We find Mr Usain Bolt’s loss to the USA’s Mr Tyson Gay at the IAAF Diamond League DN Galan meet on Friday distressing, not because we think his physical prowess and brilliance as a runner are diminishing, but because we don’t think he took the race seriously enough.
According to the Associated Press report reproduced in Saturday’s edition, Mr Bolt said he was not in the best of shape and that this was an “easy” season for him. According to Mr Bolt, he’ll be in unbeatable top form next year when the World Championships get underway in Daegu, South Korea.
Now, that may be all well and good for him. We wonder, though, how such a comment — had it been made prior to the race — may have impacted on his fans’ decision to spend money to see what was promoted as one of the most anticipated events of this track season. Would every last one of them have paid top dollar to come and see Mr Bolt take it easy? How would the organisers and sponsors have reacted?
Now, that may be all well and good for him. We wonder, though, how such a comment — had it been made prior to the race — may have impacted on his fans’ decision to spend money to see what was promoted as one of the most anticipated events of this track season. Would every last one of them have paid top dollar to come and see Mr Bolt take it easy? How would the organisers and sponsors have reacted?
Let’s face it, it is the fan base which determines who is who in the sporting and entertainment fraternities. There is no such thing as a star without fans. If track and field was not a darling in the hearts of millions worldwide, then even if Mr Bolt and all the other stars whom we so admire could run faster than lightning, they would not enjoy a fraction of the fame and fortune they do now.
This is something that Mr Bolt’s managers would do well to impress upon him, especially if it is the case that he is getting bored. It might be in their best interests to point out that one of the realities of being a superstar is that a huge responsibility is owed to the fans who facilitate said status.
Consequently, even though Mr Bolt may have thought that his need to enjoy himself at the annual holiday party weekend in Negril less than a week before the big race was paramount, somebody who was maybe a little older and a little wiser needed to exhort him to rethink, especially given the injury to his Achilles tendon just weeks prior.
After all, as Mr Bolt pointed out following Friday’s loss, he’s not unbeatable. And the world is full of hungry aspirants who are leaving no stone unturned in the quest to dethrone him. Why make it easy for them?
Mr Gay’s response on beating Mr Bolt is instructive.
“I’m really happy with the win, even though Usain Bolt isn’t in the best of shape… it was important to beat someone important like that for the fans and for the sport,” he said.
The fans, the sport — our point.
Be the first to comment