Usain Bolt: A New Kind of Champion

The focus of many commentators, reporters and other athletes regarding Usain Bolt has been (apart from his speed) his colourful personality. He has shown us all, not a just a new way to finish a race, but a new to start one.

The old school athletics dripped with aggression, intimidation, bravado, over-seriousness and an insular kind of focus that now palls in the face of Usain's joy, mischievous spirit and relaxed inclusive approach. It even seems to have rubbed off on Asafa Powell - and helped!

When the Americans were dominant (and they can still run - don't get me wrong) we looked on as they grimaced intimidatingly in the pre-race warm-up ritual (as demonstrated by Gay's stony display at the IAAF World Championship 100m final). And the finish? Well an American victory meant there was shouting, ripping off of jerseys and showing off of abs and the dominant alpha-dog posturing (mainly among the men) that made us just that much more grudging of their success.

Now Bolt showboats like nobody's business, but one wants to celebrate with him - not grudge him. Mind you, the massive gap between himself and his nearest competitor helps justify his exuberance - but that's the point - we are not intimidated by his approach, just his performance and ability. We are entertained by his approach rather than insulted.

Now more than ever, Ato Bolden's (NBC commentator) and Jacque Rogge's (IOC President) admonition of Bolt's celebration after his record breaking Olympic performance, seem petty, even irrelevant. As it is, some seem to think that NBC is now ignoring Bolt. Sour grapes?

The other side of course, is that Bolt is a sponsor's dream. Indeed, he has all the players in the track and field industry salivating at his marketability and pulling power. He fills stadiums and his personality can, will and has sold products (take note of the Bolt Arms). Whether we like it or not, money talks, and as long as Bolt being Bolt keeps the cash registers ringing, everybody will be happy, except those losing to him, and even then. But one can well imagine sponsors pressing the networks, media houses and governing officials to let Bolt do what he does best for the sake of the bottom line.

There is no doubt that Bolt is more than the best thing that happened to Jamaican athletics - he's the best thing that happened to athletics, period. He is doing for track and field what Michael Jordan did for the American NBA franchise and what Tiger Woods has done for golf. And like all products (and Bolt is fast becoming a brand) there are competitors.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that some shoe brand or country or track club with the resources, is now scouring every corner of the earth to find a six-foot five sprinter. Every Britney Spears needs a Christina Aguilera. Every Coke needs a Pepsi. Every Nike needs a Puma. Will they find Bolt's Federer? Michael Johnson suggested during the IAAF coverage, that another like him wouldn't appear in his (Johnson's) lifetime.

Perhaps we should just sit back and enjoy the show that we have all been privileged to see.

Your Dedications to Jamaica's Athletes

As a Jamaican I am filled with not just a sense of pride - but of self-respect because of how well our athletes have represented our country as a whole, and by extension myself as a citizen thereof, both on and off the track.

Greatness begets greatness. Even if it is merely the hope of greatness that springs from seeing a fellow countryman or woman attain it. But all greatness begins as hope doesn't it? The effect of what we are witnessing through the success of our athletes, and Usain in particular, is continually sending a simple but profound message to every Jamaican: You can do it too.

The power of precedence should never be underestimated. Now that it has been set - now that our potential has been realized we can no longer deny who we are, it has been proven beyond the shadow of doubt far too often. It is not just that we can run fast - it is that we do it with a laugh and a smile, and ask the world to join us - not just watch us. True greatness doesn't monopolize the spotlight, it wants as much company as possible.

Indeed, it is not just that we run with a laugh and a smile - but what that says about how we live when we are at our best.

Nuff said.

If you have any thoughts, dedications, emotions that you want to share in the wake of Jamaica's amazing experience at the IAAF World Championships - please share them whomever and wherever you are.

Is George Bush Really Male? To Verify or Not to Verify

In the wake of 18 year old 800m World Champion, Caster Semenya's gender ambiguity the world has been thrown into turmoil, chaos and calamity.

