I'll try to be brief.
Watching the replays after the 100 while still in the booth (off air), I said to my colleagues that is GREAT TV but it's awful sportsmanship. No one prompted me to say anything. Ever. Those who know me know that is not me.
It is my opinion, others may disagree - and that's fine.
This whole "I am the enemy of the Jamaicans now" is a joke. So what, I walk to the Bird's Nest everyday with my Jamaican mother, then go on the air with a mission to dis Jamaica and praise the Yanks? How often before this week you think Trelawny, Jamaica has been "bigged up" on NBC by anyone? What channel are people watching??
Are some of these people watching the same broadcast??? Who else for the past 3 months has spoken more highly of Bolt? Who since the race has praised him more. Oh, that's right, my opinion is only cool if it falls in line with what some individual thinks....NBC hired me because of my opinions. Not because everyone would agree with them.
As regards HSI - I was very vocal against James Carter in the 400h rounds (you know the incident) and the USA 4x100 (3/4 HSI) and I have no complaints with anything he does before or after (and he is GREAT at that) but not during. I don't expect everyone to get that but track athletes know - you respect the event. Always. After, you are free to do whatever within taste limits...
No one who has written me (again a small minority, less than 20 emails, as opposed to the hundreds of very positive Jamaican emails since the games started to call me everything from a house "u know what" to a traitor, can point to anything I did on a track resembling that during a race, anywhere at anytime in my career.
Yesterday when Wallace Spearmon did a "brush my shoulder off" move in his 200m round, I asked that it not make air...it didn't. Where is Wallace from?
I am a big boy and I realize this is the big leagues now. I can take it.
No one who has listened to me go on and on about Bolt's greatness can possibly say now that I suddenly begrduge the young man his win, his success or his glory. That doesn't mean that he is somehow above reproach. I said it because I believed it TO BE SO. Disagree if you do, and then put a full stop after it - but turning it into a conspiracy theory is lunacy.
There are lots of people who are writing me to say they thought it was a bit much, let the 21 year old celebrate as he feels fit. I don't think one opinion is wrong and the other right. People see things from their own perspective.
Stop the Caribbean insecurity. It's 2008. No one is out to "get" anyone, and certainly not me.
Trinis vex I ent big up RT enough, Jamaicans vex because I dissing King Bolt - after spending months praising just about everything he has done - and will do.
Welcome to my life.....
Take the good:
Hello, again!
It was a very good interview, just wish it were longer. Your commentary regarding Usain Bolt was very much on target. Thank God for having someone as talented as yourself representing the Caribbean. I look forward to hearing and seeing more of you on NBC.
Be safe while in Beijing. Hope you have a pleasant trip home upon the conclusion of the Games.
With the bad:
Your comments about Usain Bolt were distasteful. Please learn to raise above Mr. Costas comments and be a professional.....nuff respect youth.
P.S. I do think 19.32 is gone, and will say so!
