Steve--
The flaw in Steve's belief coaches are the primary reason why one runner
excels over another is possible but certainly conjectural. There are
other factors, most prominently genetics, that might reduce the coaching
factor to insignificance.
Jon Entine
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 13:22:31 -0400
From: "franno" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: American Sprinting ( was Re: t-and-f: Micheal Johnson)
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: American Sprinting ( was Re: t-and-f: Micheal Johnson)
> I guess Michael Johnson (Baylor) is not good enough for the list
presented. He also must have been unaware of the need to stay away from
those nasty Texas schools. Mr. Thompson must have had the same map.
>
> Maybe Ato shouldn't have attended school in California. John Smith
should
have gotten a coaching job at a less traditional sprinting school -
let's
say Princeton - at least the academics would be good.
>
> Didn't Montgomery and Brian Lewis both attend Norfolk State?
>
> Steve S.
Hey
I said that there are two men sprint coaches of note that I can recall
currently operating in the American College system.
Dan Pfaff and John Smith. I also allowed for the sprinters who attended
American Schools in the mountains.
Tim Montgomery went to Norfolk but did not run the Division 1 circuit,
turning pro very early.
The question you should ask is what has happened the hundreds of top
sprinters emerging annually from the colleges and the high schools. Why
are
they being beat consistently by people who train in Europe and
elsewhere?
Apart from Mo Greene where are the sprinters?
I have not mentioned Brian Lewis in the list of top sprinters. He could
not
make the finals at the World Championships!!!
Michael Johnson is a freak of nature. Something like Secretariat - for
horseracing fans. I do not include Michael Johnson in any survey of
ordinary humans. 19.32 and 43.18.
If his coach is so good, who else has he produced? Every year we hear
about
some wonder Texas kid who has signed for Baylor. How come none of them
make
it to the very top of the sport? We hear about Baylor relay teams etc.
Where are the superstars produced. Why doesn't he use the Michael
Johnson
formula?
FYI, that is exactly why I do not believe that MJ is on drugs. He is a
one
in a lifetime athlete developed by a coach who cannot reproduce the
formula.
Regards
Stephen Francis
--
Jon Entine
RuffRun
6178 Grey Rock Rd.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818) 991-9803 :: [fax] 991-9804
http://www.jonentine.com
