This saga reminds me of the Bruce Sterling book "Zeitgeist". Key part in bold.
Here's the synopsis:
It’s 1999, and in the Turkish half of Cyprus, the ever-enterprising Leggy Starlitz has alighted — pausing on his mission to storm the Third World with the G-7 girls, the cheapest, phoniest all-girl rock group ever to wear Wonderbras and spandex.
His market is staring him in the face: millions of teenagers trapped in a world of mullahs and mosques, all ready to blow their pocket change on G-7’s massive merchandising campaign — and to wildly anticipate music the band will never release.
Leggy’s brilliant plan means doing business with some of the world’s most dangerous people. Among these thieves, schemers, and killers, he must act quickly and decisively. Y2K is just around the corner — and the only rule to live by is that the whole scheme stops before the year 2000.
But Leggy’s G-7 Zeitgeist is in serious jeopardy, for in Istanbul his former partners are getting restless — and the G-7 girls are beginning to die....
If sports betting existed for track, I’d bet a large sum of money she will lose. To win at that level you need to experience race feelings. You can’t replicate a race in training. She might run one 800 before the Olympics. No chance she wins. The others will be race ready and sharp. It will be a shock to her system. Also, if she’s nursing injuries, she’s not training full speed.
The Runners World article was interesting. Clearly there is some tension between Mu & Kersee, the way he diplomatically tip toes around disagreements in his training approach & Mu's expectations, but feels the need to disclose this. He could have just said "she's injured and we are taking precautions". We still would not fully believe him, but we now have an idea that, at least prior to this season, there were differences of opinion... It's also becoming increasingly clear that he want's Sydney to run more than just the 400mh & women's 4x400. In a previous interview he suggests the mixed relay as well, here he suggests all 3 relays. I doubt she would ever do that (it is doable though, Klaver did it last season) but it's realistic to expect another one. I can imagine the behind the scenes negotiations will be lively. Why should McLaughlin be on a 4x1? Her 200 run has proven she can mix it with the top Americans, but that isn't the 120m of a leg 2 on a 4x1. And Mu in the 4x4 when she hasn't run an open 400 since forever? I would like to be a fly on the wall during those conversations...
It's starting to feel like Mu is a bit of a hostage to athletics. She doesn't seem to like it at all, she just happens to be great at it. Tough position to be in when your livelihood depends on you doing something you dislike. It does seem like she'd be happier doing something else
Mu and Sydney’s lack of racing makes me illogically upset and dislike them. I literally get more frustrated by the non-racing of two of our stars than something like the Shelburrito incident.
I guess because Shelby raced and that was hilarious to follow, thus providing entertainment in a way. This just makes me seethe
