Why the hell not... Asafa Powell

I thought hard about writing this blog because there is so much to say on the subject. Some of what needs to be said is objective and may sting but logical and some of it is subjective with reasoning. Asafa Powell is a bonafide superstar recognized for his exploits in track and field all around the world, and while some of the criticism leveled at him maybe warranted, he is a national treasure who wears the black, green and gold national colors as a true patriot every time he steps on the track to compete.

As the London Olympics approaches, whether or not Asafa Powell is on that team is entirely up to him and his performance at the Jamaica National Championships, I cannot conceive there are three (3) Jamaican’s who will finish in front of him at the trials, hence I will assume he qualifies for Jamaica's 100 meters men's team. In such a scenario, Powell will enter under the bright lights on the largest stage of them all where history have not been gracious to him, having had two (2) fifth place finishes in the 100 meters (Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008).  

Hardest on him after his heavy Olympic loses were his legion of fans especially his own Jamaican countrymen who at the best of times are extremely temperamental with extraordinarily short memories. If you want to understand the mix bag of supporters this guy carries, just log into facebook or twitter on the days he competes, the pendulum of comments will easily range from a glowing outpour of love and adoration if he wins to venom that borders hate from the very same supporters when he loses. This by the way is not uncommon for other sports superstars in football, basketball, cricket and the like; and therefore should be taken as par for the course.

It strikes me as odd though that after so many years of competing against the best in the world and now owning the all-time record of most sub 10secs 100 meters in history (75), Asafa still show signs of capitulating to pressure when applied by the few sprinters who are gifted enough to be in his class. Let’s face it; Asafa is quite possible the perfect physically gifted sprinter there ever was… Height, build, nimble feet, great start and a super smooth transition to top end speed. Yet when he races the likes of Bolt, Gay and Gatlin the bells go off in his head in the last 30m of the race. I highlight those gentlemen because outside of the two Olympic finals where four persons finished ahead of him (Asafa), none of those persons other than those highlighted has bested him in a 100m since 2005.

What annoys me though is the suggestion by some that Asafa heart isn’t into it and he is only doing it for the money… I don’t think there could be any notion further from the truth than that!!! The substance it takes a human to train as hard as these athletes do and compete on the global stage in full view of millions, isn’t the stuff you do without having heart, passion, substance and a will to be successful. So it seems logical to me that Asafa’s late race quandary is mental and quite possibly may have started with the fear of disappointing his friends, family and well wishers and now matured into an issue of running scared. Either way, it comes down to self-confidence a critical part of the x-factor that can cause well physically prepared individuals to appear normal or even less than ordinary when challenged. Many before me have sighted this notion and might even have suggested to his handlers to seek professional assistance, if it has been done I don’t know, what I do know is the problem still persists.

I will be rooting hard for Powell this summer to defy the odds and be part of what could be Jamaica’s first ever sweep of the men’s 100m medals at any global championship, whether he wins or not is of little importance to me, I would love to see Jamaica stick it hard to the Americans who have dominated the sprints for so long and are struggling with the fact that we are now better and deeper in talent than they ever were.

On the issue of the doing it for the money… all I will say to that is, “why the hell not!!” Superstar athletes have a very finite life span, Asafa is now 29 years of age, facing a throng of younger sprinters both home and abroad and with a rash of injuries over the last few seasons – why the hell not!!. Whether you like him or not, Jamaicans owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude because he energized the resurgence of track and field in Jamaica and restored international respect for a country that was wandering in the wilderness of male sprinting for a inordinately long time, when he produced the first ever world record in the 100 meters by a Jamaican (male or female).

That my friends are more than enough reasons for me to always be a supporter of Asafa’s achievements and by the way, it doesn’t stop me from criticizing him when he loses like today in Doha, Qatar against Justin Gatlin - USA. It may or may not mean anything, but the last time Asafa opened his season with 9.88 was 2005 the same year he broke the world record with 9.77.

A wonder if…. More anon!!!! 

Love & Respect

Follow me on twitter: @maninja2

Find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/white.donovan.16