Upon arriving at the Texas Southern Relays on 3/22, Wariner supposedly asked the announcer to mention over the PA that he did not want fans talking to him or asking for autographs. The fans were perplexed. He was, however, received well while running the anchor leg of one of the three USA teams.
While at Baylor last weekend, I noted Wariner, Williamson and Richards all have freshly painted reserved parking slots inside the fence on the back side of the track.
I had breakfast with Clyde Hart at NCAA and visited with him Saturday. He did not mention Wariner.. and neither did I.
lilwayne1814 wrote:Upon arriving at the Texas Southern Relays on 3/22, Wariner supposedly asked the announcer to mention over the PA that he did not want fans talking to him or asking for autographs.
That is very weird. I've never heard of an athlete doing anything like that.
lilwayne1814 wrote:Upon arriving at the Texas Southern Relays on 3/22, Wariner supposedly asked the announcer to mention over the PA that he did not want fans talking to him or asking for autographs.
That is very weird. I've never heard of an athlete doing anything like that.
Yes, the announcer stated " ladies and gentleman Jeremy Wariner has entered the stadium. He will be running later this evening. He has asked that no one talks with him or ask for autographs at this time." You could hear the small talk all over the stands. The TSU Relays are not as big as the Texas Relays. it' more intimate in comparison. He ran quite well and with about 30 meters to go he turned to look back at the competition.
I read it and could not find anyhing that was a turn off or gross?
back to the meet, can anyone give a summary of the highlights ?
PAULTHEFAN : You bring up another pet peeve of mine. If it wasn't for TFN it would be hard as heck to get comprehensive results. The announcer mentioned a slew of top 10 times by hs girls and boys. Today and checked the HOUSTON CHRONICLE and DALLAS NEWS online and got only bits and pieces. DYESTAT only mentions a few items. Even the TSU RELAY site itself was pitiful. Some of those who performed well were Jeremy (4x4), Marshavette Hooker (4x1), John Capel (100), Lancaster and Dallas Skyline girls relays.
Last edited by lilwayne1814 on Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I was at the meet and for anyone that has ever been at TSU Relays, its definitely much different than other meets. Picture a Bayou Classic type atmosphere inside an older high school football stadium (which is about the equivalent of the TSU facility, no exaggeration). Initially during the meet ANYONE was able to walk around the infield, which was the designated warm up area for the meet. There were literally close to 75-100 people in casual clothes just walking around the infield. It was kind of ridiculous to be honest.
Word has it that the last time Wariner was there, he was literally mobbed. So when he and the other pros began warming up for the relays, not only was the announcement made but the meet officials and security had to take about 15 minutes to clear everyone that wasn't participating in the meet off the infield. If I remember it correctly, when the announcement was made, they didn't say it was per his request. They just asked everyone to respect the fact that he was trying to warmup for the race and to allow him to do so.
Honestly, I don't think it was as big of a deal as it was made out to be. At first glance it sounds kind of lame but if you were there, I think you'd understand. I think all the athletes actually appreciated having a cleared area to warmup as opposed to having to weave in and out of people on the infield.
Last edited by texas_speed on Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
texas_speed wrote:Honestly, I don't think it was as big of a deal as it was made out to be.
Are you referring to JW or the Italian?
Actually, mojo, I'm not asserting that you have a dirty mind, but......the Italian simply appeared to be friendly, that's all...
texas_speed wrote:I was at the meet and for anyone that has ever been at TSU Relays, its definitely much different than other meets. Picture a Bayou Classic type atmosphere inside an older high school football stadium (which is about the equivalent of the TSU facility, no exaggeration). Initially during the meet ANYONE was able to walk around the infield, which was the designated warm up area for the meet. There were literally close to 75-100 people in casual clothes just walking around the infield. It was kind of ridiculous to be honest.
Word has it that the last time Wariner was there, he was literally mobbed. So when he and the other pros began warming up for the relays, not only was the announcement made but the meet officials and security had to take about 15 minutes to clear everyone that wasn't participating in the meet off the infield. If I remember it correctly, when the announcement was made, they didn't say it was per his request. They just asked everyone to respect the fact that he was trying to warmup for the race and to allow him to do so.
Honestly, I don't think it was as big of a deal as it was made out to be. At first glance it sounds kind of lame but if you were there, I think you'd understand. I think all the athletes actually appreciated having a cleared area to warmup as opposed to having to weave in and out of people on the infield.
