so many words...
Absa... Love for life doesn't have a damn thing to do with fireworks,sex,nor swag! Love is real. It talks to you,fights along side you and sometimes for you. Love cares about you when you don't care about yourself. Love likes your moods not just tolerates them. Love isn't sacrifice, it's sharing in the journey because love sees the finish line when you lose focus. Love walks by your side simply because you're breathing! Love fights you for it's own survival not to leave you. Love is near you, youre ignoring it looking for sex, swag, looks, and gifts. Love is waiting...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Did you know there is Professional track?
I have had the pleasure of loving track and field for as long as i can remember. My first season of racing was when I was 6, the trophy is downstairs, says 1977. I was chasing my dreams and fulfilling the family legacy. All over my homes were pictures of dad and uncle running in high school and college. This is what I was born for, it was easy and fun and I won. More importantly I loved to race and compete. I still do. Win, lose or draw I love the competition. I smile when I realize I am stressing because one of my guys lost or underperformed because it is all apart of what I do. I was never more pleased than to learn athletes would be able to receive money and still compete at the Olympics. That was in the 80s.
So here I sit writing you all about the amateur mindset that still dominates the internal workings and thinking of the track world. From administration to fans we are inundated with constant criticism that is rooted in the soil of amateurism. It has manifested itself into a self hate that fights all change and/or evolution, and an aversion to marketing in the name of purity and economics.
A friend and I had a lively exchange about the Great City Games in Manchester. He is of the opinion that until we heal and better the pure product, we cannot afford to put on street fairs and fringe events. For him, and those that share his opinion, it is not building the sport, promoting the on track product, and most importantly building the fan base. he rather see these efforts put into the meets, especially in the US where we are woefully lacking pro meets that capture the public attention. He knows we need better marketing, and feels events like this do not produce long term benefits that will specifically result in a bigger fan base and public interest. His argument has merit and historical backing. Yet, I find it short sighted and destructively narrow in scope.
As a shining example, the Great City Games in Manchester, England is a great marketing tool. The city used to have the UK national championships, and occasionally host a meet but they no longer do for various reasons. This event is staged on the streets and is promoted in conjunction with the London and Birmingham Diamond League meets to be held later this summer. The events ranged from traditional races, such the 110m hurdles, 100 hurdles, and a straight away 200m, to rarely run distances such as 150m and a 200m hurdle race. The athletes are always A list international stars mixed with A list domestic stars. The fans are less than ten feet from the races. TV coverage is comprehensive domestically, which means track is on TV with full production, not studio voice over replays 24 hours later. YET, the old guard frown upon the street races as a side show. Once again, shooting down another tool we can use to achieve what is a common goal, growth of track and field and its fan base.
These critics will wow you with the stories of yesteryear. Remembering the time when dual meets sold out stadiums and cities like LA hosted 4 meets (2 indoor meets,2 outdoor meets). The glory days of the 60s and 70s. 40+ years of remembering, that have done NOTHING to solve today's new problems of low fan turnout, poor public image, and a general malaise of the loyal fan base.
Today I read a blog from Toni Reavis ruing the current CEO search by USATF and the recent news that Stephanie Hightower may be the new CEO. Other very good candidates have turned down the job and it seems as though Ms. Hightower wants the job. Yet as true to the sport, we have decided to talk about the negatives and make sure that we all know why this may not work and is not the best deal we could have had. Cynicism.
I write all of the above to say this...I am tired of the cynicism and cowardly way we go about promoting ourselves. From drug rumors, to public face time, to internal talks about officers in the sport, to the fledgling athletes union. We are the most tested, most busted best self policed sport in the world, but all we present is "track is the dirtiest sport". All we present is a bunch of athletes, coaches and fans that swear before God such and such new superstar is dirty! And if that's not good enough, such and such old super star was dirty. No proof to support it but rumor is fact in our sport, until the accuser runs fast and wins then they are the lone shining angel in a world of devils. Fans and media, sometimes one in the same, sit back and suspect sprinters and hurdlers while marveling at the distance runners. Cannibalism.
At what point will we wake up and start internalizing our concerns and presenting a sellable product to the public? When will we move on from the 70s and realize we have today issues to address. This is no longer about putting on a good track meet nor is it about getting the stars on the track, it is about promoting the product. No more network presentations filled with drug stories that are years dead. Interest pieces about the stars on the track. Lack of personality is not an excuse for lack of exposure.
