Track & Field News

by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:19 pm

Respect for this gentleman and great champion
who recently welcomed one of the French judges
who wanted him to leave the stadium just after
his famous "false-start".
A long article about this rendez-vous in the
French magazine from L'Equipe last week-end
showing a very warm and facetious Jon Drummond,
without any resentment towards his tormentor.
That is why cannot refrain from wishing him
a brilliant 2004 season,
and from forgiving him his rebellious behaviour.

by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:47 pm

"showing a very warm and facetious Jon Drummond"

I'm guessing English is your 3rd language? :-)

by **stevehj197** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:48 pm

As Alexander Pope said,

"To err is human, to forgive, divine."

by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 5:53 pm

Then God can forgive him! Just kidding - you're right!

by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 6:13 pm

...Franglisly or warmfooly?
My first language is track and field.

by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 6:47 pm

nobly said, sir!

by **michael lewis** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 6:49 pm

Go look it up if you like, but Japlish is in the Oxford dictionary!! But not Chinglish, that's just in motherboard manuals.

by **Guest** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:00 am

I believe forgiveness if ALWAYS a good thing...we leave judgement to God, who knows all and loves completely. I also hope Jon Drummond has a great 2004.

by **Guest** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:02 am

I meant to write is ALWAYS a good thing, not if...L.C.

by **Guest** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 10:53 am

showing a very warm and facetious
>Jon Drummond,

not surprising...if you know jon........

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 1:05 am

Despite what people may think of Jon Drummond in light of what occurred at the World Championships in Paris, those of us who have been around him realize Jon has a public persona as well as a private one.

I recently witnessed the private persona at the USATF Convention in Greensboro, NC. Jon came to one of the general sessions for USATF officials and offered his explanation of what occurred in Paris. After offering a behind the scene look of what occurred (which many media outlets ignored), Jon took questions from those assembled at the meeting.

Although a few of the questioners took Jon to task for the way he acted on the track, I have to admit that his answers provided a glimpse into the realities athletes face when they're on the field of play. All too often, we forget that these athletes we see performing are human, containing the same emotions, thoughts, and feelings as the rest of us. Jon's explanation to what happened in Paris afforded many of us an opportunity to step in his shoes.

As he adamantly stated, he trained 364 days for that 9 - 10 second race in Paris. He was not going to let the opportunity go if he didn't commit an infraction (which turns out he didn't). He also indicated that the starter actually came to his home and talked with him about the race while showing him video validating his statement that he did not false start.

Whether you like him or not, Jon Drummond is a class act who is willing to set the record straight by talking to any and everyone about what happened. That's the true mark of an athlete. If he was a spoiled baby, then he wouldn't have done what he did at the convention.

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 4:59 am

As immature as Jon seemed at Paris, the reality is that NO ONE can feel the loss that he felt at the moment, as he was being CHEATED out of the opportunity to do the one thing his entire life had been devoted to for a full year. He knew he had not jumped, yet the official was telling him to leave. Judge not, lest etc.

by **ZZrunZZ** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 6:07 am

If his immature behavior was limited to Paris 2003 that would be one thing, but I cannot erase from my mind the image of him and the other bozos on the 4x100 in Sydney. Talk about a freakin embarassment! In this day and age of "spin" I take most things that public figures say with a huge grain of salt and question their motives.

Call me old school, but the biggest thrill I get from sports is watching athletes perform incredible feats on the field without ridiculous grandstanding and "look at me" demonstrations after the fact. A lack of class always ruins the performance.

by **Pego** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 9:30 am

<If his immature behavior was limited to Paris 2003 that would be one thing, but I cannot erase from my mind the image of him and the other bozos on the 4x100 in Sydney. Talk about a freakin embarassment! In this day and age of "spin" I take most things that public figures say with a huge grain of salt and question their motives.

Call me old school, but the biggest thrill I get from sports is watching athletes perform incredible feats on the field without ridiculous grandstanding and "look at me" demonstrations after the fact. A lack of class always ruins the performance.>

Right on!