Thank you for that explanation. It makes what he did seem quite understandable, under the circumstances.
texas_speed wrote:I was at the meet and for anyone that has ever been at TSU Relays, its definitely much different than other meets. Picture a Bayou Classic type atmosphere inside an older high school football stadium (which is about the equivalent of the TSU facility, no exaggeration). Initially during the meet ANYONE was able to walk around the infield, which was the designated warm up area for the meet. There were literally close to 75-100 people in casual clothes just walking around the infield. It was kind of ridiculous to be honest.
Word has it that the last time Wariner was there, he was literally mobbed. So when he and the other pros began warming up for the relays, not only was the announcement made but the meet officials and security had to take about 15 minutes to clear everyone that wasn't participating in the meet off the infield. If I remember it correctly, when the announcement was made, they didn't say it was per his request. They just asked everyone to respect the fact that he was trying to warmup for the race and to allow him to do so.
Honestly, I don't think it was as big of a deal as it was made out to be. At first glance it sounds kind of lame but if you were there, I think you'd understand. I think all the athletes actually appreciated having a cleared area to warmup as opposed to having to weave in and out of people on the infield.
Thank you for that explanation. It makes what he did seem quite understandable, under the circumstances.
No problem. Like I said, at first glance it sounds weak but it really was mayhem. At one point while the hurdles were being set up they played the Atomic Dog over the stadium speakers and some of the fellas from Omega Psi Phi were hopping on the track in the final curve (with the blessing of the meet officials standing right next to them, a couple of whom were Ques themselves) right behind where the athletes were about to get in the blocks. It was actually really entertaining and all in good fun but probably not the most controlled atmosphere to have a serious meet.
And in his defense, JW signed autographs after he was done running.
When the nationals were held at the Home depot center in 2006, I observed a young fan (8-10 years old) approaching Warnier for an autograph. The kid received a quick "no". What disturbed me most was that there was not a huge crowd pursuing JW who was in street clothes and pretty much done for the rest of the meet (Remember he only pursued the 400 that year). I've heard of MJ doing some similar things with fans. Regardless of his performances I have had a different view of JW. As a added note I have run into coach Hart on the subway and was introduced by an associate. Coach Hart was the first to extend his hand in "hello". Just some food for thought from what's going on in the JW camp.
texas_speed wrote:I was at the meet and for anyone that has ever been at TSU Relays, its definitely much different than other meets. Picture a Bayou Classic type atmosphere inside an older high school football stadium (which is about the equivalent of the TSU facility, no exaggeration). Initially during the meet ANYONE was able to walk around the infield, which was the designated warm up area for the meet. There were literally close to 75-100 people in casual clothes just walking around the infield. It was kind of ridiculous to be honest.
Word has it that the last time Wariner was there, he was literally mobbed. So when he and the other pros began warming up for the relays, not only was the announcement made but the meet officials and security had to take about 15 minutes to clear everyone that wasn't participating in the meet off the infield. If I remember it correctly, when the announcement was made, they didn't say it was per his request. They just asked everyone to respect the fact that he was trying to warmup for the race and to allow him to do so.
Honestly, I don't think it was as big of a deal as it was made out to be. At first glance it sounds kind of lame but if you were there, I think you'd understand. I think all the athletes actually appreciated having a cleared area to warmup as opposed to having to weave in and out of people on the infield.
I was there also (have been since the mid late 80s) and the announcement was made only AFTER his name was announced. While I agree that there were far too many people on the infield, the timing of his arrival and announcement were really odd. They had run all 4x1s, 400 meters races, etc before the request. Rewind the tape and you will hear where the announcer stated his name with the request. And to answer another posters question, no he was not around afterwards. I actually stayed there far after the hs boys 4x4 along with some of the hs coaches. Nothing against him but he has been aloof like that at TEXAS RELAYS also. I have seen Sanya Richards, Mo Greene, Jon Drummond and the likes who play to the crowd and manage to warm up and so forth. He reminds you of Micheal Johnson and Carl Lewis in that manner. Heck even at meets where Marion was running she at least smiled and waved to the crowds. Not a big deal, just calling a spade a spade. You guys have to realize the athletes have to be more than a talent to make the sport attractive to spectators here in the states.
