I know that this has been dredged up on this list before, but I've got to
vent a bit here. I am, in general, a supporter of USATF. While not
perfect, the current administration generally is moving forward and in
positive directions.
But this one move may be the biggest backward step since the Ollan Cassell
days. To me, it is assanine to create a situation that keeps one of the
sports most popular stars off the world's team. What harm is there in
letting the defending champs automatically on the team? who are the losers
in that scenario. No one that I can think of. No one loses a spot.
Now, with USATF's current policy, the fans, and as a result the sport as a
whole, suffer. We don't get do see a great athlete in one last meet in our
hemisphere. Why? I don't know. And, although not too late, technically,
to reverse this decision, we all know that there is not enough backbone to
change course now.
Too bad for us.
My $0.0000002
Tony
At 03:01 PM 6/26/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Based on crowd reaction in Eugene, by far the most popular track athlete
>in the country, even though he is all but retired, and didn't run
>Nationals, is Michael Johnson.
>
>I fear he's going to take a huge chunk of interest in the sport with him
>when he goes. Not that that was news to me, but track crowds usually
>reserve their biggest applause for current people, no matter how huge the
>former star might be.
>
>gh
Tony Banovich
Billings, Montana