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 9:52 am

Yes, but all you have to do is look at the NFL or the NBA to see guys much more outrageous, and the fans LOVE it. That's the role models our track guys are emulating. When everyone came down on the 4x1 team, especially B Williams for his posturing, he had to be thinking, "Wait a minute, the Rock does this and he's a hero - I do it and I'm a jerk?" I'm not saying it's right, but you have to admit that, at present, the US public not only condones this sort of behavior in their sports icons, they encourage it. Michael Jordan's tongue-wagging finger-waving is a prime example.

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 10:46 am

Grandstanding and acting up go over much better in team and/or contact sports than in track (although I think the stuff that NFL and NBA players do looks ridiculous). Tough to compare track to other sports in that regard.

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:20 am

"Grandstanding and acting up go over much better in team and/or contact sports than in track"

ummm . . . why? 'Bad' behavior is bad behavior. Maybe it's OK in Pro Wrestling, but why would the NBA condone it?

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 11:28 am

As I said in my post, I think it is bad behavior no matter who does it and no matter what sport it occurs in.

I am simply stating that doing a silly dance on the field or talking trash follow more naturally from planting a running back on his ass in a sport like football, which is a highly emotional and physical game.

Track, on the other hand, includes no contact (unless you count what happens in middle distance races) and is quite different.

by **ZZrunZZ** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 1:47 pm

TN -

Don't get me started on the NBA, NFL,etc etc.....

Just because the "public" loves it does not mean "we" have to drag it into T&F. I stopped watching basketball YEARS ago for that very reason. There are so few class acts in the NBA/NFL anymore. Whenever i see some idiot celebrating for doing his damn job it makes me want ot puke. Since when is making a tackle or throwing down a dunk cause for an assinine celebration????

The fact that USATF gave Drummond a President's Award at the just concluded annual convention makes me even more disgusted with them (USATF). What the hell was Bill Roe thinking ?????

Furthermore, Masback has been spouting his BS about the "#1 Track & Field team in the world" for too long. He chooses to highlight/market the sprint idiots, the half naked female vaulters and Roidgina Jacobs in order to attract viewers to the sport. He and the USATF Board have lost sight of the fact that they have abandoned the true T&F fans in the USA by dumbing down their marketing. I equate USATF's approach to marketing T&F in the USA with the XFL marketing plan in recent years. No REAL football fan EVER thought the XFL was legitmate football and in my humble opinion no REAL T&F fan thinks that the pathetic marketing approach and TV broadcasts of meets in the USA represents the true interests in serious T&F fans.

Thank god for the internet these days as it is the only way I can get real info about the sport I love. The fewer things that pass thru the USATF/USOC/IAAF, etc. the better as far as I am concerned.

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:25 pm

ZZrunZZ, I'm going to have to agree with you on virtually all counts, being the elitist t&f fan that I am, but . . . I doubt the average sports fan agrees with us. John Q. likes his testosterone in generous dollops.

by **ZZrunZZ** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 2:49 pm

TN -

Not sinking to the lowest common denominator is not being elitist. Meatheads are meatheads and there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. You gotta love America, but you don't have to love the stupidity!!!

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 3:03 pm

true dat

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 3:25 pm

Please don't accuse me of playing the race card, because I am not being judgemental but I think you'll find out that if you check approval/disapproval ratings for the antics of the Sydney crew, you'll find that old white people are the most offended. If you're young and/or black, it changes from indifference to approval.

I say this with no rancor; just an example of how society still has (and always will have, in some form) vastly different norms as to what is acceptable behaviour.

Since it is generally old white people in charge, official disapproval/sanctioning probably doesn't reflect the average fan too well.

by **ZZrunZZ** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 12:08 pm

Social Scientist-

Forget the race card.....it's a matter of values/priciples/ideals/whatever....

Generally speaking (and I know what problems generalizations can create) an individual adopts those values that are instilled during their "growing years". An environment that promotes boorish, egotisical behavior will generate members who embrace those "values". I know that there are exceptions to all the rules, but that does not excuse the fact that these (Sydney) idiots truly thought that what they were doing was not disrespectful.

