Tyson Gay Running the 100 at the Adidas Grand Prix

My 2 cents:

Do sprinters routinely duck other sprinters? Yes.

Do sprinters make up excuses not to run? Yes.

Do sprinters vastly exaggerate niggles into injuries, for such purposes? Yes.

In a vacuum, should a sprinter always test himself against the best available, should the opportunity present itself? Yes.

In the real world, is this practically possible? No.

Should a sponsored athlete make concessions for their sponsor? Yes, but they should be made with the understanding that the better the athlete performs and the bigger the stage, the better it is for the sponsor.

Does Gay need a race before trials? Yes. There is nothing like an actual race, no matter how good simulations are in practice.

Should he have run at Clermont instead? From a fan's perspective, no--the wind was ridiculous, and there was really no valid competition against which to measure his relative performance. From Gay's personal perspective, maybe yes--there was no travel time, it was his home track. From Adidas' perspective? No. There was no audience, no exposure. Just adding Gay's name to the NYC startlist is huge. If there is a single meet that his sponsor would want him to run this year, it would be NYC. They had better hope that he actually runs, no matter what level his performance.

Will NYC be a good race, psychologically, for Gay? I think so. Even though he won't run against Blake, he will most definitely have some serious competition in his "B" race--he will likely have to run against someone who has gone 10.10 this year, and against someone who has a sub-10.10 PR. Thompson, Phiri, and Bailey D. could be in that heat.

Can he injure by pushing? Yes.

Must he push? Yes, because his will to win every race he runs is overwhelmingly strong, unless he has learned some moderation. I have never seen Gay NOT try to wind it up, other than in the prelims at 2011 nationals.

Is running the B-race a cop-out? No, because there already WAS a B-race on the schedule, therefore the decision was his to make. Don't expect miracles from Gay--the B race is the race he probably SHOULD be in. I would be pleasantly surprised if he went under 10.00, but I do not expect him to do so.

Gay runs the kind of race where his start is rather forgiving on the body--there is neither tremendous impact nor tremensous extension, and therefore he can run a 100m with minimal chances of start-related injury--and there are many, achilles, groin, and abs especially. I expect to see his old start, performed rather smoothly and slowly.

To James: Gay's adjusted sub-9.8 clockings are 9.78, 9.75, 9.85, 9.79, 9.75, 9.79, and 9.84 (the last from Clermont 2011, and bogus). Five 9.7's, averaging 9.77, make him historically a solid "9.7-guy" in my book.

James is correct about Powell folding like a cheap lawn chair, but I don't think it's because he's intimidated--I think it's because he's a flake, maybe actually ambivalent. I don't think he's sufficiently clued-in to what is actually happening to be intimidated. He shuts down no matter if he is in front, tied, or behind, whether it is rainy or dry, no matter if it is warm or cold, if there is wind or not. I think he just flakes out completely.

He will be really dangerous if he clues-in, like he did at 2011 nationals. If not, he might not even make the team.

I don't think this effort by Gay is designed to keep any of the other leaders guessing--it's a rust-buster that will help the race director fill the seats, which should please his sponsor.

So what does this all mean? If he's to show up and run against lesser known opponents, he could still end up injuring himself. Otherwise, are we to believe then that this will be a half-assed effort on his part? Is he going to take it easy and jog to the finish?

I'm a big Tyson Gay fan, but it seems like it's more of a pride and standings thing with fear of injury being the excuse.

Maybe if there were 80,000 fans at every meet, the athletes would do what was in the best interest of the sport. I think they should all do what is best for themselves, it is their career and their paycheck. And in this case if Tyson can make it through NY healthy and then make the team for London, this is in the best interest of the sport. A healthy Tyson Gay at the Olympics is far better for the sport than a Tyson Gay pulling up at New York. I hate when fans sound like fantasy team managers.

Then if using the minor league excuse, he should be paid as a minor leaguer. It is written into MLB contracts that if a player is sent to the minors, his contract is greatly reduced.Since his agent runs the meet, we know that won't happen. This sport loses the respect of the public in so many ways and this is just more evidence.

