And the prize for the most misleading headline of the day goes to...
Boldon signs with NFLEssiba Small
guardian.co.tt
Published: 19 Nov 2009
Ato Boldon...NFL speed consultant
Essiba Small
Retired Olympic athlete Ato Boldon has been signed by the Perfect Competition and Test Sports as a speed consultant for its National Football League (NFL) training programme. The New Jersey-based Test Sports Performance and the South Florida-based Perfect Competition Athletic Development, two of America's leading football training facilities, combined to form the Perfect Test Prep programme last September. The Perfect Test trainers roster includes Boldon and former NFL standouts Scott Brunner, Billy Ard, Eric Dorsey and Rod Payne, Skip Fuller and Bill Welle, co-founder of the Cris Carter FAST Programme. Perfect Competition's Sean O'Brien said the addition of Boldon to the programme adds an element that no other programme can match. “Ato’s event preparation as an Olympian directly correlates to preparation for the NFL Combine.
“His experience, and technical knowledge coaching and cover the world’s greatest sprinters will make our players faster than ever.”
Brian Martin, Founder and CEO of Test Sports Club described Boldon as a tremendous mentor for young athletes looking to improve their speed. “We teamed up with (him) because of his obvious world class sprint ability and passionate coaching style.” The 35-year-old Boldon, who now resides in Miami, told the T&T Guardian that he feels honoured to partner with Test and Perfect Competition given the track record of the two companies. “They have been doing this for a long time, and they could have chosen anyone to be their speed guru.” Originally, Boldon said, he was asked to create a plan to work with the T&T men’s relay but that after creating a plan and laying it out comprehensively, it “succumbed to the usual T&T politics.” “I vowed then that would be the end of any major involvement by me in T&T track and field. I decided to create my own niche.” Boldon said he turned his attention to the NFL since it is such a big part of the culture in the US.
“Particularly in South Florida where I live, where so many of the athletes in the NFL are from.” He added that he has partnered with two of the best in the business for preparing athletes for the NFL draft. Boldon’s responsibility is to get the young men, signed to the programme, faster than they were when they came. “This is critical because one of the biggest tests in the NFL Combine is the 40 yard dash, which can make the difference in millions of dollars because it can help determine how early (or late) an athlete is drafted in the NFL draft.” The four-time Olympic medallist is expected to officially start at ProTest on January 4. “I expect that this will be the start of me being the go-to guy in this region of the world for athletes who want to get faster. “It will be a big thrill for me to watch the draft and see someone I worked with fulfil his dream by being drafted, not to mention how exciting for me as an NFL fan anyway to see someone streaking away on a Sunday afternoon with their new speed.