Mike ... I used Mitchell on purpose .. In individual events no way is Mitchell comparable to MJ .. No where close ... But in relays Mitchell has had every bit as much impact - and for a longer period of time ... Mitchell may have been more critical to US 4x1 fortunes over the years than Carl himself ... The point I was trying to illustrate is how do you define contribution to the sport ??? You proposed one in your response ... And it based apparently on individual success ... And it seemed to be passively agreed that Gail Devers could make the same "demand" and no one would have a problem ... My question simply then is where do you draw the line, and how do you administer the sport given that individual assignments to teams are then allowed ... And of course I have to ask why someone who has meant so much to US 4x1 fortunes has less right to self placement on the team than someone who has meant less to US 4x4 fortunes ??? And please do not consider this MJ bashing or promotion of Mitchell or anything of the sort ... I am just asking what I think are soem fundamental questions that should be looked at when approaching this type of issue ... Because in reality it goes beyond MJ ... He just happens to be the subject of the conversation since he asked first ... Conway >From: "mike fanelli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: "mike fanelli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Conway Hill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Dgs1170" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, >"t-and-f_1" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: t-and-f: MJ vs D MITCHELL IMPACT ON T&F (was BOOOO USATF = bad >decision) >Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 21:05:17 -0700 > >Conway, > >DO you REALLY believe that Dennis Mitchell has had as positive an impact on >the sport of track and field (which, in my opinion means "has he created a >significant, positive and heightened awareness of track and field amongst >the general public...not the track geeks on our list and those that >subscribe to the bible of our sport) as Michael Johnson??????? > >My original point in this thread was that USATF which can make a decision >regarding a specific athlete and instance , chose to make one (not allowing >MJ to compete) that was not necessarily beneficial to the broad promotion >of the sport...end of story. > >-MF > > > > > >Mike Fanelli >San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate Specialist >professional representation of buyers and sellers >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >415.447.6254 >or visit my web site at: >www.SFabode.com > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Conway Hill > To: Dgs1170 ; t-and-f_1 > Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 6:54 PM > Subject: Re: t-and-f: BOOOOOOO!!!! USATF = BAD DECISION!! > > > I understand your point ... And even agree with it in prinicpal ... But >let me play the devil's advocate and ask this question ... If Gail Devers >made an announcement that she would like to run on the 4x1 at this year's >WC, but she doesn't plan to run at Nationals this year, should she be >allowed to run on the team ??? Or even hitting closer to home for you, how >about Dennis Mitchell ??? Say Dennis makes an announcement that this will >be his last year in the sport, and that he would like to be the 3rd leg on >this year's WC 4x1 ??? Dennis states that he has clearly been one of the >top 2 3rd legs in history ... That he has served the US well in Olympic and >WC competition, and that he wants one last hurrah at the WCs ... What do >you do ??? Gail and Dennis have both done as much for the sport as MJ ... >maybe more since both have been in the sport longer than MJ ...Do you award >a spot to MJ but turn them down ?? If so why ?? If not at what point do you >draw the line on such requests ??? > > My position is less MJ bashing (as I keep being labeled on this list) as >much as it is against the attempt at dictatorship of the sport by >individual athletes ... "I'm great so give me what I want" ... The sport >has rules (and ironically in this case the rules may actually favor MJ in >reality) and I guess I get irritated when we change them specifically to >benefit an individual at a time .. We change the order and times of events >now in the Olympics to favor an individual athlete as if that is going to >make the event so much greater ... Because so and so says if you do that I >can achive something historical ... Of course historical to me means you >achieve it in the same context that EVERYONE ELSE had to attempt it under, >not as a made for TV event !!!!! I was against it when Carl Lewis used to >make the same kind of requests and I am still against it ... And ironically >MJ should to put Carl down for the same thing ... But then I guess what is >right or wrong depends on what side of the fence you are sitting on ... > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 4:40 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: t-and-f: BOOOOOOO!!!! USATF = BAD DECISION!! > > > As much as I would love to jump on the bash wagon, I cannot. > He may not have been the pr boon, but his success and feats have done >a lot > for the betterment of the sport. I do not think that needs to be >explained. > As much as we like to bitch about his lack of personality, and >monotone > delivery, he is a respected announcer, and the fans love to see and >hear him. > Do not mistake our fine tooth combing for the opinions of the general >public. > MJ is a star, and he has done a lot for the sport in that regard. > > DGS > Faith is a road seldom traveled > Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto >Jesus, > the author and finisher of our faith" Hebrews 12: 1-2 > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