Mike M wrote:

Other sports do allow this in the context of returning from an injury. This situation could be viewed as comparable to a Baseball all-star playing a few games in the minors when coming off the DL.

Ben Wrong wrote:

What if he runs sub-10?

Because probably he didn't open in 2012 because he wasn't in sub-10 shape.

Tyson Gay will run sub 10.00 as long as the wind gauge is + and it is not raining. If he does not, I am wrong.

This would support my argument posted earlier, how can someone who is naturally a 9.80+ 100m athlete clock sub 10.00 in his 1st race back from major hip/groin surgery.

In addition, he also stated in an interview that he began track workouts sometime in May.

"Gay has not competed since pulling out of the 100 meters semi-final of the U.S. world championships trials in Eugene last June. He later had surgery on the hip and another procedure in March 2012"

So! am I believe that not only has he ran 9.69 in a 100m "on one leg" but he can also clock sub 10 and medal in a Olympic 100m held in August while not competing for a year. Ok! and I was born yesterday.

The real question should be...If Tyson Gay clocks a sub 10.00sec 100m in NYC what does it really mean. Does it mean he is the ultimate competitor or is it another one of his premature fast times that means nothing because we will not see him in the Olympic final.

AND YOU GUYS ALWAYS THROW UP THE RED FLAGS WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD (ESPECIALLY THE JAMAICANS) AND DOPING....

WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN AMERICAN ATHLETES? THEY TAKE US FOR FOOLS! WELL! NOT ME.

I think running the B race is a very good idea. The man just wants to get a feel of where he is at. Pitting him against Yohan will add too much hype to the race and distract him from his goal here.I hope Tyson is healthy come trials. The last thing we want is a doper (Gatlin) being our best sprinter at the Olympics. Tyson when healthy can smoke Yohan. He is the only one IMO who is capable of beating Bolt.

Tyson Gay wrote:

http://www.diamondleague-newyork.com/Live-StartlistsResults/Overview/

Another view wrote:

Then if using the minor league excuse, he should be paid as a minor leaguer.

That's how it works. You don't perform well, you make less money.

Besides, you know why the Pre meet has always had amazing fields every year and, up until it became part of the Diamond League, without paying a single appearance fee? Because every Nike athlete is required to be available for Nike's meet. Same here.

James--

You are absolutely right that nobody runs sub-10 on one leg, let alone an adjusted 9.7x

I never bought that hyperbole. Sure, he may not have been perfect, but he was definitely running on 2 legs.

In this situation, it makes sense for Gay to take appearence money and promote the sport while not pushing it against competition that he is not quite healthy for.

No one likes events similar to Prefontaine 2006 where a healthy Gatilin ran in one heat and a healthy Powell ran in the other.

They both produced very fast times.

They were at the same meet and didnt race each other.

This happens sometimes in Europe as well.

As a fan, I wish he would just get in the A heat and see what happens.

As an athlete...I totally understand Gay in the B heat. T/F is a (very) individual sport and very often an athlete has to do what he thinks is best. Pro/amateur - doesn't really matter.

See what happens?

He would get his a$$ handed to him, that is what would "happen".

Who wants to see that, knowing that he isn't near 100%?

"As a fan", I want to see him run, against appropriate competition--which Blake is not. He might do alright against other guys in the A race, but then again, maybe not. We don't even know how he will fare in the "B" race!

It's a fast year, I expect some of them to give him trouble.

Let's just acknowledge this event for what it is, as far as Gay is concerned: an exhibition, within a competitive context.

The BEST outcome will be that he finishes without injury.

agip wrote:

Pro/amateur - doesn't really matter.

The public disrepect of our sport perfectly summed up by this same attitude.

Sprintgeezer wrote:

James--

You are absolutely right that nobody runs sub-10 on one leg, let alone an adjusted 9.7x

I never bought that hyperbole. Sure, he may not have been perfect, but he was definitely running on 2 legs.

