Man I am tired of the negative. Project 30 is a lie. Forget the actual bias of the panel, we need to only look at the premise behind the formation of the panel. The US failed in Beijing. From here we have had the axing of the relay program. We have a full assault on the preparation of the sprinters. The problem is this is misdirected and ill conceived.
The relays won 2 out of four golds. The sprint relays dropped the stick, it happens. Period. The relay program itself was extensive and did all the things the panel claims they are in favor of and in need of. But what led to this opinion of failure. Logan goes so far as to say no one can look at Beijing and say this was an aberration. With all due respect, that is a stupid comment. It most assuredly was a blip. Nothing more nothing less. He has no factual basis to make this comment.
No jumper won a medal! Not one long jumper made the final. If that is not an aberration I do not know what is. In 2007, we won all four gold medals in the relays and last year we dropped the stick, looks like a blip to me.
The problem is the premise behind the panel. Why was this review board convened? Since all the talk has been about the relays I am led to believe it is the dropped sticks and the $1 million dollars (spread over 6 years by the way). Not the failure of the jumpers, there was nothing said to address the jumping woes in the report. Not the distance failures, which is truly where it was not a blip. Just something about those 2 batons on the ground.
We are supposed to forget that in the 100,200 and 4x100 a wr was set to win. In the men 400 we SWEPT. We won both 4x400 relays. We are supposed to ignore all the injuries to the athletes. Just know that the relay program has been scrapped, freeing up a million dollars.
My second pet peeve is Dwain Chambers. It is time to leave him alone. He has a book tomorrow which I cannot wait to read. He is the European champ and record holder now. He was busted in 2003, returned to the track in 2006. Can we please just get back to track? The acronyms are working overtime to get this man out of the sport, and I for one say let him run and if he is dirty he will stumble again. The end. Move on for all of our sakes. The latest row is from the IAAF who are threatening to ban him and end his career if they can prove his book has put the sport in ill-repute. LOL Censorship is the word. Overt threat to all athletes is what it is. Athletes you all need to pay attention. This is way beyond Dwain and drug cheating, this is about control. Pay attention.
Meanwhile, in keeping with my positive theme. Kudos to Logan for challenging the Jamaicans to a home and home dual meet. I am excited just thinking about it. I am disappointed in the few Jamaican fans I have talked to online who seem to think this is sour grapes and it is just a ploy to take the Jamaicans down because they are on top. Foolishness. This is good old fashioned competition. This is what breeds champions and performances. This is appealing to the American public. It is not personal, it is sport.
It does not matter if the best of the best do not show up the allegiances will push the competition and the performances and feed the future. TV will have easy story lines to write, as we are fed more and more images of Bolt whipping the Americans ass in Beijing, Asafa crossing the line as they take down the US wr in the 4x100. The three yellow vest crossing the line in front of Americans in the women's 100. Veronica Campbell beating the American sweetheart, Allyson Felix. It is a great marketing ploy that can fuel a generation of track.
Do not underestimate the country battle, all you ever need to do is travel to Penn relays and see the sea of Jamaicans that come out to cheer the high schooler's out there. Teams from the LA area go to Penn and immediately adopt the rivalry. We are a nation driven by rivalries, from age group teams to high school to college to pro teams. We love good rivalries. This rise of the Jamaicans in the sprints, our back yard, is perfect. I hope it works. And I want to win!
Coming soon I will blog about something other than track LOL
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