With her gender verification well underway, the world at large has suddenly realized that there are a vast number of public figures whose gender have not been decisively publicly verified. 'Truly, how can we be sure unless we subject each and every one of them to a battery of tests to make sure we have been idolizing and attracted to the person of the gender appropriate to our orientation', said one concerned man...or woman. Panic-stricken gay men worldwide have voiced horror at the possibility of finding they have been pining after a female Brad Pitt. One young man was seen in a foetal position clutching a photo of Halle Berry, his only words were 'please...please'.

At the centre of this genderific controversy, however, is George W. Bush. Some are theorizing that without concrete proof of gender, Bush may have in fact been the USA's first female president. Indeed his masculinity has not been proven beyond doubt, though there is strong evidence that he may be closely related (at least in terms of chromosomic make up) to a notorious chipmunk with a disturbed past.

Still, the relevant authorities are making the necessary steps to begin the verification process on former president Bush. Former vice president Cheney was reportedly quoted as saying 'George was always kinda like a daughter to me...I should have questioned it'.

The questions and rumours abound as do gender verification advocacy groups that have long been regarded as blockheads - but their blockhead status has yet to be verified depending on the successful lobby of blockhead verification groups. One group in particular, Fictional Characters Decide Who the Heck You Are (FCDWHYA), is demanding the gender verification of Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Spongebob Squarepants and Miss Piggy. Their application is being considered by the US Senate.

Gender verification clinics have reported a sharp rise in clientele made up of mostly persons who are questioning their own gender. Many of said persons also ask to have their bodies searched for any sign of the Mark of the Beast.

August 2009

CAY

Caster Semenya: Mixed a Gender?

The young 800 meter World Champion, Caster Semenya's gender has come into question and is currently being verified by the IAAF. In truth, on seeing her for the first time one can't help but notice just how masculine she is - she is very masculine in appearance. The querying of her gender is quite understandable. (Con't after picture)

BBC1 reporters and commentators repeatedly stressed how embarrassing and inappropriate the investigation was - they repeated it so often one had to wonder if they were really concerned about Semenya's dignity and privacy. The loss of the gold would mean a silver medal for Jenny Meadows, the hard-working Brit who placed third in the 800m final. When asked what other athletes thought about Semenya's gender, Meadow's diplomatic but evasive answer spoke volumes.

Michael Johnson acknowledged the need for the test but said that the IAAF was going about it all wrong. This is true - but so is the media. The extreme attention and copious expressions of sympathy come across as disingenuous - if not downright hypocritical. Would the very public airing of this very private matter, at the time it took place ever have happened if the media wasn't complicit? Instead of singing on the issue, why not downplay it and let the IAAF do its work?

Certainly the IAAF is doing what is has to do - but could it not have been done with even a modicum of discretion?

Johnson also noted that cheating was rife in the past 10 years, but with regards to doping - would the extreme of gender reassignment really be worth a gold medal? And in Semenya's case, it wouldn't have been a convincing reassignment (no disrespect meant). At least one athlete, Stella Walsh, a Polish Olympic medalist in the 1930's, was found to be hermaphroditic decades after her victories (upon her tragic death). That is not something for which she can be blamed. The point is that something as intimate as one's gender can have any number of complications that don't include the intervention of man. Semenya could be one such case - or simply a masculine looking female.

Kudos to Semenya herself who, at just 18, has risen to the top of her field despite almost getting herself and the former 800m world champion disqualified and then running under the fickle microscope of public opinion only to win confidently and convincingly. Good for her.

The results have yet to come out and may take weeks or months. But whatever happens it's too late to be discrete or sensitive about the situation. If there is some wrongdoing involved it might just be more than Semenya who is guilty of it.

Watch the video

Great Has a Number: An Ode to Usain Bolt on a new world record

Great has colour: black, green & gold

It has a name and a number - it is lightening and thunder.

Great has a new name for the old one is old

Because new stories of greatness are about to be told.

Great has a number and now the world knows

The greater the number, the lower it goes.

It has shape and form, swagger and style

And makes minutes look longer - much longer than miles.

If Great has a number, what is the number of Great?

It's one number in three: 9.58