One does not have to be old and white to see that Drummond and his cohorts acted like morons in Paris and Sydney.

America has set itself a VERY low bar for acceptable behavior. I for one am disgusted by this fact.

Hey, ever been to a "professional" championship wrestling "match"???? Don't see too many black folks there and yet the same dumbass behavior exists there! As long as "corporate" America keeps financially rewarding morons then this kind of behavior will be "acceptable".

I put this right up there with teenage skanks that idolize the Brittany Spears' of the world. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc....makes no differece...it all sucks.

(stepping off my soapbox now)

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 12:21 pm

which brings up the classic problem: you think something is stupid; many others think it's not; you say that they are stupid; they say you are; you think you have a better perspective on the world in general (taste/morality/ethics/class/whatever); there are many of them, few of you. It takes a very self-centered, egoistical mind to convince oneself that everyone else is wrong and you are right. You justify yourself and think that's the end of the discussion. There's a very good chance that you are just really good at deluding yourself and you'll never catch on that you are the one out of step.

Just a thought.

by **ZZrunZZ** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:32 pm

Hey Freudian -

Let's try this on for size......

I was offering my OPINION on something. Since when was I trying to convince you or anyone else that I'm right and you/they are wrong?

Perhaps you need to head back to the rest of the lemmings.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 6:42 pm

"Please don't accuse me of playing the race card, because I am not being judgemental but I think you'll find out that if you check approval/disapproval ratings for the antics of the Sydney crew, you'll find that old white people are the most offended. If you're young and/or black, it changes from indifference to approval.

I say this with no rancor; just an example of how society still has (and always will have, in some form) vastly different norms as to what is acceptable behaviour.

Since it is generally old white people in charge, official disapproval/sanctioning probably doesn't reflect the average fan too well."

I am a young person (24) and I was extremely offended. And what is your evidence that most young and/or black people approved of their antics? Have you done an extensive survey of young and/or black subjects that revealed these opinions to you? I suspect that you have done no research whatsoever.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:14 pm

"Perhaps you need to head back to the rest of the lemmings."

I think you just proved my point.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 8:23 pm

Young Black people don't care what 50+ year olds have to say period. This thread is a perfect example of old farts starting to talk about Drummond, and ending the thread with calling each other idiots. You are all correct, you are idiots , with very short attention spans. Let me start and end the Next Thread: ...

- USATF should consult private marketing firms to increase public awareness.....

Last Thread entry.... BLah BLah.. If you could take your head out of your ass... quit playing the race card.... your the ignorant pin head... Shove the pole up your pie hole....

by **ZZrunZZ** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 9:56 pm

Freudian says "There's a very good chance that you are just really good at deluding yourself and you'll never catch on that you are the one out of step."

Speaking of be3ing in step, I wonder if you think Hilter and his gang were right because they were all in step. (A bit of an extreme example, but I use it to illustrate the absurdity of your logic).

Does one have to be in the majority to have his/her opinion become right????? Where I come from an opinion is an opinion and it's not a matter off being right or wrong. If you feel more comfortable belonging to a pack of lemmings then good for you.....maybe when you grow up you'll learn that articulating your own original thoughts is not such a bad thing.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 10:17 pm

Posturing is getting to be quite excessive in professional sports, but it is what gets a sport its mainstream appeal. I always loved a class act, but the general public doesn't. They aren't excited by it. Think of Pete Sampras - a classy guy through and through. Sure people liked him, but he didn't have the same appeal that someone like Roddick does.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 11:04 pm

Does one have to be
>in the majority to have his/her opinion become right????? Where I come from an
>opinion is an opinion and it's not a matter off being right or wrong. If you
>feel more comfortable belonging to a pack of lemmings then good for
>you.....maybe when you grow up you'll learn that articulating your own original
>thoughts is not such a bad thing.

