Christian Taylor just showed up at USAs, and on his first "jump" didn't even do a full run up or make it into the pit. He fouled on purpose as he has a bye from Worlds.
I think it's a joke and shows everything wrong with our sport. I started talking about it with a guy from Florida and he said "If Duke had a bye until the Final Four should they play the games before?"
He said my beef should be with the rule that doesn't require Taylor to give an honest effort at USAs, rather than with Taylor.
I understand the point but I think it shows everything wrong with our sport.
Taylor doesn't give a sh** about USAs, why should fans? Maybe they don't as shown by the crowd. But maybe the sport is all just preseason for Worlds.
But if everything is an exhibition and there isn't any interest in the triple jump, what if it gets dropped from the Diamond League next year? Or does nothing matter except Taylor putting on a show at Worlds? If the show is good at Worlds it will be in DL next year?
***
I think USATF should require an honest effort in the event you get a Wild Card at Worlds. Thoughts?
Christian Taylor shows again he doesn't give a sh** about winning a US title, should he?
Report Thread
-
-
who gives a sh** who gives a fu**?
-
I had similar thoughts watching his interview. Either don't require him to show up or require an honest effort. It was disappointing to see one of our best put no priority on winning a national championship.
-
Another Option wrote:
I had similar thoughts watching his interview. Either don't require him to show up or require an honest effort. It was disappointing to see one of our best put no priority on winning a national championship.
Yup. Absolute waste. Not to mention that he or Nike paid to fly him there, hotel etc. -
As usual, you have it ass backwards, because you know SFA about the event. The sport does not give a s*t about him (or Will Claye and all the rest).
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-diamond-future-taylor/athletics-taylor-fears-for-triple-jump-as-diamond-league-changes-idUSKCN1UE0EF -
Christian Taylor has done more for American track and field than just about anyone in the past 12 years. I don't see a thread here about Gatlin not starting his final. They both have byes. I don't like the very idea of the bye from previous world's, because it diminishes the value of the national championships and often leads to athletes not in their top form at the games (which is not the case for either Gatlin or Taylor this year).
-
Maybe USATF or his sponsor should provide an appropriate pecuniary incentive to win a national title. I bet Taylor would’ve competed if he stood to earn $200k by winning.
-
My initial thought was that it was silly, but what if he pulled a hammy on a single honest triple jump? A bit lame, but probably smart.
-
Gatlin saying he won’t run the final most likely and then peacing out sucks for fans. I don’t like him but its bullshit all the same.
-
Yeah but it's a smart move for them to not risk getting injured
As long as there's no incentive to compete (reward or punishment) then why should they bother?
Completely understandable, and even encouraged (by me) -
Big Boomer Energy for Wejo here
-
No, he shouldn't. I don't either. I'm supposed to pay NBC to watch heats and sit-and-kicks?
IF they had a valuable show to put on, they could broadcast it for free and have advertisers pay for it. Are they trying to ever get there?
The best thing about this is US trials meets are more likely to keep their best athletes out of the championships than anything. The athletes have been tested all season in a huge sample of performances, so there's little doubt who the best are. It's stupid to gamble that on a one-off test. -
They were harassing fans live streaming events. Powers at be refuse to give the fans what they want when it comes to coverage.
-
Kinda like how Letsrun doesn’t give a s*it about NCAA Regionals. To Taylor, and other athletes eyeing global medals, USAs is little more than a prelim.
Granted, I care a lot about the meet. -
It’s not that Taylor doesn’t care. I guarantee he cares otherwise he wouldn’t be competing at all. But he cares more about his family and that means longevity has to take precedence. The TJ has the highest peak impact forces in T&F which means catastrophic injury is always a real concern.
You can’t expect a professional to put their livelihood at risk when the return on investment is atrocious. He’s playing by the rules, which the brojos should know by now are made by a bunch of fools. -
Chilli Boy wrote:
As usual, you have it ass backwards, because you know SFA about the event. The sport does not give a s*t about him (or Will Claye and all the rest).
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-diamond-future-taylor/athletics-taylor-fears-for-triple-jump-as-diamond-league-changes-idUSKCN1UE0EF
This is the correct answer.
Our sports governing body doesn't give a damn about Taylor or any other athlete. Why should he take unnecessary risks when he doesn't have to? The fact that he showed up is more than he owes to the USATF.
Meanwhile, USATF reps are living large on their annual junket accounts, pretending to care about the sport. Yuck. -
First, having met him as a volunteer, he is certainly at least tied as the nicest track athlete I have ever met. Is he dedicated? Yes. Read his tale. Great NYT piece on it. His leg injury made him have to learn to jump off the other leg. Took a lot. And he jumped even farther. He does a LOT for track. Winning a WC is a huge deal and getting a bye is earned, not won by chance. Then the USATF requires he compete. Risk of injury. Bad enough he had to relearn the jump, but he can never go back if injured. The requirement is silly. Yes, I see why they do it. And the national title attracts some, not others. See the stands this week? Weak. He mocked a silly rule. Others did years ago to allow athletes to earn their keep above the table, not under it. I hope they change it. Tempt him maybe, and others like him, but don’t require it. Gatlin, also older athlete, made the wise choice he had to make. Same as why many run least effort they can to make a final and be freshest and healthiest for it. They both did the least they could to make the WC.
-
wejo wrote:
Christian Taylor just showed up at USAs, and on his first "jump" didn't even do a full run up or make it into the pit. He fouled on purpose as he has a bye from Worlds.
Your kind to ay that he didn't even do a full run up. CT had trainers on, basketball shorts and a t shirt. Stepped on the runway like 5' from the take off board and just walked through.
OK fine you have a pass but you juts gave a the figure to the fans and your competitors. CT was complaining a that the TJ might get dropped from the Diamond League - well why should anyone care about the event if you don't. Why should sponsors pump money into the sport when the stars do seem to care about it.
