green lantern wrote:
For those of you wondering why I am not racing in tomorrow's London Diamond League 800m: I was told by the meet director, Ian Stewart, that I am "a liability" and that I am not allowed to race in any of his meetings. Apparently, he told the same thing to Lolo Jones, one of the most popular athletes in the world of Athletics. People like Mr. Stewart have very antiquated ideas about how the sport of Track and Field should be governed and are holding our sport back. Fortunately, most meet directors do not share his myopic opinions. Therefore, instead of racing at cold, rainy Crystal Palace (London), I will be racing on one of the fastest tracks in one of the most beautiful places in the world on July 20th. MONACO 800m!!!
^Credits to Symmonds FB
Kudos to Nick Symmonds for having the courage to speak up and let this out to the world. It may seem like a small thing, but to OUT this meet director for actually calling Nick and Lolo Jones "liabilities" is like shining a huge flashlight on the low class behavior of Ian Stewart. With some luck the story will get picked up by the London tabloids and Stewart will be rightfully raked over the coals.
It is truly a sad state of an affairs when someone rises up from the ranks of athlete, to then lord their opinions and unfairness over other athletes.
As much as I want to see Elijah Greer improve...by getting more experience...I'd rather see Symmonds in the race.
Stewart, in these actions, appears like a small minded little tyrant.
Hopefully someone with the stomach for a fight, like Phil Hersh will pick on this story. And some of the British tabloids.
I hope Symmonds is able to medal at the game, lending more cache to his name, so that perhaps he can become a leader for an athletics athletes union. Things need to change, the biggest scam after the NCAA is the IAAF and the Olympic Movement, networks of people making serious money off of the athletes. It's like any establishment, they don't want to see change because it threatens their bottom line.
Ian Stewart is a pig, plain and simple. The gall to tell Nick and Lolo they are "liabilities," the man ought to know better the sacrifices these people make to make it in a niche sport with few chances to make a living.