First, the picture of Bolt with the cheetah is unoriginal. Here is a (better) cheetah picture of Frankie Fredericks (the fastest man you've never heard of) of Namibia, the world record holder in the 200m indoors (19.92).
Second, the whole purpose of the article is a call to action to find new ways to challenge Bolt because seeing him beat Gay and Powell meet after meet is getting old. "Now it's time for a challenge," it says. It also says his victory solidifies his title as the world's fastest man. Hold on here. Usain isn't even the leading Jamaican in the 100m dash this year let alone the world's fastest. Ever heard of Steve Mullings? World leader at 9.89. Also, Bolt's last race before this one was a loss to Tyson Gay. The man needs to earn the title again.
Plus, Bolt barely beat Powell. He had to run him down and it was a pretty exciting race. He only won by .02. Here's the race. Hard to call this a blow out.
With that being said... I do think that being innovative about showcasing track speed is always a good idea. The suggestions about Bolt leaving track to play in the NFL or FIFA, although amusing, are not where they should be going with it. Anyone racing a cheetah is not exciting because no one can mess with a cheetah. But... Shawn Crawford, former Olympic gold medalist, did race a giraffe and a zebra once. Sort of entertaining.
What's funny about this video is that Crawford was actually running sub 10 100m times so he could've messed with the zebra if he ran like he did at meets. 10.86? That's a high school time.
I really think that the way these guys need to go to keep things interesting is to race athletes in different sports. People are much more interested in their favorite sports teams than professional athletics and they're much more likely to show up to an event where Tyson Gay races Shaq than they are for Michael Rogers racing Travis Padgett. It helps promote the sport as well as prove to fans that track speed is a gear of speed that even Chris Johnson can't reach. The races don't have to be head to head either. Handicaps or head starts are just fine, might as well try to be fair.
Here are two videos that sort of show what I'm getting at. This one is Tyson Gay racing Shaq. Gay runs the 60 and Shaq runs the 30. I don't know what Tyson was thinking. There is also some relay I don't get with Chris Johnson and Desean Jackson and Maurice Greene and Dwight Howard. I don't know the distance or the handicap but the idea is there. Race supposed fast guys of other sports against track stars.
This second video is this cool race called the super 60m at the Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden. They take athletes from a bunch of major sports and race them. All I'm asking for is you to let one track star in the heat to embarrass everyone and send them back to their sports crying.
Compare the times from that to the times of the actual 60m.
The dude that won the super 60 wouldve been absolutely worked by the sprinters. Fast is relative. Looked awful fast in his heat, would've looked like he was standing still in the real deal.
That's it for now, big race for me tomorrow. Be back soon to ramble, I'm sure.
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