Tom Hammonds crackin' on a bruthuh

Hedgehog wrote:

"...The probable 4x100 gold celebration is going to make our NBA guys look like models of restraint and decorum.

I hope so.

just nother case of old white men scared of brothas having fun with competition?

where's the kevin littles?

Lewis Johnson called them out as well.

"They ran well, but leave that other stuff at the practice track."

Lewis Johnson is an uncle tom.

Tell it like it is wrote:

Lewis Johnson is an uncle tom.

zatcly.he knows who pays the bills

And for that you have to give him credit. He knows how to keep his job. That doesn't excuse him, though, from selling out. He should make some attempt at educating his white colleagues about the many ways people celebrate an exciting performance.

I for 1 am glad the Crawford got 4th. Serves him right for acting like an a$$. Watch this ni##er will do something stupid like the 4 x 1 team did in 2000 when they win the relay.

What do you want them to do cry and give each other kisses and hugs?

Tell it like it is wrote:

And for that you have to give him credit. He knows how to keep his job. That doesn't excuse him, though, from selling out. He should make some attempt at educating his white colleagues about the many ways people celebrate an exciting performance.

He doesn't need to educate anyone. They were not celebrating, they were showing off and rubbing people's face in the fact that they could pretend to offer the win to each other in an Olympic semi-final. That had nothing to do with race for Gatlin, Crawford or Lewis Johnson, that is until you brought it up. They might not have thought of it this way, but they were mocking the other competitors. That is not an issue of black culture, unless you are saying that only black athletes are capable of showing off like assholes.

That stuff would not have been tolerated at even a dual meet at the schools I went to, but the coaches are probably too afraid of those two to set them straight.

I was glad that it was mostly Crawford that was acting like an American sprinter, and Gatlin was just trying to get into an Olympic final. I also would have been disappointed in Lewis Johnson if he hadn't pointed out the poor behavior.

Also, this isn't behavior that unacceptable for white people, but an OK way for blacks to celebrate a performance as you suggest, that very idea is racist.

An ass is an ass no matter what the color. The only way to keep the USA 4x100 relay team from acting like a-holes is to have the Jamaican team kick their ass or have the USA drop the stick. I'm rooting for either of those two things to happen.

How would you and your longtime training partner celebrate qualifying for the final of an Olympic event right next to each other?

BTW, how do you feel about his kneeling down on the track after winning the final and saying a prayer? Did that piss you off too? Were you pissed off when Crawford went up to him and embraced him after he won? Were you pissed off when Mo Greene congratulated him in post-race interviews? Did it get you goat that he thanked his grandparents?

Go ahead...how did you respond when you qualified for the final of an olympic event next to your training partner? Establish the behavior blueprint.

The actions taken after the final were not mocking the other competitors. Gatlin winning was the best thing that could have happened for the United States. If Crawford or Greene would have won they would have done their planned "look at how arrogant I am" routine and the U.S. would have another reason for people to hate us. I hope that if they win the 4x100 they show some respect to everyone in the race, the stadium, and watching at home.

Crawford got caught up in all the posing and flauting crap during the Games and he paid with his lost focus. He deserved not to medal.

Whatever.

He ran an excellent race -- look at the time, into a headwind.

Sure, he didn't medal, and sure, those who did "deserved" it, but it was obviously one of seven great runs in a great final.

All the little monkeys are good until you throw them a tube of lipstick and a mirror.

Oh, I forgot what kind of board this is.

Thanks for the reminder, Zoo.

What I find interesting is that this relatively mild action, IMHO, led to such hue and cry. Perhaps people are being a little overly sensitive.

It was almost like Tom woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He also said that Mo Greene, even if he won gold, would not be GOAT (I concur; Lewis and Owens were better)

Reread the post and you will see that i took issue with the behavior DURING the semifinal and not after, and NOT DURING the final.

But I will address the questions anyway:

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How would you and your longtime training partner celebrate qualifying for the final of an Olympic event right next to each other?

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I would have given him a big high-five or a hug, I can't think of anything else that would be appropriate. Throwing up the #1 would be wrong, or mounting him like some athletes do is disgusting. Can't think of anything else to do as it would waste precious emotional and physical energy needed for the final.

#2

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BTW, how do you feel about his kneeling down on the track after winning the final and saying a prayer?

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I didn't even notice that he did that, but it would have mattered not at all to me. And it doesn't matter now.

#3

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Did that piss you off too?

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No.

#4

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Were you pissed off when Crawford went up to him and embraced him after he won?

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No, that seems like normal behavior to me.

#5

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Were you pissed off when Mo Greene congratulated him in post-race interviews?

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No. But when did this become about Maurice Greene? He didn't mock the other sprinters in the semifinal he WASN'T IN.

#6

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Did it get you goat that he thanked his grandparents?

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No. That was hours after HE DIDN'T participate in showing how easy it was for Crawford to make the finals that he could slow down and offer the win to his friend (with his hands!). Again, it was Crawford that did this, which the post clearly states, and it was Gatlin that seemed focused on just running and making the final. Check what I wrote.

#7

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Go ahead...how did you respond when you qualified for the final of an olympic event next to your training partner?

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Never happened. But if it had, there is certainly some behavior that is "left on the practice track" like LJ said (whcih started my post). Anything that might mock the other runners would be key among them, also anything that might endanger QUALIFYING for said final, like say, pointing with your hands, looking to the side of you, or slowing in the last 10 meters. All of those things would be inappropriate and risk making me look like a showboating fool who didn't qualify if I failed. Luckily for him (Crawford) he did all these things and still qualified.

#8

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Establish the behavior blueprint.

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I don't believe in one, as I stated over and over. The issued I had with (Crawford's) behavior happened in the last 10-20 meters of the 100m semi. The slowing to offer Gatlin the win in a 100m race risked his whole olympics right there, the turn to the side and the gesturing was offensive to other athletes. Whether they were offended or not, the message was, "We are both so great I can SLOW DOWN in an Olympic Semifinal and allow my friend to win and we can still beat all six of you."

If you find this crap acceptable, would he have done it if he were in sixth in the final 20m? Of course not, it was something he did to bring attention to himself and (unintentionally on his part) Gatlin as well.

If you feel this was OK, then we just have a different view of how to treat others. If you didn't even notice it as possibly offensive, then no amount of writing, explaining, or counseling will help you.