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Things Ain’t Just What They Use To Be …….!
By tophac | April 27, 2008
Not so long ago the field of athletics and that of track and field was the highlight and epitome of what the Olympic Games were about. Now with the sordid affairs of tainted athletes and their use of illecit substances . It’s very hard to see how the sport can regain its luster amongst the controversy that surrounds the sport. Never mind the fact the IOC and WADA have done very little to really address these issues. It’s left in the hands of the none desript and very secretive IAAF.
World champion Tyson Gay who holds the titles at the 100m and 200m distances and is hoping to repeat the feat at the Beijing Olympics in China this summer. picture courtesy of sportsillustrated.com/trackandfield/tysongay…….
The IAAF itself is very much an organization that if nothing else is vey self serving and tantamount in only wanting to see its own reputation unscorned . When through its own lax approach has let much of what has gone within its own arena go unaddressed and unresolved. Now it has come to light that they see that it’s in their best interest to be proactive in dealing with the issues that they were suppose to have dealt with judiciously.
Current US champion and potential candidate for a spot on the US track and field team Allyson Felix seen here at a track meet in Innsbruck , Austria. picture courtesy iaaf.com/trackfield/allysonfelix……..
Slowly but surely as they try to clean house they’re slowly going about it in the sort of way that’d lead one to believe that the Salem witch hunts had returned to the country. USATF and its hierarchy have been only too pleased to see many of its members be brought to justice under the circumstances. And at the same time the popularity of the sport is on the wane. The public’s interest is barely brought above that of its interest in the sport of hockey. And as we all know that sport has fallen faster in its recognition than that of a metorite falling from the sky.
400m hurdles champion Bershawn Jackson seen here at a meet in Osaka , Japan. Jackson is the presumptive favorite in the event at the upcoming Olympics. However that’ll be predicated on how he does in the US Olympic trials which is seen as precursor for qualifying . picture courtesy of eurosport.yahoo.com/sports/athletics/…….
What stars the sport now has within the North American market are barely known to the public at large. The heightened in the sport and its popularity is acknowledged more in Europe , the Far East and the African continent. Africa in particular track and field is seen as a way for an athlete to raise themselves and their family out of the seeds of poverty. A scholarship to a school here in the United States becomes the first step on the road of what it’s hoped will be a professional career within the sport itself.
Olympic and World 400m champion seen here winning the gold medal at the Olympics in 2004. picture courtesy of images.google.com/sports/jeremy wariner…..
And whilst the sport knows that its profile will be raised once the Olympics begin. Here it vaguely has a presence in the mind of the public at large. An event that takes place here in the US barely attains any visibilty whatsoever on a broadcast network. It’s normally resigned and assigned to being placed on a cable channel for viewing. This year however the profile will be raised as NBC the sole carrier of the broadcast here will be given the station’s full resources and in the hope that track and field’s presence will be felt and appreciated by the public at large. The stars also will see their profiles raised and one would hope that the public’s attention to their stories will be recognized.
Kerron Clement (1093) of the United States seen here competing in the World Championship in Osaka , Japan. picture courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports/athletics…….
If nothing else other than the Goodwill Games and the Penn Relays the sport is treated with derision. And these are primarily the main two events where track and field’s profile is raised above that of an infomercial. Stars like Sanya Richards , Jeremy Wariner , Allyson Felix, Kerron Clement, Tyson Gay and Bershawn Jackson are barely recognizable to the public but are known throughout the rest of the world because of their exploits abroad where the sport is more greatly appreciated there than it is here . We’re expected to rally behind them and show our support. But how do they expect us to really do that when they do barely little to raise the sport’s profile here ?
US track star Sanya Richards a potential candidate for a roster spot on the national squad for the upcoming Olympics. Richards will either choose from the 400m flat or 400 hurdles. She’s also a threat in both events and more likey than not will be a memeber of the 4×400m relay or the 4x 100m teams. picture courtesy of ap/bbc.co.uk/sports/sanya richards …………….
Gone are the days when we all knew who the likes of athletes Michael Johnson , Carl Lewis , Maurice Greene , Leroy Burrell, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Florence Griffiths were. They were icons who stood at the top of the sport, had character and entertained us all. Now the sport is engulfed in controversy and we rarely take note of their exploits solely for the reason that we can’t be sure that the pursuit of excellence and victory is achieved with legitimacy. We heralded the exploits of these athletes at the height of their careers and prominence. And we felt proud when they brought home the spoils of victory from representing the country at the most prestigious of events, namely the World Championships but in particular the Olympics.
Decathlete Bryan Clay who’ll be hoping to make his second appearance at the Olympic games in August that’ll be held in Beijing, China. picture courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports/athletics/bryanclay ………
And even though the sport was in the throes unrest not much was ever proven though it can be said that countries in the Eastern bloc were already making sure that the advent of steroids were being used to fulfill their wantoned lust for victory and accpeptance at the highest echelons of the sport.
US shot putter Reese Hoffa seen here competing in the World Championships in Osaka , Japan in 2007. picture courtesy of gettyimages/ bbc.co.uk/sports/athletics/reesehoffa …….
It’s still hard to view how the sport’ll regain its luster if the continued mess that is steroid abuse is still rife within the sport of track and field. As much as the USATF tries to enhance the reputation of the sport domestically. Whatever fans the sport has aren’t always interested in what’s going on when we aren’t even being made aware as to the success of the athletes they want us to be enamored with and to support. One of the reasons the sport isn’t no longer what it once was !
tophac …………..
Topics: Uncategorized |
April 27th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Looking forward to this …
April 28th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
You’re right, track and field has lost an incredible amount of luster. Hell, I didn’t even know there was an event upcoming until you told me.
And what of the Marion Jone’s counterparts refusing to give up their medals?
For what it’s worth, I am still a huge track and field fan, but now with reservations. These days, I don’t celebrate victories until after the piss test is certified clean.
I really wish this sport could reclaim some of its lost glory.
Good job, top!
April 29th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Mean Dovine
Not only has it lost its luster the interest here is no longer what it one was. And it certainly hasn’t helped with the actions of individuals such as Tim Montgomery, Marion Jones and effectively much of her cadre of training partners that’ve been embroiled in much of the steroid allegations. And as a power the US is no longer what it once was also. It’s been caught up with and in some cases surpassed by other countries around the world. The only real advantage that it still has are its training facilities which are second to none.
tophac …………..