Foreign sprinters....

[Avante]

Originally Posted by runningchoc

And now for my third consecutive post as I play catchup in this thread. The whole point made earlier is that foreign sprinters, specifically Jamaicans, are faster because our fastest athletes aren't running track. That point holds true. The best athletes don't have the desire to focus solely on track. They may run track because there is a gap in the spring between seasons, but they don't train as seriously as they could. Then in college, very rarely do you find an elite football or basketball player running track. Workouts extend year round now for those sports. This is in stark contrast to a country like Jamaica where there aren't as many options for other sports to play. The allure of track and field in the USA has dwindled to the point of having only a niche community.

We are have our opinions.

Right now there are tons and tons and tons and tons of high school sprinters. TONS! Every high school in the nation has a few. Those who are elite go on to run at the next level. Those with some serious speed are running track. Those with some size are also playing football.

[runningchoc]

Originally Posted by Avante

Both of them ran track.

And both of them quit because football is a bigger sport with better pay. So they didn't develop like they perhaps could have.

[Avante]

Originally Posted by runningchoc

And both of them quit because football is a bigger sport with better pay. So they didn't develop like they perhaps could have.

I think you are getting off the point, hell yes a ton of tracksters head towards football after college I've mentioned that because I know who they are.

This is about high school kids not running track, getting into other sports.

Getting back to "fame".

California State Meet

+ YouTube Video

Obea Moore was very well known.

Lets see what happens to Ashton Allen

+ YouTube Video

[runningchoc]

Your original post was about foreign sprinters in US universities. Simply put, it's because American sprinters don't have the desire to make a career out of track and field the way they do out of football. The biggest track stars are still nobody compared to the biggest football stars, both in terms of recognition and income.

[runningchoc]

Originally Posted by Avante

I think you are getting off the point, hell yes a ton of tracksters head towards football after college I've mentioned that because I know who they are.

This is about high school kids not running track, getting into other sports.

Getting back to "fame".

California State Meet



Obea Moore was very well known.

Lets see what happens to Ashton Allen

Sure, show two more examples of high level high school championship track meet. Like I said, those small meets have hardly anyone in the stands. On the other hand, football stadiums fill up every Friday night. The real point is that runners have other priorities and football comes before running for the average 18 year old kid.

[reee]

Originally Posted by runningchoc

Your original post was about foreign sprinters in US universities. Simply put, it's because American sprinters don't have the desire to make a career out of track and field the way they do out of football. The biggest track stars are still nobody compared to the biggest football stars, both in terms of recognition and income.

Even the smallest football stars outshine the biggest track stars. A lot of people can name bench players in basketball/football before they can name anyone not on the medal stand.



I do think there has been a surge of athletes doing track now, and sprinting talent pool has been getting bigger. The growth of football also has allowed for sprinters a means to train full year round that, even if not specifically meant to, has improved HS sprinting.


I think female sprinting shows us that our how other sports are dipping into the pool for men. There's no sport besides basketball that provides a "glamorous" life for thick-booty women.

[Avante]

Originally Posted by runningchoc

Your original post was about foreign sprinters in US universities. Simply put, it's because American sprinters don't have the desire to make a career out of track and field the way they do out of football. The biggest track stars are still nobody compared to the biggest football stars, both in terms of recognition and income.

You've never noticed that I'm a huge football fan? Why are you telling me the obvious? Trust me I know all about sprinters in the NFL.

Back before the pro era guys ran in the Olympics then played in the NFL

Ollie Matson
Frank Budd
Ray Norton
Stone Johnson
Bob Hayes
Henry Carr
Jimmy Hines
Tommie Smith
Gerald Tinker
Johnny Jones
Ron Brown
James Jett
Sam Graddy
Michael Bates
Larry Burton

Were all Olympic sprinters who played in the NFL.

In the pro era things are different. But still I can only think of a couple who looked like they could have been great sprinters but choose the NFL instead.

Trindon Holliday
Jacoby Ford

As we know....

John Capel
Leonard Scott
Xavier Carter

....while they played college ball they didn't have NFL talent.

It's not...damn, another one lost to pro football.

[Avante]

Originally Posted by runningchoc

Sure, show two more examples of high level high school championship track meet. Like I said, those small meets have hardly anyone in the stands. On the other hand, football stadiums fill up every Friday night. The real point is that runners have other priorities and football comes before running for the average 18 year old kid.

I think you said only moms and sisters go to these track meets.

Hopefully you don't think I think track & field is on a par with football from a fan interest. I'm saying that yes there are some meets with some interest far beyond sis and ma.

[runningchoc]

Originally Posted by Avante

I think you said only moms and sisters go to these track meets.

Hopefully you don't think I think track & field is on a par with football from a fan interest. I'm saying that yes there are some meets with some interest far beyond sis and ma.

But realistically the general public doesn't watch track and field except on the highest level. So your hypothesis that the fastest kids run for the attention doesn't hold any water since no one is drinking from that cup. Using your theory it is only natural to assume that the fast kids on the block will choose sports that garner attention. Those sports are limited to the big three in the USA. Sorry to break it to you, but track is no where near that group. So when someone fast realizes they can combine their speed with a certain skill, they capitalize. When someone has no other skills (Xavier Carter) they fall back on their pure speed and focus on track. Unfortunately, most of the fastest runners are very good overall athletes, so they never find themselves in that situation.

[Avante]

Originally Posted by runningchoc

But realistically the general public doesn't watch track and field except on the highest level. So your hypothesis that the fastest kids run for the attention doesn't hold any water since no one is drinking from that cup. Using your theory it is only natural to assume that the fast kids on the block will choose sports that garner attention. Those sports are limited to the big three in the USA. Sorry to break it to you, but track is no where near that group. So when someone fast realizes they can combine their speed with a certain skill, they capitalize. When someone has no other skills (Xavier Carter) they fall back on their pure speed and focus on track. Unfortunately, most of the fastest runners are very good overall athletes, so they never find themselves in that situation.

Do you really think these high school kids are looking for national attention? I'm talking about local fame, I assumed that was obvious.

Just south (20miles) of where I'm sitting is a little town named Delano. It's one of those farming towns that dot cenral Cali. Back in the mid 50's the fastest HS sprinter in the nation lived there...Lemon King. I was just a little kid not even into track yet, but I'd heard of Lemon King. He'd make our 56 Olympic team while at Cal. It's that type of fame I'm talking about.

Tommie Smith was known by everyone around here in his high school days, he's from nearby (50miles) Lemoore.

These kids do want to be the sprint king and they do want the praise/rep that comes with it, no not talking ESPN. Local fame is what I'm talking about, those bragging rights.

As a HS footballer I had my name in the paper a few times, one article with a picture. Dug the hell out of it. As a kid you don't need Sportscenter.

Ever seen a big HS 4x1? Edison of Fresno was/is where we see the speed at around here, for years Edison would take on those Sac schools, bay area schools, LA schools at the West Coast Relays. Talk about a real big deal, it was huge. The local speed vs the visiting speed. No event in the three day carnival rivaled the HS 4x1. Yep, bragging rights!

Ok man it's obvious we see this differently, cool with me.

Done~~~~~