I was just about to post this blog when I saw a shocking clip on CBC news. Reality TV icon and former Olympic Gold medalist Bruce Jenner was just involved in a horrific Los Angeles traffic accident. There were seven injuries and one fatality. Jenner walked away unscathed but may have caused the accident. My first instinct was to kill the piece or at least put it on hold.
After some consideration, I decided to continue. This was a plea to return to track and field as an ambassador to a sport under attack. In no way does it constitute a 'piling on' on of Bruce Jenner during
difficult and tragic times................................................................Read on for the blog.
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Thirty years ago this would have been a career ending scandal! Bruce Jenner is rumored to be willing to public with the news that he is in the process of 'transitioning' into a woman. Further rumors hint at his own reality T.V. show about his coming out. We are talking about the 1976 Montreal Olympic Champion in the decathlon. The decathlon is 10 track and field disciplines spread over 2 days using a points per discipline system to determine the winner for the event. The winner is traditionally heralded as
'The World's Greatest Athlete'.
How can such a symbol of male virility want to become a woman? For the past few years Bruce Jenner has been a background character to his wife (now ex wife) and step daughters in a Hollywood reality show called
'Keeping up with the Kardashians'. The show chronicles the misadventures of the mother and daughters in a a world of affluence and over consumption. They are mostly famous for being famous and little else. Bruce Jenner was usually a reluctant, embarrassed, unheard voice of reason in the shadows of the main cast. His past athletic exploits were rarely mentioned.
My views on Bruce Jenner's desire to transition into a woman:
- Is it even a surprise? His multiple plastic surgeries and fashion choices have made that a poorly kept secret.
- Is this even an issue anymore? We live in a more libertarian society in which such choices can be made with less judgement. It's his business - not ours.
- This should not detract from his past Olympian achievements. He won fair and square and that glory should always belong to him (or her).
- Who cares any more? We all have our own problems to deal with!
My issue is this.
We have lost Bruce Jenner to Hollywood. Track and Field needs him more!
One of my favorite sports is under attack. Interest in Track and Field is waning in North America.
Many universities in the U.S.A have cut their track programs due to budget constraints. In Ottawa, Canada when I was a teenager, each high school had large groups outside practicing track and field events. Now such fields either sit empty or host soccer games in the spring. Track and field is in decline.
The International Olympic Committee is trying to keep the Olympics interesting to modern youth.
Traditional sports are in danger of exclusion. Amateur wrestling was in danger of being dropped completely from the Olympic program.Traditional wrestling nations protested enough and bought a temporary reprieve. The Olympic powers feel that to keep youth engaged they must incorporate more modern sports such as skateboarding, world of warfare, or interactive zombie zapping.
Traditional sports are in danger of extinction!
Track and Field is one such sport under attack! Once the marque event of any summer Olympics, Track and Field is now under scrutiny. The Olympic powers want to add new sports but keep the number of Olympic competitors at a manageable limit. That means either:
- Dropping sports from the program. Amateur wrestling is on the bubble.
- Cut events from certain sports.
Track and Field will never be dropped completely. What has been proposed is to eliminate certain events. Racewalks, triple jumps, hammer throws, and even the 10,000 meter run could go the way of VCR's, and TV rabbit ears.
Once dropped from the Olympics, there is a high probability that an event will no longer be considered valid for a world championship consideration.
What we need is a respected ambassador - a spokesperson to fight for the tradition and history of the original competitive endeavors.
Usain Bolt is the current face of Track and Field! Beyond him there are few icons to promote the sport. Elite former stars such as Ben Johnson and Marion Jones succumbed to steroid scandals. Sprint stars of the 1980's and 1990's came off as being too aloof and self serving to promote the sport. Distance running champions are often shy and media wary. Throwers usually toil in obscurity.
Bruce Jenner would be the perfect legend to be a Track and Field Ambassador. He had charisma, media savvy, and practical knowledge of almost every event. Jenner was the first Track and Field personality to stay in the public limelight past his competitive prime. Unfortunately, the Olympic boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics cost him a job as a commentator.
He drifted into other endeavors such as endorsements, infomercials, acting and eventually reality TV. Track and Field's loss was Hollywood's game.
Bruce, Track and Field needs you back!
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Since I wrote this Bruce Jenner was involved in that horrible automobile accident. I would think that there will be legal and liability issues to come as well as much grieving from many parties.
Track and Field will have to wait.
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A discus, some spikes and a washed up former club level track man.
Not enough to save Track and Field from decline.
Bruce - the sport needs you more than Hollywood does! |
Until Next Time,
Keep Fit
Little Bobby Strong
Links
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