21. August 2008 by admin.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt became the first man in 24 years to run to double sprint gold at the Olympics, breaking the world record in the 200 metres on Day 12 at the Beijing Games.

Bolt ran 19.30 seconds into a slight headwind to blow away the field in Wednesday’s final, breaking Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old record.

As promised, Bolt ran full steam through the finish line.

“After I finished running the 100 metre, I was saying, ‘This is possible,’” Bolt told CBC Sports. “If I’m going to break it [anywhere], it’s going to be here because the track is quick.

“I just came out here and just gave it my all, so I’m happy,” he added.

Bolt collapsed on his back after seeing his record time. Later, he danced on the track for the thrilled crowd at Bird’s Nest Stadium.

Defending Olympic champion Shawn Crawford took silver in 19.96 seconds, with Walter Dix earning his second bronze of the Games in 19.98 seconds. Dix, just out of Florida State University, finished third in the 100 final last week.

Crawford and Dix ascended to the podium after a pair of disqualifications.

Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles ran in 19.82 and celebrated an apparent silver-medal win. American Wallace Spearmon thought he had taken third ahead of his countrymen, as well as Zimbabwe’s Brian Dzingai.

Spearmon, the bronze medallist at last year’s worlds, was told while on the track that he was disqualified for stepping outside his Lane 9 line.

Martina didn’t learn until much later that he, too, was disqualifed for the same offence after U.S. track officials filed a protest.

Bolt, on his 22nd birthday, became the first man since U.S. runner Carl Lewis at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to win gold in both the 100 and 200. Bolt can go for another gold as part of Jamaica’s 4×100 relay.

Earlier in Beijing, Bolt ran a world-record 9.69 to earn gold in the 100, even though he let up in the last several metres to celebrate, a move criticized by some track observers.

“Come on … when you’re running, if you see you’re going to win, you’re going to celebrate,” Bolt told CBC Sports. “You’re going to be Olympic champion, you’re just happy. That’s pretty much it.

CBC Sports

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2. June 2008 by admin.

It’s official, Jamaica again owns the 100m world record after Usain Bolt today ran 9.72 seconds to beat compatriot Asafa Powell’s previous world record of 9.74.

He was running at the Reebok grand prix meeting at Icahn Stadium, New York, and beat 100m world champion Tyson Gay of the United States into second with a time of…who cares (9.85).
What makes Bolt’s achievement even more remarkable - coming from an island of just 2.7 million people that has produced so many great sprinters - is that this Bolt, as a 200m runner, is relatively new to this distance.

On top of that, both Bolt and Powell choose to remain and train in Jamaica - not at more ‘high-tech’ facilities in the United States.

Earlier in May Bolt ran 9.76 at the National Stadium in only his third competitive 100m race, astounding the crowd, and watching from the stands he looked comfortable doing it.
My friend next to me, who had himself run 100m at Champs, claimed the time was wrong.
“He can’t be running that fast!”
He just ran faster

Source: First Magazine

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20. January 2008 by admin.

Tim Duncan, multiple MVP winner, finals MVP winner and nba All Star. The Big Fundamentals will go down as one of the best postseason performers of his time. So why is it that I cannot give him the title of best power forward in history?I have discussed this topic in great length over the years and my view has not changed. Tim Duncan has been an excellent player for a very long time but he has never been the best player in the league. That title between 1997-present belongs to Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal and Lebron James. A closer look at Duncan’s stats tells the story.

Karl Malone               Charles Barkley                     Tim Duncan 
Career Statistics        Career Statistics                    Career Statistics
PPG.  25.                     PPG.    22.1                             PPG.    21.7
RPG.  10.10                 RPG.    11.7                             RPG.    11.8
APG.    3.6                  APG.       3.9                            APG.      3.2
BPG.     0.7                  BPG.       0.8                            BPG.      2.4
SPG.     1.4                  SPG.       1.5                             SPG.      0.8

These three great power forwards have almost identical numbers. Malone has more points, Barkley more assist and Duncan more blocks. With numbers so similar across the board, if you agree that the championships put Duncan ahead, then if he did not have the championships, he must be rated below the two greats.

Then, there is the never ending debate over whether Timmy is a forward or center. Does being 7ft, 260lbs qualify you as being a center? They have recently changed him from center to power forward on the 2008 all star ballots. I remember early in Shaq’s career, he was playing along side Tree Rollins, they were both centers. Why is Duncan so different?

One can’t help but wonder if Duncan had to go threw Jordan like Malone and Barkley did. I wonder if he would have the championships. Personally, I don’t think he would. Tim Duncan is a great player but he is not the best power forward to play the game.

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