'I'm patriotic!'

[Karl]

'I'm patriotic!'
Francis says he loves Ja, but hates JAAA's attitude

KAYON RAYNOR, Senior staff reporter
raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, September 05, 2008



FRANCIS... head coach of MVP track club

STEPHEN Francis, head coach of the MVP Track Club, has refuted claims that he is unpatriotic following his utterances in the lead-up to the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China, last month.

Jamaica secured a record 11 medals at the Games - six gold, two silver and three bronze - with MVP athletes contributing to seven of those.

Melaine Walker won the 400m hurdles in an Olympic record 52.64 seconds; Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.78secs) and Sherone Simpson (10.98secs) took gold and silver in the 100m; Shericka Williams clocked 49.69secs for silver in the 400m and shared in the mile-relay bonze (3:20.40), while Asafa Powell, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter were members of the record-breaking (37.10secs) 4x100m gold medal team.

Francis had been criticised for dragging the country's name in the mud prior to the games, during the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association's (JAAAs) mandatory 11-day camp staged in Tianjin, outside Beijing.

Complete Story ...

[Exile]

The man has some very good points.

[Hortical]

True, he has good points. It raises the question of the experience of the executives of the JAAA. I wonder if they went to the Boxhill school of management.

[Karl]

Good points?

on that relay training!


My God that idea on practising relay changes...and the various possible ways of organising the relay teams is known by each and every half-assed track & field coach in Jamaica. The athletes for the main part know of these things from at least high school level...and Francis wants to tell us that our national coaches never ever knew of these things?

...and to go back to the relay practise sessions -
Was it not Francis who said his athletes did not have the time to practise the drills with any other of our athletes?

Was he not the person who adamantly declared he would command his athletes not to take part in any JAAA planned training activities?

Was it not Francis who suggested the nonsense of his athletes only doing 'walking relay practise changes?

Are those positions either clear sabotage of Jamaica, the JAAA and the athletes...or out and out ignorance of relay running & baton changing?

---------
On his other general comments -
Is he the only one who sees the introduction of greater professionalism in T&F?

Is he the only one who has observed and absorbed what is being done? Clearly he is suggesting that the members of the coaching staff and the officials have not absorbed any of what they have been a part of as they toured the world of track and field.

That piece of PR work by Francis is seemingly sweet stuff...but is in fact pure bulls! Francis works with our country only when it suits him. It would not be a stretch to think his actions over time have shown he cares not one fig for his athletes save and except as they provide rewards for him in adulation and finances.

It is not a stretch to ask if Francis an egomaniac?

I am thinking if he continues his self-centered behaviour the JAAAs may need to stop working with him leaving the Jamaican athletes under his care to decide whether or not they wish to continue to represent their country.

Walking around claiming he only can see, understand and learn...and calling all others incompetent and a bunch of fools is silly? Never in the history of man has all truth resided in any one person. Why would Francis or any other person even entertain the thought that in any area...and particularly in one where innovations and all practises are in the open...there to be seen...he or she alone has the knowledge...and all others are ignorant?

Surely on the few occasions (such as Pan Am, World Championships, Olympics) when it is necessary for our athletes to work for the greater good of Jamacia Francis can find it within self to allow his athletes to concentrate on their work and take up Jamaica's mantle?