Michael Granville write a letter to his younger (1:46 HSR record) self

Track Coach you sound like a real D...

Do you know Mike personally? Everyone 's situation is different, don't judge by stereotyping him

inthe know wrote:

Track Coach you sound like a real D...

Do you know Mike personally? Everyone 's situation is different, don't judge by stereotyping him

I don't personally know Mike or his father, albeit I have met them both and had a few brief encounters. You are absolutely correct, every situation is different and need to be judged differently. However, I am doing what we all do on a messageboards, we make comments based on what do know. All I have to go by is what's in Mike's letter and a few brief encounters and perhaps a few things I have heard over the years. Mr. Granville seems ok to me, but I had heard he was a bit of a jerk, really tough on Mike. With that said, I assume everything Mike said in his letter is either absolutely correct or correct from his point of view. I am sure Mr. Granville's point of view would be at least slightly different, but we don't know his story.

I use to be surprised when I hear about professional athletes who reconcile with abusive or absentee fathers. In some cases the fathers where really bad guys, physically abusive to his wife and kids, alcoholics, drug addicts, in and out of prison, etc. Yet, still these professional athletes reconciled with their fathers. What's even more amazing is these professional athletes are successful, rich and didn't need anything from their fathers. Shaquille O’Neal, Todd Marinovich, Charles Barkley, Chad Ochocinco and many-many more. Read their stories. I am not making excuses for Mr. Granville or any bad parent, but when reconciliation is possible, it helps the abused as much as the abuser. And yes, shaming your father online does not help. In fact, slamming his father has become the story more so than his incredible achievement.

I actually met Michael for the first and probably only time on the day of his record run. My high school teammate had qualified for the state meet in the 800m no less and we drove all through the night to go watch him run. When he took off in that race it was like he was from another world. The rest of the field didn't belong on the track with him (and this was the semi-finals of the CA state meet). After the race my friend and I both got him to sign our state meet programs and he made the Olympic rings under his signature (and later Obea More who was the other big star). I probably still have that somewhere. He was a very nice person from our brief interaction. Funny how you can totally idolize someone and not realize that they have their own demons to contend with. Good to know he's doing well.

inthe know wrote:

Track Coach you sound like a real D...

Do you know Mike personally? Everyone 's situation is different, don't judge by stereotyping him

this sounds like a lie told by a white person. white people use the most hyperbolic language when describing black life. almost like they've never been around another normal black person.

You think someone who holds age group records from like 10 years old to 18 had marginal talent?

WestWould wrote:

this sounds like a lie told by a white person. white people use the most hyperbolic language when describing black life. almost like they've never been around another normal black person.

Don't be such a racist pig.

I agree the comment seems off base though, in lieu of any evidence.

Agreed. wrote:

inthe know wrote:

Track Coach you sound like a real D...

Do you know Mike personally? Everyone 's situation is different, don't judge by stereotyping him

If might help if you actual read and try to comprehend what I said as opposed to interjecting your own personal feelings about situation.

Nobody has come within a second since....he DEFINITELY had more than "marginal talent" lol

martalus wrote:

too bad he never improved on that time.

Sure, because having and HSR that has stood for more than 22 years is the sign of a failure.

i can relate wrote:

I had a similar experience. I didn't run at the level of 1:46, but was in the top five in the country in high school in my event. It was engineered solely through fear, physical abuse, and isolation, as well as terrific abuse heaped on my mother, who reacted by engaging in substance abuse and becoming homeless. Like Granville, I obtained an identity in college, and ended up doing well academically, actually reaching heights in that endeavor far greater than track and field. It is an odd thing - running was physically rewarding and I was modestly successful at it - but every other aspect surrounding it was miserable, and so are the memories. I married a woman with absolutely no background or appreciation for athletics - it was a way to get myself entirely away from the athletic world.

Sub 5 ain't for everyone, bro.

I'm seriously at a loss understanding how fear and abuse could lead to great performances. Anytime my kids felt pressure from me they raced horribly, filled with fear that they would let me down. Only when they felt no pressure did they race well.