In a message dated Wed, 20 Dec 2000 12:15:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Dgs1170 writes:
<< A how much credibility does the USATF Jesse Owens award still have? IAAF,
USOC lists that woman with the 5 Olympic medals as their woman of the year,
but not her federation. A definite miscue, in my opinion. >>
As one who has conducted no end of votings through the years, I can tell you
that problem is almost certainly having enfranchised too many people who
aren't equipped to vote. The broader a net you cast, the more you find people
who vote with their hearts instead of their heads.
There are probably those who went against Marion because of her husband's
situation, but my guess is that if you surveyed the people who voted you'd
get all kinds of "well, she's already won a bunch of times" or "It's time for
someone new" kind of thinking.
I believe the Sullivan Award still has a no-repeat clause, and the Owens
Award did too in its early days, but heavy lobbying by Bert Nelson was
instrumental in getting that proviso overturned.
gh