ZZ your completely wrong, it is late at night and you are an old timer sucking on a bottle booze. You are completely incorrect with all your assumptions and this argument is so important to you that you have put off all your family responsiblities to make sure everyone knows what jon drummond is like. even if you have never met jon drummond, the article you read in people magazine makes you a jon drummond expert. haven't you noticed that you spend so much time on the internet your 16 year old daughter is dating the fella that just got out of jail .

by **ZZrunZZ** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 11:19 am

Mr. Perfect-

LMAO....my god I finally see the light thanks to your impeccable logic and arguments. I am forever indebted to you for showing me the error of my ways!

I can only hope and pray to grow up to be like you someday. I am humbled by your perfection.

by **Guest** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 2:11 pm

WELL JOHNNY LOOKS LIKE MY PROJECT OF HAVING GLADIATOR RACES AT THE OLYMPIC STAID BECAME A REALITY,BUT FOR THE SHOT-PUTTERS.IM STILL PROPOSING HAVE EVERYONE U AND OTHERS PAST&PRESENT WEAR SUITS OF ARMOUR RACE ACROSS THE STADE.

TELL CAP,I DID IT AGAIN,ANOTHER PROJECT IN THE REALITY BOOKS.
WWW.PREFONTAINE-RUN.COM

MICHAEL
TELL JOHNNY GRAY--WHATS UP!!!!!!!

by **Guest** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 6:08 pm

I saw the relay in Sidney.I saw the celebration.I'm an american and i saw NOTHING wrong with any of it.because the team members chose to bust a few poses and celebrate their victory wrapped in the flag am I supposed to be upset?PLEEEAASSEEE!What's every athlete in america supposed to do,walk around like a zombie.This planet is made up of different types of people.some celebrate,others don't.class isn't measured by the amount or absence of celebrations.I don't recall reading about any of the relay members having any run-ins with the law.shooting.raping.killing.stealing.slanging.These types of activities represent a lack of class.If there is to be any belly-aching,whine about some of the injustices perputrated daily in america,like racism,and shut the hell up when it comes to these hard working,fun loving athletes.

by **Guest** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 6:45 pm

>I saw the relay in Sidney.I saw the celebration.I'm an american and i saw NOTHING wrong with any of it.<

You got that right. I was in Sydney and had the same reaction as did the people I was sitting with. We were not at all scandalized by what these guys did. If somebody (probably a racist) at NBC hadn't got his nose out of joint, nobody would have ever thought twice about our relay team's behavior. They were certainly not the only athletes who wrapped themselves in their nation's flag after winning. The real scandal was that the media thought there was something wrong with a jubilant celebration of a well-earned victory.

by **Guest** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 3:59 am

I totally agree with you.
Life is short. And Jon DRUMMOND seems to be very
talented for it. His kidish behaviour is just
theatre. Respect for celebrities who are clever
enough not to take themselves seriously...

by **Guest** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 2:22 pm

>those of us who have been around him realize Jon
>has a public persona as well as a private one.

I can buy that. But the fact remains his public persona sucks after a certain point. A point he has gone WAY past. Comb in the hair, peeling uniform top, bodybuilding poses, and the Paris garbage...the only thing important to this little boy is getting noticed and like all five year olds he knows bad behavior serves that purpose as well as good behavior. I hope he has a good 2004--in the retirement home!

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:42 am

>>. I hope
>he has a good 2004--in the retirement home!

you too....

by **Guest** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:29 am

Reggie Williams was the class act of all. Humble. Respectful. Fast. A winner. Never showed up the competition, yet left everyone in his wake from 200m (22,xx) to 5000m (14.19,9) in high school.

Are youth of America to take example after Jon Drummond? Or Dennis Mitchell with his Carl Lewis-I-am-going-to-burn-your-house-down-if-we-dont-get-the-world-record killer talk down the straight on Lewis anchor leg?

Or should they take up after someone like El Guerrouj? Morceli? Gebrselassie?

I enjoy a great meet, period. No antics. I can not stand seeing dummies on tv. And since I live in Europe, there are no more dimwit American sprinters clogging up the airwaves. We do not have time or energy for that.

Track & Field News

Who is online