Old-geezer it seems to me that I am agreeing with your assessments more and more each day. This isn't right! We are suppose to disagree on everything...LOL

Believe it or not, I want to see Tyson Gay at 100% in the Olympics but will it happen!!!! Only you can answer that.

Lets be realistic he had additional surgery in March and now I am forced to watch a 2X doping offender medal in the Olympics because Walter Dix is possibly injured.

This is what we will potentially have representing the USA in the 100m at the Olympics and I am expected to be excited.

A lame Tyson Gay

A lame Walter Dix

A 2x doping offender...WOW!

I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN RIGHT NOW....HOORayyyyyyyyy

James--

Don't despair...after all, if one of them doesn't make it, Rodgers might likely go.

Oh, wait...

Plus, just because guys are injured is no reason not to be proud of them, especially if they are giving it everything they have got.

I have always said the guy who will win, all other things being equal, will be the guy who is able to stay healthy enough to train consistently.

The Jamaicans and others are not immune to injury, unless they are doped to the max--remember Johnson's ham tear leading up to the Seoul games, and how it miraculously healed enough for a gigantic WR.

Assuming they are clean this year, there is no telling what will happen between now and London.

The important thing is to get there--there is a long time between trials and London.

Geezer

Speaking of staying injury free...Have you noticed how far away Bolt has kept himself from the 200m?

I have spent sometime trying to conjure up some reasonable explanation for this but I was left with a blank stare.

Please enlighten me!

Thechosenone wrote:

He clearly KNOWS he can beat Blake, but he also knows that he would have to STRAIN to do so.

I have to disagree on this statement. An injured Gay knows he CANNOT beat Blake, whether he strains or not. He'd have to be 100% fit to stand a chance against a guy whose main goal is now to beat Usain Bolt and who has been training to do so with Bolt at his disposal. If my numbers are correct, a healthy Tyson Gay would be soundly beaten by Blake if running the 200m. The 100m with both healthy would be a toss up at this point. We don't even know what Blake is capable of today.

Tyson Gay is an enormously talented individual and well liked by me but there is a "ducking" component to this.

Another view wrote:

agip wrote:

Pro/amateur - doesn't really matter.

The public disrepect of our sport perfectly summed up by this same attitude.

__

One major dispute here seems to be whether as a professional Gay has some responsibility to the fans and to the sport to compete, even in a position of weakness.

In the end, with a few (HS and collegiate) exceptions, runners compete for themselves. Running/swimming are unique this way.

You seem to think that professional runners should run for the money - well, at least in rich countries like the US where everyone has options...money just isn't enough of a motivator.

Gay is a very rich man. He has to find his motivation to train elsewhere - and in the end I believe 95% of his motivation is similar to the 17:00 5k guy lining up next to you this weekend. That's what I mean by pro/amateur - doesn't really matter.

Whaaat? wrote:

So what does this all mean? If he's to show up and run against lesser known opponents, he could still end up injuring himself. Otherwise, are we to believe then that this will be a half-assed effort on his part? Is he going to take it easy and jog to the finish?

I'm a big Tyson Gay fan, but it seems like it's more of a pride and standings thing with fear of injury being the excuse.

I don't think a careful, controlled race equates to "half-assed". Nor does it mean he will "jog" to the finish. This is Gay's first race since a serious injury. Frankly, it would be foolish for Gay to come out guns blazing. It's a rust buster. Nothing more. He must be healthy for the Trials or else this season is in the crapper, just like last year.

In regards to your comment about Gay's potential of injuring himself against lesser competition: Yes, there is potential for injury even in the B section. However, that potential is probably lessened by racing against slower competitors. Anyone who has ever sprinted competitively will attest to the fact that the instinct to win can sometimes override the rational mind. And if Gay were to race in the A section, he will almost certainly be playing catch up against guys like Blake. In a race like that, running your own race in a controlled fashion would be much more difficult. Especially for a fierce competitor like Gay who is accustomed to winning. He knows he would probably push himself a little too hard in an effort to catch up and win. So he's playing it safe by not putting himself in that situation.