I have known Clyde Hart for more than forty years and Jeremy Wariner before he was famous. Jeremy is always cordial and polite. He will loosen up among friends but he actually rather shy and is not gregarious and outgoing by nature with strangers. As someone noted, it is almost as if he has adopted the Michael Johnson public attitude. No one out-aloofs Carl.
It does strike me as a tad strange to make a public address request for privacy but I am giving him a pass under the circumstance described by texas_speed.
Wariner may have been better served to have used another entrance and to have kept out of site. Had no other entrance been available, he could have walked through a secure area where fans were not permitted.
EPelle wrote:Wariner may have been better served to have used another entrance and to have kept out of site. Had no other entrance been available, he could have walked through a secure area where fans were not permitted.
at Penn you can't get to the section right by the finish line, lower deck. they reserve it for what seems to be the Jamaican contingent. They are also very quick to boot you out of there.
Actually, at Penn, most, if not all, of the seats in the lower stands are reserved and on Saturday, they can be full or close to full. There are ushers checking tickets at the entrance to each section. Never having tried to sneak into a section where I didn't belong, I can't say how difficult that is to do. But at least theoretically, you can't just go where you want to.
Ahh.... I was forgetting there are a handful of meets in the country that actually have/enforce reserved seating..... but the thrust of the original statement was that other than the pressbox, where could a Wariner go in the seating area of a stadium and not have fans there too?
gh wrote:Other than the pressbox, are there any meets in the U.S. where the fans don't have complete access to the entire stands?
Alas, the issue. There are some up-close-and-personal places here in EU as well, but athletes usually get left alone. Exception to all of the meets I:ve attended was the 2006 EC down in Göteborg: all athletes took the same ways in and out past the public with the exception of one: Kajsa Bergqvist, who was escorted by vehicle from the stadium.
texas_speed wrote:I was at the meet and for anyone that has ever been at TSU Relays, its definitely much different than other meets. Picture a Bayou Classic type atmosphere inside an older high school football stadium (which is about the equivalent of the TSU facility, no exaggeration). Initially during the meet ANYONE was able to walk around the infield, which was the designated warm up area for the meet. There were literally close to 75-100 people in casual clothes just walking around the infield. It was kind of ridiculous to be honest.
Word has it that the last time Wariner was there, he was literally mobbed. So when he and the other pros began warming up for the relays, not only was the announcement made but the meet officials and security had to take about 15 minutes to clear everyone that wasn't participating in the meet off the infield. If I remember it correctly, when the announcement was made, they didn't say it was per his request. They just asked everyone to respect the fact that he was trying to warmup for the race and to allow him to do so.
Honestly, I don't think it was as big of a deal as it was made out to be. At first glance it sounds kind of lame but if you were there, I think you'd understand. I think all the athletes actually appreciated having a cleared area to warmup as opposed to having to weave in and out of people on the infield.
I was there also (have been since the mid late 80s) and the announcement was made only AFTER his name was announced. While I agree that there were far too many people on the infield, the timing of his arrival and announcement were really odd. They had run all 4x1s, 400 meters races, etc before the request. Rewind the tape and you will hear where the announcer stated his name with the request. And to answer another posters question, no he was not around afterwards. I actually stayed there far after the hs boys 4x4 along with some of the hs coaches. Nothing against him but he has been aloof like that at TEXAS RELAYS also. I have seen Sanya Richards, Mo Greene, Jon Drummond and the likes who play to the crowd and manage to warm up and so forth. He reminds you of Micheal Johnson and Carl Lewis in that manner. Heck even at meets where Marion was running she at least smiled and waved to the crowds. Not a big deal, just calling a spade a spade. You guys have to realize the athletes have to be more than a talent to make the sport attractive to spectators here in the states.
I agree that they could have just made an announcement without using his name. Then there wouldn't be cause for all the speculation. Nevertheless, the announcement needed to be made as the infield was out of control.
And I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about the autograph thing. My younger cousin and his high school teammates all were able to acquire his autograph with no problem after he ran. And I've seen him at numerous meets where he's more than willing to "play to the crowd" and sign autographs. I think anyone can make a case for a person having a less than becoming attitude if you catch them on the wrong day or time. Superstar or not, these athletes are people first and have human flaws.
Also, I don't know of any other meets that give fans access to the athlete's warmup area (which was the case before the announcement was made). The infield was completely unregulated at first.
That is a turn on that is a turn off too!
