Philip J Wyckoff wrote:
Excellent post. Felt almost like I was back in Edmonton.
I was sitting two sections toward the pole vault pit while the men's pole
vault was being contested. I'm not so sure that all the competitors shared
your enthusiasm of the Bahaman band. At times, I'm sure that several of the
competitors would have loved to have shoved those tubas someplace best left
unmentioned. Since the band would break out playing for the track races, the
timing for attempts in the pole vault sometimes left me shaking my head, and
a swede in front of me shaking his fist at the band, (as well as a few unkind
words thrown in as well).
The only runway time limit foul was given when one competitor that tried 3
times unsuccessfully to compete his vault, before giving up. During his
entire attempt the band was beating and honking away. Being an American, I'm
only glad that the bronze medalist was lucky enough to escape on most of his
attempts, while the band was not playing. (I did notice, however, that he
did fail on his three final attempts while the band was playing.) ???????
One of the group of Ethiopian crowd was hauled away by security for blowing a
horn the night or two before during the heats of the women's 200. Apparently
the noise was distracting to the starters in the race. It seems like this
should have been enforced for the men's vault as well.
Don't get me wrong, I liked the music, and the idea. I felt that the timing
was a bit off for the field event underway. On the other hand, I felt that
the drums that were used by the Edmonton drum corps was done quite well being
amplified through the main speaker lofted above the middle of the stadium at
a bit more hushed level.
I also remember seeing those around the band dancing and having a great
time. Personally, I'd rather enjoy what I went to Edmonton to watch, track
and field. I had plenty of opportunity to go to Kinsman Park to watch the
bands following the meet.
Even with my difference of opinion, I still enjoyed your post.
Bill Brist
> Most fun: Bahama band! Some fans may have wanted their money back but
> there were many around them having a ball. I was downtown accidentally
> during Caribbean fest and got to walk with the band and the crowd for a
> mile. I lost a few pounds!
>
> Phil Wyckoff
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