We are a great sport with educated and intelligent participants. We are a sport, not a game. We are self policed and have spear headed the drug war. Through track and fields efforts the other sports have been forced to develop comprehensive testing programs and actually suspend players. We are the sport that test the ultimate in human boundaries, no teams, no hand signals, no timeouts to regroup. The other athletes in other games watch us and talk about us. They seek out our athletes and our coaches to train under. These are some of the narratives we HAVE to start promoting. If we are serious about growth, those with voices have to do better and STOP dominating the media super highway with cynical pieces, criticisms of successful events, while ignoring the core structures and successes.
Did you know there is professional track?
So here I sit writing you all about the amateur mindset that still dominates the internal workings and thinking of the track world. From administration to fans we are inundated with constant criticism that is rooted in the soil of amateurism. It has manifested itself into a self hate that fights all change and/or evolution, and an aversion to marketing in the name of purity and economics.
A friend and I had a lively exchange about the Great City Games in Manchester. He is of the opinion that until we heal and better the pure product, we cannot afford to put on street fairs and fringe events. For him, and those that share his opinion, it is not building the sport, promoting the on track product, and most importantly building the fan base. he rather see these efforts put into the meets, especially in the US where we are woefully lacking pro meets that capture the public attention. He knows we need better marketing, and feels events like this do not produce long term benefits that will specifically result in a bigger fan base and public interest. His argument has merit and historical backing. Yet, I find it short sighted and destructively narrow in scope.
As a shining example, the Great City Games in Manchester, England is a great marketing tool. The city used to have the UK national championships, and occasionally host a meet but they no longer do for various reasons. This event is staged on the streets and is promoted in conjunction with the London and Birmingham Diamond League meets to be held later this summer. The events ranged from traditional races, such the 110m hurdles, 100 hurdles, and a straight away 200m, to rarely run distances such as 150m and a 200m hurdle race. The athletes are always A list international stars mixed with A list domestic stars. The fans are less than ten feet from the races. TV coverage is comprehensive domestically, which means track is on TV with full production, not studio voice over replays 24 hours later. YET, the old guard frown upon the street races as a side show. Once again, shooting down another tool we can use to achieve what is a common goal, growth of track and field and its fan base.
These critics will wow you with the stories of yesteryear. Remembering the time when dual meets sold out stadiums and cities like LA hosted 4 meets (2 indoor meets,2 outdoor meets). The glory days of the 60s and 70s. 40+ years of remembering, that have done NOTHING to solve today's new problems of low fan turnout, poor public image, and a general malaise of the loyal fan base.
Today I read a blog from Toni Reavis ruing the current CEO search by USATF and the recent news that Stephanie Hightower may be the new CEO. Other very good candidates have turned down the job and it seems as though Ms. Hightower wants the job. Yet as true to the sport, we have decided to talk about the negatives and make sure that we all know why this may not work and is not the best deal we could have had. Cynicism.
I write all of the above to say this...I am tired of the cynicism and cowardly way we go about promoting ourselves. From drug rumors, to public face time, to internal talks about officers in the sport, to the fledgling athletes union. We are the most tested, most busted best self policed sport in the world, but all we present is "track is the dirtiest sport". All we present is a bunch of athletes, coaches and fans that swear before God such and such new superstar is dirty! And if that's not good enough, such and such old super star was dirty. No proof to support it but rumor is fact in our sport, until the accuser runs fast and wins then they are the lone shining angel in a world of devils. Fans and media, sometimes one in the same, sit back and suspect sprinters and hurdlers while marveling at the distance runners. Cannibalism.
At what point will we wake up and start internalizing our concerns and presenting a sellable product to the public? When will we move on from the 70s and realize we have today issues to address. This is no longer about putting on a good track meet nor is it about getting the stars on the track, it is about promoting the product. No more network presentations filled with drug stories that are years dead. Interest pieces about the stars on the track. Lack of personality is not an excuse for lack of exposure.
We are a great sport with educated and intelligent participants. We are a sport, not a game. We are self policed and have spear headed the drug war. Through track and fields efforts the other sports have been forced to develop comprehensive testing programs and actually suspend players. We are the sport that test the ultimate in human boundaries, no teams, no hand signals, no timeouts to regroup. The other athletes in other games watch us and talk about us. They seek out our athletes and our coaches to train under. These are some of the narratives we HAVE to start promoting. If we are serious about growth, those with voices have to do better and STOP dominating the media super highway with cynical pieces, criticisms of successful events, while ignoring the core structures and successes.
Did you know there is professional track?
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