So, You Think President Obama Lost The Debate Huh?

I'm not all that political but I do pay enough attention when its election time. For the past few months I have watched both Romney and Obama go over their pros and cons and its been pretty interesting. However after the debate was over I couldn't figure out why republicans were so happy and democrats were so displeased with the current president and he approach. Remember, becoming president is a war and a debate is just a battle. Its very important that people everywhere know, understand and comprehend the difference. I will be honest, most of what I have heard as been on TV and I know that TV can lie...but I think I do a pretty good job of filtering the bull crap most of the time. But what bothers me is the social media folks that get online claiming president Obama should have taken it to Romney and are getting tired of him NOT being aggressive and showing little emotion. Really? 

So you want president Obama to act a certain way because Romney has left the door open for him to do so? However, some of you same people voted for president Obama 4 years ago because he was so cool and able to get his point across without having to be aggressive. Here is a fact...In 4 years I haven't seen him change once. He is about what he says and shows. He believes he can get the job done without having to argue, fuss, raise his voice or get nasty with people. (Something I as well as alot of you still have not yet been able to do) 

I personally don't like everything about him but is Romney better for the country as a whole? I have been around the world a few times learning aggression is not liked in many places and usually turning people off while being taken very serious. So, don't be upset at our president for NOT going in on Romney...be happy he understands fully the dos and donts not only in this country but around the world. Remember, he is trying to clean up the mess Bush left and trust me, Bush made alot of people hate the US. Obama is liked more and easier to deal with. No one likes a bully so don't put one in the white house...

2012 Olympic Trials Predictions

Well here I go again. 2012 predictions for what I believe may or may not happen at Olympic trials. Let me just get right to it...(FYI - These are not in order of place)

100M
Men - Dix, Gatlin, Gay
Simply put, Gatlin is on a mission and I will never forget the look on Dix face when he saw Blake run 19.26. I am also hoping that Gay is ready to run better than what we saw in NYC. If he isnt, plug in Rodgers or maybe even a college kid for that 3rd spot. (Note to 2012 relay coaches...If you lead off Gay to Gatlin to Dix with good handoffs, I could run that anchor leg and not get caught)

Women - Duncan, Felix, Jeter
Allyson is going to win I believe. If you think she just running the 100m to make the 4x100 relay, you must not be paying attention. When is the last time she did that? NEVER! She in this race for a reason. Remember who her coach is by the way. Jeter should be ready as always and Duncan has looked good throughout her college season. Keep an eye on the long jumper (Tianna) who just ran her first sub11. If she didnt peak too early, she may grab a top 3 spot.) (Relay...Duncan, Felix, Knight, Jeter with good hand offs would say goodbye to the world record)

200M
Men - Dix, Spearmon, Mitchell
If Gay doesnt make the team in the 100m then he runs this and makes the team. Only person I see coming back to double that gets a spot is Dix. It will be a two man race with Dix and Spearmon. 3rd place is wide open I believe. Mitchell has made some noise in college and looked good at NCAA's.

Women - Felix, Knight, Duncan
Not sure if Jeter plans to double if she makes the team in the 100m but if she does then she makes team and not Duncan. Allyson runs away with this race. If Knight focuses on the 200m and not the 100m she takes a spot. 200m is her better race. I think she still a bit upset after just missing a spot on the world team last year.

400M
Men - Merritt, McQuay, Wariner
I initially didnt have Wariner getting top 3. However as I looked at the list and there isnt much experience in this field. Merritt will win this. He looks prime and ready. Coach Holloway always has his kids ready to run when it counts so McQuay will grab a spot. Wariner gets the 3rd spot if he ready to run at least 44.6 but if not a college youngster gets a spot. (Better grab Angelo for that 4x400...you going to need him)

Women - Richards-Ross, McCorory, Trotter
Keep an eye on McCorory! I been saying that for years. Remember this is the same female that had no problem walking down Allyson Felix at Penn relays last year. She also just laid hands on the entire field in NYC running 50.06. She ready! Richards-Ross better be in top form as she has been all year. If she is not she getting 2nd. Yup, I said it! Trotter I am picking to get 3rd because no one else is looking good enough to challenge the other two. Hastings is up and down and Dunn hasnt "Dunn" anything lately. 3rd place could be wide open. Whoever makes the final that can still put down a 50. anything gets 3rd. (McCorory, Felix, Demus, Richards-Ross in that order wins and challenges WR)

110H
Men - Merritt, Oliver, Richardson
Thought this would be hard but...naw it was pretty easy. I went with the people that have looked good and have medals. Faulk, Wilson and Ash all look good right now but its going to be a fast race and if you cant run 13.0 you aint making it in this event.

100H
Women - Wells, Castlin, Crawford
The only hurdler in the Kersey camp that doesnt have a medal of some sort is Crawford. I think its time she makes another team and gets a shot at winning a medal. Wells & Castlin have been running pretty good this outdoor season. I am sure Wells is remembering 2008 and I am sure that Castlin is remembering indoor worlds. They have something to prove.

400H
Men - Taylor, Jackson, Tinsley
Until Angelo shows me that he "CANT" make a team then he is going to make the team, point blank!    Bershawn has run quite a bit sub 49 this year and Tinsley is over due to make a team and has knocked on the sub 48 door a few times. 3rd place doesnt look to be a sure thing but I am picking him to make the team. Anderson I want to pick but he hasnt done much this season like I thought he would. Dutch may sneak up in there like he did 4 years ago. Where in the world in Kerron Clement? Its hard to show up and run fast if you havent all year. There may be a surprise in this race.

