I've always viewed Javier Sotomayor as one of the all-time greats in track and field; however, it is very difficult to find info on him. There are no books and very little info online. It seems he just doesn't get the respect of a 3-time world record holder or 2-time Olympic medalist. Is it because he had some drug problems or because of his Cuban background? Or am I overrating him? Why no love for the great Soto??
However, if you look at it in much broader terms look where track & field is in the public eye. If we work on track & field's popularity as a whole, then the high jump, then Soto.....
good point. Zatopek and Nurmi come to mind. No books but some info on Brumel out there in Soviet Sports books. Foreign books on Bubka and Drechsler. No books but good websites on Hicham. Can't think of anything on Koch or Szewinska. very good question
Cone on, observor2. Being the first man to clear 8 feet is noteworthy. So he tested positive for cocaine. No parker is not suggesting that we emulate everything the man did, just that it would be nice to find some information on someone in our sport who acheived a remarkable feat.
I have to say I'm not particularly bothered by either of these. As I've said before I don't count nandrolone +ives and I couldn't care less if someone is busted for cocaine which I can't imagine is a performance enhancer at all.
I have to say I'm not particularly bothered by either of these. As I've said before I don't count nandrolone +ives and I couldn't care less if someone is busted for cocaine which I can't imagine is a performance enhancer at all.
I agree. I don't count the nandro +'s either and doubt if someone in Soto's position would do cocaine to enhance their athletic performance (unless they had a world-class hangover and a few lines happened to be available around the HJ area, which I find unlikely).
That said, 2.45 is one the otherworldly WRs and he did test positive for cocaine. From what I know about drug users/addicts, most are not typically exclusive in their drug use or the context of their use. This is not meant to suggest or imply that Soto falls, necessarily, into that general category.
marknhj wrote: From what I know about drug users/addicts, most are not typically exclusive in their drug use or the context of their use. This is not meant to suggest or imply that Soto falls, necessarily, into that general category.
There's a huge diference between a +ive fpr a recreational drug like cocaine and a +ive for a performance enhancer. I couldn't care less how much cocaine he took. It may be illegal but certainly wouldn't give him any advantage over his competition.
marknhj wrote: From what I know about drug users/addicts, most are not typically exclusive in their drug use or the context of their use. This is not meant to suggest or imply that Soto falls, necessarily, into that general category.
There's a huge diference between a +ive fpr a recreational drug like cocaine and a +ive for a performance enhancer. I couldn't care less how much cocaine he took. It may be illegal but certainly wouldn't give him any advantage over his competition.
marknhj wrote: From what I know about drug users/addicts, most are not typically exclusive in their drug use or the context of their use. This is not meant to suggest or imply that Soto falls, necessarily, into that general category.
There's a huge diference between a +ive for a recreational drug like cocaine and a +ive for a performance enhancer. I couldn't care less how much cocaine he took. It may be illegal but certainly wouldn't give him any advantage over his competition.
I agree. But you missed my point.
Sorry if thst' the case but I'm not sure I get your point. Having reread it it seems you were suggesting that if he took cocaine then he may very well have been likely to resort to using PED as well. I don't agree with this as I see no connection between cocaine use and cheating.
Flumpy wrote:I see no connection between cocaine use and cheating.
You mean, other than the fact that they're both against the law/rules and anyone who would do one would be more likely to do the other because of the 'rules don't apply to me' mentality.
Flumpy wrote:I see no connection between cocaine use and cheating.
You mean, other than the fact that they're both against the law/rules and anyone who would do one would be more likely to do the other because of the 'rules don't apply to me' mentality.
This linkage is tenuous at best. Your location today is apt . . .
Flumpy wrote:I see no connection between cocaine use and cheating.
You mean, other than the fact that they're both against the law/rules and anyone who would do one would be more likely to do the other because of the 'rules don't apply to me' mentality.
gotta go with flumpy
cocaine is for a person's recreation - professional or bum, they do it for pleasure
there is NO connection between cocaine & cheating - it's done for pleasure alone
Flumpy wrote:I see no connection between cocaine use and cheating.
You mean, other than the fact that they're both against the law/rules and anyone who would do one would be more likely to do the other because of the 'rules don't apply to me' mentality.
gotta go with flumpy
cocaine is for a person's recreation - professional or bum, they do it for pleasure
there is NO connection between cocaine & cheating - it's done for pleasure alone
Who said he used coke to jump, as opposed to get, high? I certainly didn't.
I have to say I'm not particularly bothered by either of these. As I've said before I don't count nandrolone +ives and I couldn't care less if someone is busted for cocaine which I can't imagine is a performance enhancer at all.
Your naivete re illegal drugs is nothing if not astonishing.
I have to say I'm not particularly bothered by either of these. As I've said before I don't count nandrolone +ives and I couldn't care less if someone is busted for cocaine which I can't imagine is a performance enhancer at all.
Your naivete re illegal drugs is nothing if not astonishing.
Forget any drug implications: probably no Soto books because he sets new standards for Cuban surliness. I've rarely met such a sour human being. Can't think of anybody else in the track world I've ever met who was as bad. He's in Mary Decker's league in that department.
gh wrote:Forget any drug implications: probably no Soto books because he sets new standards for Cuban surliness. I've rarely met such a sour human being. Can't think of anybody else in the track world I've ever met who was as bad. He's in Mary Decker's league in that department.
Wow, Garry, I had no idea. It is always a treat when you share with us your thoughts on athletes (seeing as how you are with them more than most of us). Pollyanna that I am, I guess I just assume the best of everyone, until proven otherwise.
Not a treat for me, and I already regret having said so. I just don't have the kind of personality that likes to trash people (well, not in public at least). I have too much empathy perhaps. I'm not remotely the most likable person on the planet, yet remain very sensitive. If I were celebrity enough to warrant such analysis, I know I'd be crushed to see such written about me, even if I knew it were 100% true.
(but here's a legit aside: I made reference to Soto being surly even by Cuban standards; at one point in the booth in Osaka this summer, where the lane-by-lane/jumping order intros had a facial closeup on each of the contestnats, we were about 90% through the meet when somebody commented, "omigod, that Cuban smiled! Citizenship-revocation coming up!")
gh wrote:Not a treat for me, and I already regret having said so. I just don't have the kind of personality that likes to trash people (well, not in public at least).
Posters here exempted?
I remember Mark Boswell saying how Soto was a friend of his and was well liked by all the jumpers.
I had great seats for the men's HJ in Edmonton and Soto smiled alot. Maybe he just felt at ease and comfortable on the HJ apron? After all he was the World record holder.
Similarly, I got an autograph from him when I attended our first and only high jump classic in Chicago in 93'. I stayed in the same hotel as all the greats (Soto, Conway, Sjoberg, Paklin, etc.) and Soto and company were quite friendly and sociable. Funny story about that trip though. I was on the elevator going to the ground floor when Hollis Conway and his wife stepped in. I was only 18 at the time and totally freaked out. I think I scared them both since I hollered out, "oh my God, it's Hollis Conway" and wrapped him in a bear hug. High jumpers aren't used to having fans. It's not like he's a running back or something.
