HL...USA seeks Jamaica Aid !

[Sir X]

Jamaican leader says Bush seeks help on athletics

• <LI class=publication>Reuters
• , Friday October 3 2008

By Horace Helps
KINGSTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Jamaica's prime minister said on Friday that U.S. President George W. Bush shrugged off his recent request for aid to Jamaica, asking instead how the Caribbean island could help the United States churn out more Olympic champions.
"When I met with U.S. President George W. Bush last week at the United Nations, the first thing that he said to me was 'What a powerful performance by your athletes in Beijing,'" said Bruce Golding.
"When I wanted him to assist Jamaica, he was only interested in asking how Jamaica could assist the U.S. with its athletic program," the prime minister said.
Swelling with pride, Golding spoke at the official start of weeklong celebrations in Jamaica to mark the performance of its athletes, led by flamboyant sprinter Usain Bolt, at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing.
Cheering crowds lined streets across Kingston as all 56 Jamaican athletes who made the trip to Beijing joined in a motorcade celebrating their record haul of 11 medals in the Beijing Games, including six gold.
Bolt shattered the world record each time to capture Olympic gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100 relay. Jamaicans also swept the medals in the women's 100 metres.
Golding praised the athletes responsible for a meteoric rise in fame for Jamaica's sprinters.
"You carried the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the Jamaican people. What you did in Beijing was more than your best," Golding said.
"I don't think that any of you can appreciate the excitement that you brought to the hearts of Jamaicans." (Editing by Tom Brown and Peter Cooney)

[Historian]

Jamaica's prime minister said on Friday that U.S. President George W. Bush shrugged off his recent request for aid to Jamaica, asking instead how the Caribbean island could help the United States churn out more Olympic champions.
"When I met with U.S. President George W. Bush last week at the United Nations, the first thing that he said to me was 'What a powerful performance by your athletes in Beijing,'" said Bruce Golding.
"When I wanted him to assist Jamaica, he was only interested in asking how Jamaica could assist the U.S. with its athletic program," the prime minister said.

Not everything said must be taken literally! "Breaking-the-ice" friendly banter must be taken as merely that!

Watch the USA bounce right back at the next Olympic Games in 2012.

[HL]

Good eye Historian!!

'Breaking the ice' with Friendly banter indeed.

The US has been dominating T&F for years. They need no real help.

[Sensi]

You're right HL, we consider real help to be good coaching and good food. As for the pharmaceutical stuff, that's their domain...more dominance perhaps?

[Historian]

You're right HL, we consider real help to be good coaching and good food. As for the pharmaceutical stuff, that's their domain...more dominance perhaps?

I'm not sure how far back your knowledge of track and field goes. However, without spending too much time on the tremendous assistance that Jamaican senior athletes has gotten over the past several decades from American track and field coaches, let me just refer to stalwarts like Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey, and Deon Hemmings. You will agree, I'm sure, that I have not even begun to scratch the surface by simply mentioning five names!

The fact is that, although Stephen Francis and Glen Mills are today succeeding in Jamaica, the USA has had extremely good coaches since the start of the early twentieth century! Certainly in the pre-MVP days all our senior athletic success stories owe much to the work of coaches in the USA college system. Let's hope that Francis and Mills' work will be repeated elsewhere in Jamaica!

And for now, let's just enjoy our Beijing success and not go overboard.

[Assasin]

"I'm not sure how far back your knowledge of track and field goes. However, without spending too much time on the tremendous assistance that Jamaican senior athletes has gotten over the past several decades from American track and field coaches"

You addressing Bush or Sensi

[Historian]

"I'm not sure how far back your knowledge of track and field goes. However, without spending too much time on the tremendous assistance that Jamaican senior athletes has gotten over the past several decades from American track and field coaches"
You addressing Bush or Sensi

Seriously though, Assasin, I'm a bit disappointed that our Prime Minister made such light comment of the fact that a recent effort at getting economic assistance was turned down by the US President.

I know that the mood is extremely high in Jamaica as we celebrate a true success story, but we do need whatever economic aid that we can get! Also, did the President actually make that comment? I realize that my question here seems as if I'm questioning the integrity of that outstanding British news agency, Reuters. But either (a) the President actually said it, (b) Reuters is lying, (c) the Prime Minister is lying.

[Willi]

Seriously though, Assasin, I'm a bit disappointed that our Prime Minister made such light comment of the fact that a recent effort at getting economic assistance was turned down by the US President.

I know that the mood is extremely high in Jamaica as we celebrate a true success story, but we do need whatever economic aid that we can get! Also, did the President actually make that comment? I realize that my question here seems as if I'm questioning the integrity of that outstanding British news agency, Reuters. But either (a) the President actually said it, (b) Reuters is lying, (c) the Prime Minister is lying.

It was a joke, meant to be taken lightly. Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trIasvzBUyU

another nice two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFmmlAci_E0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZF5bXjm1S8

[Assasin]

thanks Willi

[Assasin]

As I listened, it was interesting that Portia Simpson Miller was absent.

[Historian]

It was a joke, meant to be taken lightly.

Thanks for clarifying this, Willi .

How ironic...no, embarrassing.... that a couple of us (myself included, of course) actually spent time indulging in a serious exchange which turned out to be based on nothing but an Internet prank!