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recently been watchin how the Jamaican media been all over Bolt.. flagging him just cause.. reminds me of just how much we have mastered the habit of Shallowminded Bandwaggonism..
This letter is timely..
"Give Usain a break
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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Dear Editor,
In the aftermath of Usain Bolt’s 100-metre loss to America’s Tyson Gay, various pieces published in both major newspapers have issued veiled and not-so-veiled reprimands. One wondered if Usain is being praised too much. It has also been suggested that Bolt does not take the sport seriously enough or respect the fans as much as he should, and this might have been responsible for him placing second in Stockholm.
Usain Bolt
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I remember in the aftermath of his world records – 375 and later 501 runs – then 24-year-old Brian Lara appeared on the BBC and reminded his many adoring fans around the world that he was human and there were times he might fail, but it would not be for lack of passion or zeal on his part.
Lara’s pleas for understanding were ignored, so much so that around 1996/1997 he was compelled to take a sabbatical from cricket and take himself away from the publicity, expectation and immense criticism heaped on him whenever he did not meet expectations thrust upon him by lovers of the sport and his selfstyled fans.
So ignored were Lara's pleas for Caribbean and diaspora people to be reasonable that to this day apologists for the absence of forward thinking in the sport seek to blame him for the dismal state of West Indies cricket. Pity the day Jamaica runs dry on sprinting talent that the apologists might be minded to say, “You know it started with Usain's laissez-faire approach.”
According to Lara, he understood that he belonged to the people of the Caribbean and the diaspora and their expectation of him would be absolute, but it was something he would steel himself to cope with. This is perhaps why he performed his best under pressure, and when it mattered the most, as it is with Usain Bolt.
Cynics, including cartoonists who have levelled the “party-holic” jibe at Usain Bolt, should be reminded that many of Lara's hundreds are said to have come after a late night at the club. Similarly, Usain's world records and championship runs have come after much skylarking before the starters’ guns. Yet now that he has lost one race, some seek to criticise the champion’s habits. Give the fellow a break!
I am by no means suggesting that below-par performance should be embraced, but by developing a “win-all-the-time”, “break a record every race” and “make a meal of every mistake” attitude and expectation of the fastest man on earth, let us not drive the champion sprinter into a vortex where he feels obliged to issue pleas for our understanding of the odd times when he might not meet our expectations. Let us not alienate and destroy the jewel of world athletics upon whose shoulders some have perhaps unfairly made much of their joy dependent."
This letter is timely..
"Give Usain a break
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Bookmark and Share
Dear Editor,
In the aftermath of Usain Bolt’s 100-metre loss to America’s Tyson Gay, various pieces published in both major newspapers have issued veiled and not-so-veiled reprimands. One wondered if Usain is being praised too much. It has also been suggested that Bolt does not take the sport seriously enough or respect the fans as much as he should, and this might have been responsible for him placing second in Stockholm.
Usain Bolt
[Hide Description] Usain Bolt
[Restore Description]
1/1
I remember in the aftermath of his world records – 375 and later 501 runs – then 24-year-old Brian Lara appeared on the BBC and reminded his many adoring fans around the world that he was human and there were times he might fail, but it would not be for lack of passion or zeal on his part.
Lara’s pleas for understanding were ignored, so much so that around 1996/1997 he was compelled to take a sabbatical from cricket and take himself away from the publicity, expectation and immense criticism heaped on him whenever he did not meet expectations thrust upon him by lovers of the sport and his selfstyled fans.
So ignored were Lara's pleas for Caribbean and diaspora people to be reasonable that to this day apologists for the absence of forward thinking in the sport seek to blame him for the dismal state of West Indies cricket. Pity the day Jamaica runs dry on sprinting talent that the apologists might be minded to say, “You know it started with Usain's laissez-faire approach.”
According to Lara, he understood that he belonged to the people of the Caribbean and the diaspora and their expectation of him would be absolute, but it was something he would steel himself to cope with. This is perhaps why he performed his best under pressure, and when it mattered the most, as it is with Usain Bolt.
Cynics, including cartoonists who have levelled the “party-holic” jibe at Usain Bolt, should be reminded that many of Lara's hundreds are said to have come after a late night at the club. Similarly, Usain's world records and championship runs have come after much skylarking before the starters’ guns. Yet now that he has lost one race, some seek to criticise the champion’s habits. Give the fellow a break!
I am by no means suggesting that below-par performance should be embraced, but by developing a “win-all-the-time”, “break a record every race” and “make a meal of every mistake” attitude and expectation of the fastest man on earth, let us not drive the champion sprinter into a vortex where he feels obliged to issue pleas for our understanding of the odd times when he might not meet our expectations. Let us not alienate and destroy the jewel of world athletics upon whose shoulders some have perhaps unfairly made much of their joy dependent."