Kebba wrote:
> You can't base something like the best ever simply on time. Why? becuase
> more often than not the current generation iof athletes are faster than
the
> previous.
>
> When Lewis burst on the scene no-one had run 10.00 at sea-level. He was
the
> first do so. He did it numerous times. He ran under 10.00 at sea-level a
> ridiculous (for then) number of times. The 88 Trials was the first time
> somone had run sub-10 (his two 9.96's) in the same day in prelims. the
list
> goes on. His margin in 84 was the most ever (and he came from behind).
Part
> of the problem with Lewis legacy is how to figure in the Ben Johnson years
> of 85-88. He lost a number one ranking in 87 due to that. And he lost
> Athlete of the Year from T&FN in 87 and 88 probably due to those losses.
We
> also havbe to remember that Carl Lewis really redefined what top-class
100m
> running was about. wheras before if you were running 10.15 or so you were
> great -- he made 10.10 or faster the standard for a top quality race.
>
> without Ben Carl's records would've been the following:
> 10.00 sea level record - 81
> 10.00 =sea level record - 82
> 9.99 sea-level record - 84
> 9.99 =sea level record
> 9.99 =sea level record - 84
> 9.98 sea level record 85
> 9.93 (ties record - WC 87)
> 9.93 (ties record - ZUrich 88)
> 9.92 (breaks record - Oly 88)
> 9.86 (breaks record - WC 91)
>
> the other thing is for Greene to top Lewis (in my mind) he have to match
his
> 83, 87, 91 WC title run. That would mean for Greene 1997-2001-2005. I
> suspect Greene will win in 2001. If he wins in 2005 I'll anoint as the
King.
> :)
>
In your analysis I would have to discount Carl's 87 & 88 "records" as they
were run with Johnson as a "rabbit", thus he may not have run those on his
own .. However I do understand your point .. However, you start off by
saying that these things shouldn't be based on time .. And I agree .. When I
look at Carl's competitive record, his "dominant" years (81 - 84) were down
years in the event .. The 100 was mostly dominated by football types (Gault,
Graddy, Brown, King), an aging Glance, and an injury riddled Sanford ..
While Greene has had to beat some of the fastest and most consistent
sprinters in history (Fredericks, Bailey, Boldon, et al) .. I don't dispute
Lewis' one time dominance of the event, just feel that Greene has had to do
it against a more difficult crop of sprinters compared to Lewis ..
Conway Hill
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
