Beijing - Update on the Conflict

[Historian]

Source: http://sportingeagle.com/news/?p=451

Asafa Powell bows to pressure in China

August 6, 2008
Filed under feature

By Marita Scott

TIANJIN, China - Asafa Powell and his MVP clubmates bowed to the pressure of the Jamaican management team by reporting for relay practice on Tuesday.

A small group of MVP athletes, headed by Powell and included Sherone Simpson, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter, missed the first couple relay practice sessions on Sunday and Monday.

However, the Ludlow Watts-led management team, summoned the athletes to an emergency meeting, which yielded success after three days.

“We had a meeting with them and they gave their full commitment,” Watts said while making it clear the group also failed to report the following day.

It was then; Watts said they turned up with a letter singed by Powell, Frater and Fraser saying the relay practice doesn’t fit into their preparation plans.

However, normality returned to the camp when they turned up for practice on Tuesday morning.

“They all turned up for training on Tuesday morning and participated at the required space,” Watts said in a statement.

[Historian]

It was then; Watts said they turned up with a letter singed by Powell, Frater and Fraser saying the relay practice doesn’t fit into their preparation plans.

The question is this, why are they focusing on relay practice now (at this late stage)? Also, why wasn't the JAAA concerned when relays were being run elsewhere and there was no Jamaican team? The USA coaches, for example, were able to watch their Red and Blue teams work together -- both men and women.

Another thing: with at least three MVP guys likely to make the relay team (Frater, Carter and Powell), wouldn't it make sense for their coach to oversee what relay practice there is?

Finally, does the track record of the JAAA give us much confidence?

[Don1]

The question is this, why are they focusing on relay practice now (at this late stage)? Also, why wasn't the JAAA concerned when relays were being run elsewhere and there was no Jamaican team? The USA coaches, for example, were able to watch their Red and Blue teams work together -- both men and women.

Another thing: with at least three MVP guys likely to make the relay team (Frater, Carter and Powell), wouldn't it make sense for their coach to oversee what relay practice there is?

Finally, does the track record of the JAAA give us much confidence?

More questions:

Did Francis make his athletes available for a team relay practice or want them entered in relay events prior to being forced to do so now? Why did he try to subvert even this... late... relay practice?

He was accredited to be part of the Olympic staff... why did he throw it back in Jamaica's face (ie the Ambassador?)

Does Francis have the people skills necessary to work as part of a larger cause or does he have a Napoleon complex or is perhaps bi-polar?

Was it necessary for him to denigrate Jamaica's entire coaching staff? How can he hope to ever work with people when they know he has such a low opinion of them?

Is his immature and petulant behavior to be supported when the nation has so many issues with indiscipline and disrespect for laws and authority? What message does this send to our children?

Has success gone to his head? Is he too big for his britches? Should his relative success enable him to make his own rules?

Why is he the only coach who has such a publicly destructive relationship with the JAAA? Are ALL the other coaches wimps and sycophants genuflecting to an incompetent JAAA?

Who's cause does he see as paramount at this time.. Jamaica's or MVP's?

Jamaica has a great reputation in track. Do you believe this is despite the JAAA or do they deserve at least some credit?



Inquring minds should want to know the answers.

[Mosiah]

Finally, does the track record of the JAAA give us much confidence?

What is Franno's track (and field) record? For all the world records (one!) and victories when it doesn't matter, can it really compare to the JAAA's?!?!?

Give me the JAAA over Franno any day of the week!

[Willi]

Actually 4! 9.77s 3 times and a 9.74s.

Bolt is the first non-MVP WR in the electronic era.

MVP has bolstered Jamaica's track image enourmously. Asafa was injured for the 2005 Lusanne meet, but still the newspapers had a (sports scection) front page, full page spread on the fact that the WRH would be in attendance at the meet as a spectator. Gatlin, then the Oly champ was on page 2!

MVP stand to win medals in the 100/200 for both men and women, 400mh (probable gold), relays and maybe W400m..that is up to 9 medals or so...not too shabby!

BTW, feedback I get from coaches in the system is that Franno has legitimate beefs with elements in the JAAA. This corroborates with tons of venting he did years back. nothing new.

BTW, who did JAAA ever coach? JAAA is an admin body meant to administer and serve in a professional manner!!!!

[Mosiah]

4 from one athlete.

Anyway, not trying to beat Franno into the ground. He is not stupid and has had some "legitimate beefs with...the JAAA", but, again, just like with King, there is a way to handle these things.

Or is there?!? I can fully understand not getting anywhere when the "correct" approach was tried, eventually resulting in the kinds of irresponsible behaviour from people like Franno.

[Gamma]

suh mi seet to willi....despite being an administrative body however they have appointed a head coach and it may be just semantics but in track and field which is by and large an individual sport the idea that for 3 weeks your head coach is someone who may have NEVER coached you before can be disrupting when added to the national pressure and the olympic atmosphere.

[Bricktop]

just like with King, there is a way to handle these things

When you hold the handle you can behave anyway you please

[Islandman]

Not sure if understand your post gamma. Surely you are not saying there should NOT be a head coach, and if there should be one who else but the JAAA should appoint this person?

No head coach is trying to "coach" Olympic athletes on an individual level any more than a All-Manning or All-D'cup coach tries to coach footballers for one game, or an NBA All-star coach attempts to coach his team of stars. It is simply a matter of co-ordinating the team.

As for him being able to get access to his athletes, unless he can give a good reason for initially refusing the accreditation offered him then as far as I am concerned that is/was on him.

[Gamma]

that is exactly what i'm saying...an all star game is all fun and games...this is serious business!!!!

they should have someone who co-ordinates ..... now i see where it is possible that e.g. we could have a coach from the usa who coaches our athlete as well as athletes from another country and that could be ticklish...but for something SERIOUS to throw in a head coach to coach them for a serious competition where they may never have worked with him before.

understand me, it is the JA team is the JAAA's responsibility....but the head coach thing....NAH! another title and different responsibilities.

[Mosiah]

yuh not understanding what i-man saying.

[Islandman]

What you going to call the person who is responsible for deciding on the relay team lineup and who runs which legs? The technical coordinator? What I'm saying is that the head coach isn't trying to coach anybody in two weeks. He/she is just putting together a team.

Its just a title and its not something the JAAA came up with, all Olympic teams have head coaches. The head coaches of the USA track team are college coaches from UCLA and Univ of Texas. The head coach of the USA basketball team, the ultimate team of egomaniacs and prima donnas, is Coach K from Duke. Whats the big deal really?

[Gamma]

manager? is managing him managing the team..... with team sports it is different. t&f is an individual discipline. team sports need a head coach.

[Gamma]

help mi undastan...

[Mosiah]

Islandman is doing as good a job as I could ever hope to do.