This is my third piece today as we give you the big themes prior to Eugene. If you have a suggestion on a column, email me at [email protected]!
Thank God for iced Americanos!
2021 Oregon Twilight, May 7, 2021, photo by Larry Eder
1. The USA Olympic Track & Field Trials may be the cruelest, most honest way to manage the amazing athletic legacy we have in the US.
Face it, 1.4 million kids in high school (14-18), 150,000 in college (18-25), and about 5,000 elite and semi-elite athletes in the highest echelons of our sport.
No farm club-like track & field in any country, anywhere.
2. Each Olympic Trials, new stars arise.
In 1976, it was this engineering nerd, Edwin Moses (sorry Edwin, but you are a nerd and that is why we love you). Each Olympic Trials, new stars come up and entertain us and enthrall us.
3. Each Olympic Trials, great stars falter, some come back, some do not!
Each Olympic Trials is like an Italian Opera. Big moments of emotion, and huge surprises. That is sports. You have to be ready on the day, be in that top 3, or good luck.
4. There is always a huge surprise in the global sports politics world!
The pandemic will keep us guessing in 2021, as Tokyo changes each and every day! We are sure happy that some fans can go to Hayward Field!
5. The Olympic Trials are about the stories.
I will tell you about the backstories, the things that you do not see on TV.
Al Oerter, 4 time Olympic gold in discus, was NEVER the favorite in Trials or Olympics, think about it, and discuss among yourselves.
Sports journalism is like telling stories about Greek gods around the campfire. It is all about the story telling. Hopefully, we will do a good job this time around.
