whf wrote:
I was a grad assistant with Bowerman in 1971-1972. Bowerman did not order Wottle to delay the wedding, but he did not like the idea, as he thought Wottle would be "distracted". As to the sprint coaching, Bowerman was not handling the sprinters in 1972, and he was incensed (and protested loudly) when ABC Sports blamed the Olympic sprint coach for the missed race. The truth is that the German games committee changed the time of the qualifying races, but did not inform the American team. Bowerman personally coached (among others) Harry Jerome, who was tied for the 100m WR (10.0 ht) while at Oregon, and Jerry Tarr who in 1962 NCAA won both the high & intermediate hurdles, and ran the fastest highs time (13.3 when the WR was 13.2) in the world that year.
I said Us Olympic coache, not sprint coach, in reference to Bowerman.
So why did every other team get the message that heat times were changed,but not the biggest Olympic team with the best sprinters,ehhhh? German/Russian conspiracy, so that Borzov could win?
No not really, Stan Wright, appointed and, supervised by Bowerman, wasn't doing his job, staying updated at the IAAF office daily like the other coaches. Plus, his sprinters were staying up late in the village,playing cards and partying and had to be told to keep the noise down as a courtesy to the other athletes, but nope, that's not cool. So many athletes moved out to stay with friends at local hotels.
A total clusterfvck Olympics by the arrogant Bowerman,may he rest in peace.