Orville TaylorAS A child I went to see my first western at the Odeon Cinema and was impressed by a large gun that looked like a black pepper shaker and fired bullets with great rapidity. My 14-year-old, older brother told me it was known as a 'Gatling gun.'
Research eventually revealed that the Gatling gun, invented by American Richard Gatling in 1862, is belt loaded and noted for speed of firing but is very short on accuracy. Though capable of rapid fire, it is not automatic and has to be 'hand cranked'. Furthermore, it is in the habit of shooting off without being properly aimed.
Justin Gatlin, World Champ-ionship and Olympic Games' 100 metres champion has much in common with the weapon. He shoots off without necessary provocation and aim. He hand-cranks his ego and is off target. Well, I don't know if he is descended from the inventor but the news that is 'Just in' is that, he did not break Asafa Powell's world record. In fact, the only thing that was broken was his heart and that of his coach.
Gatlin's name is appropriately spelled without the 'g' because I used that letter in consternation when he purportedly broke the world 100 metres record held by Powell in Doha, Qatar on May 12.
I watched the race with Spanish commentary and saw a record-equalling flash time of 9.77. A few seconds later it and the times of all runners in the race were adjusted by 1/100th of a second. It did appear odd and that is why I commented on it on radio on Monday. Why the adjustment? Was it that it had to be converted because of the language difference or the exchange rate? After all, we know that the Jamaican dollar is only 1/67th of the value of the American currency. No! Time is universal and does not vary even for a world champion.
LOCALLY-BRED ATHLETES
Qatar, despite sounding like a bad nasal disease, is a rich country with a desire to build a track and field tradition. However, when it comes to locally-bred athletes it is very 'talent-free.' It is no land of wood, water and although approximately the size of 'Jamdown' it is basically a flat, barren desert, layered with loose sand and gravel. Money can buy a lot of things and for several years Qatar had bought the services of one of the most brilliant Jamaican banking minds. So for a while it had 'Hills.'
Among its purchases is Kenyan 3,000 metres steeplechase world record holder Stephen Cherono, who was acquired in 2003 for an undetermined sum, angering his birthplace, Kenya and the Internat-ional Olympic Committee (IOC) in the process. In becoming 'native' Qatari he was required to change his name to Saif Saeed Shaheen. Poor fellow who barely speaks English, his second but official language, can hardly pronounce his own name. Call him 'Triple S'.
Anyway, the point here is that a world record being broken in Doha would do wonders for Qatar's fledgling athletics
programme. Doha is a fast track and is noted for above-average performances. It is not like the pedestrian surface at G.C. Foster College in St. Catherine, Jamaica, where Asafa first strolled to 9.99 while his runner-up did 10.39.
I may be proven wrong, but I bet you that Gatlin will never run 9.77 again on another surface. Powell's only obstacle is himself because he needs to not lose concentration. I know it might be hard to get a Jamaican to become excited or frightened by a man firing blank shots, and even a Gatling gun shouldn't faze him. If he does not fall asleep in the blocks again no one can beat him over the 100 metres.
DEEP-SEATED RIVALRY
Nonetheless, what the saga between Asafa and Gatlin reveals is a deep-seated rivalry between Americans and Jamaicans for sprint hegemony in the Americas. Since the George Rhoden's 400 metres gold medal in 1948 and the Helsinki 4x400 victory, there have been epic battles, some of which were lost in the stewards rooms. For example, in 1952, Herb McKenley, the most versatile sprinter in Olympic history, lost a dubious 100 metres race to American Lindy Remigino. Merlene Ottey suffered a similar inexplicable decision to American Gail Devers in the 1993 World Championships 100 metres. Both clocked 10.82 but Ottey 'placed' second.
It is no secret that there must be something special about Jamaican genes and world-class sprinting. The second-fastest man this year, although beaten by a trotting Asafa Powell in Australia, is Donald Quarrie's half-Nigerian cousin, Olusoji Fasuba. For the past three decades, only Jamaicans and Americans have held the men's 100 metres world record. These include Canadian Donovan Bailey who left here at age 15 and the unfortunately disgraced Ben Johnson, the first man to run below 9.8 seconds.
Unlike the rest of the official statisticians I do not expunge Ben Johnson' records even if it is Thursday. Why? Because it has now been revealed that his arch rival Carl Lewis, who constantly called him a cheat, had himself
tested positive for performance enhancing drugs three times in 1988, when Johnson was caught. Remarkably, Lewis, whose medals were not taken away, is quoted in 2003 as saying, he was one of 'hundreds' of American athletes, who were caught but allowed to escape penalties. Allegations are that 114 positive drug tests were covered up between 1988 and 2000.
Only 19 were caught and
publicly punished.
Nevertheless, I am not suggesting that Gatlin is tainted; after all he has a Jamaican coach and training partner. I am simply saying what you see is not necessarily what you get.
Dr. Orville Taylor is senior
lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
