by Stuart WeirSo, here’s a little insight into how my brain works.
First, a digression.
When the late James Dunaway edited American Track & Field, (2002-2013), our conversations, were, well spirited. At least once a week, we had a conversation where, I would say, ” James, I need a walk.” I would walk a few times around the offices at W.D. Hoards, where I was ensconced from 2003 to 2014, in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The walk around the offices was about a quarter of a mile, and there were times, when, James and my conversation, quite spirited, might require four to six laps around the building or, perhaps, a walk over to the coffee shop.
When James would say, “Larry, you are probably going to want to fire me after this one, ” which, again, happened with a weekly frequency, I learned, to not get upset. I learned, after a few apologies to the aforementioned Octegenarian editor, to just listen intently. In those conversations, I would learn much of what I remind myself now about editing, writing, and living life. Dunaway had lived a life with few regrets, and his writing, his love of his son, David, his observations, hard won, about life and love, continue as whispers in my ears.
In my ears right now, between Dunaway’s comments, I am hearing Johnny Cash’s song, Hurt, ” I wear this crown of thorns, full of broken thoughts that I can not repair…” My brain works in stereo. Dunaway in one ear, Johnny Cash in the other…in the Middle Ages, they probably would have bled me to releave the voices from my head.
For some reason, Stuart Weir has similar effects on me. I know that, in his writing vernacular, when he notes, ” You may not like this,” I am not surprised to find the real gems.
What you will read below is such a gem. Two gems in a week. Nice work, Mr. Weir.
From coverage of 2010 Commonwealth Games by the Telegraph.UK (yes, copyright www.Telegraph.uk), title of story was Most Complicated 100 metre final in history. Note on chalkboard says ” 07/10/2010, Womens 100 Mtr. Results are not final as a complaint has been lodged By Team England.”
The 2010 Commonwealth Games women’s 100 metres recalled
Watching the 2018 women’s Commonwealth Games 100 metres final reminded me of what the Daily Telegraph called the most complicated 100 metres final in history. 2010, Delhi, was my first Commonwealth Games and it was a great experience but the women’s 100 certainly sticks in the mind.
Eight girls go to their marks and Laura Turner (England) and Sally Pearson (Australia) appear to false start. Turner is disqualified but not Pearson. The official explanation is that Turner’s reaction time was quicker than Pearson’s. Turner refuses to leave the track and is allowed to compete in the final “under protest”. Pearson finishes first in the re-run and Turner last.
The England sprint coach wants to lodge a protest but England management say that it is up to the officials to call false starts and they will not appeal. Then the England coach bumps into a former international athlete now working as a TV commentator, who tells her the TV evidence is clear: Pearson false-started. Coach goes back to management and they lodge a protest.
In the winner’s press conference Pearson says that she twitched first. The jury decided that Pearson false-started and disqualify her. Oludamola Osayomi of Nigeria is now the winner.
Pearson expressed her disappointment at the decision and especially at the fact she had been told she was in the clear and was allowed to celebrate. “I did my victory lap with the flag. I was walking out to the medal ceremony and then I was called back. That’s not right”. Australia counter-appealed, unsuccessfully.
Four days later Osayomi tested positive for banned substances and she too was disqualified leaving Natasha Mayers of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the third person to win the race. English runner Katherine Endacott was promoted to the silver medal (having originally placed fourth) and Cameroon’s Bertille Atangana, who originally placed fifth now had the bronze. Ironically Osayomi commented after Pearson’s DQ : “I don’t know why they allow people to participate in the competition if they cannot follow the rules.”
The Daily Telegraph added the following, tongue in cheek, comment: “All of which means that only two runners officially finished the final without winning a medal. Since Mayers herself was banned for two years for doping in 2005, Toea Wisil of New Guinea and Tahesia Harrigan of the Virgin Islands must be feeling even more unlucky”.
Having experienced the farce of disqualifications, appeals, re-instatements, counter-appeals, re-disqualifications… at the 2018 World Indoors, one has sympathy for the officials but there has to be a better way of making decisions!
At least the 2018 race was quite uncomplicated.