Women - Demus, Brown, Williams
Demus finally got her race together last year and won Gold. If she is healthy she should win this race. Brown is a female that I believe has the talent to do way bigger things in this event. Dont think she is close to her true potential just yet. She makes this team though. Williams is on a mission to return to form from giving birth and all season she has got better and better. Cant count out a former national champ.

**As always, if your name isnt up here, you are welcome to prove me wrong. Please do, I encourage it! Good luck to all**

The blatant Baltimore Sun slap in the face

So I sent an email, got one back and then sent a reply. Take a read and see if I shouldnt be even more pissed...

Hello...Baltimore Sun! Remember Me?

So in reading the Baltimore Sun, it appears to me that they have a group of individuals working for them that believe there are 175 other Maryland affiliated athletes that have achieved more athletic success than I have? Appalled and disrespected I am to the utmost.

I dont think I need to run down my athletic achievements, but for those that may have forgotten, let me remind some of you of some things you do know and some you may not know...

As a freshman in high school, I took 4th place at states in the 400m
Sophomore year I was .4 seconds away from winning the 400m and took 2nd to a teammate. Ran on the 2nd place finishing 4x100 team at Penn Relays  (which was 1st american team) and 3rd place 4x400 team
My junior year my relay team once again made the Penn Relay finals and was first american team (so that's two Penn watches I had won)
At states, I won the 400m, won the TJ (which is still the 5th best jump in state history) anchored the winning 4x400 relay and took 3rd in the 200m. I was also Gatorade T&F athlete of the year by the way...
Senior year I took 2nd in both the 200m and 400m at states. Had PR's of 20.8 & 46.6. Ranked 3rd best 400m runner in the country by T&F News. Gatorade T&F athlete of the years again! All-Metro athlete of the year indoor and outdoor as well.

...and that was just high school

In college at Hampton University...

I set the school record, which still stands in the triple jump indoor as well as breaking the conference record for most points indoor and outdoor which also still stands today. I competed in 5 events indoor and 6 events outdoor and placed top 3 in every event I did. I was named conference athlete of the meet indoor and outdoor in 1999
Not once but twice I went to the NCAA nationals and was an all-american both times (1998, 1999)
Won Penn relays (1999) So thats 3 Penn Relays watches I won.
Ranked in the USA top 10 (1999)
FYI - I also ran cross country and had a mile PR of 4:51 & 8K PR of 28:50

Well, now lets get to the good stuff, shall we?

As a professional this is what I did...

3 USA national championships (2002, 2004, 2007)
8 times placed top 3 at the USA national championships
2 time Olympic team member and finalist (2000, 2004)
World championship silver medalist (2005)
World Cup champions (2002)
USA indoor runner-up at 400m (2004)
Ranked top 10 in the USA 8 times of the 10 years I competed
Ranked top 8 in the world 7 times of the 10 years I competed
13th fastest all time in the world at 400 hurdles ...Let me type that again...ALL TIME  IN THE WORLD!
Anyone know how fast 48.50 is in the 400 hurdles...Well I ran faster than that 36 times in my career

So, just why in the flim flam frick did I NOT make this list?

Take Your Mark....Get Set.... Can You Hear Me Now?

Mistakes happen in T&F all the time, especially when it comes to starts. People get nervous, antsy and before you know it, someone just messed up. Some mistakes are understandable and some make you go "What in the hell?!" As I sat and watched the World Championships yesterday the first race that I was able to see was the women's 60 hurdles. I saw Kristi Castlin start but then she stopped, became very irate and it was clear that she believed there had been a false start. However she was the only person who didn't clear a single hurdle. I instantly wondered, what happen?

After I found out that some of the athletes had been complaining about the sound of the gun and that there was a computer gun sound being used, I felt sorry for Castlin and others so there went the understanding part. However not too long after that came the "What in the hell?!" I personally thought she, like many others could have and should have prepared a little better to prevent this. I have made a national team or two in my time and I do remember that there have been practices a day or two before competition started where you can go to the track to take starts with whatever gun sound that was being used. I also remembered that I was never the first race of the day so I had a chance to hear what the gun sounded like. That gave me a chance to distinctly differentiate anything else going on around me and the sound of the gun that I would have to react to. If only the IAAF would just stick to what works there wouldnt be any issues! Just have a person holding a starters pistol stand by the start line, let them say the commands and pull the trigger. Too much like right huh?

So in saying all that, here is what I think about this...If athletes have the necessary resources and opportunities that I just talked about and the athletes did used them, I blame the athlete for false starting. You had what you needed, used it and still made a mistake? Yeah that's on you. If they did have those things and the athlete didn't use them or didn't know about them...I blame the athlete and coaching staff. Those national team coaches are suppose to know and inform the athletes of everything they need to perform at their best. If the coaches did and the athlete chose not to, the coaches should have explained why it is needed and made them. SIDE NOTE: USA National teams need to stop switching up coaches every year. Find some of the best coaches that get it done and stick with them until there is a need to switch. Finally if they didn't have resources and opportunity...Well then check off another box for the IAAF for assisting in more stupid decisions that will NOT help the athletes perform their best in the sport.

Who's to blame for this? I dont know...