published for Ed Tracey, who wrote every word
Top Comments appears nightly, as a round-up of the best comments on Daily Kos. Surely you come across comments daily that are perceptive, apropos and ... well, perhaps even humorous. But they are more meaningful if they're well-known ... which is where you come in (especially in diaries/stories receiving little attention).
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Forty-two years ago this month, the 1968 Summer Olympics took place in Mexico City. I was all of twelve years old, but those were the first Summer games I recall .... and there were some memorable performances. I'd like to highlight just a few of its stars:
You may have seen TV sports news feature a "Play of the Week", etc. I think the long jumper Bob Beamon had the "Play of the 20th Century". In track & field, records are broken by 10ths of seconds, centimeters, etc. Except that Bob Beamon's 1968 jump of 8.90 meters (29 ft. 2-1/2 in) in the 1st photo broke the existing record by nearly two feet. He fell down with astonishment (2nd photo) when he learned the news of his distance. Watching on in awe were Ralph Boston (the 1960 Olympic champion from the US) and Lynn Davies (the 1964 Olympic champion from Britain). Ralph Boston tells the story of the Soviet competitor Igor Ter-Ovanesyan - the bronze medalist in 1960 & 1964, and the defending world champion - who walked by and said in very heavily-accented English, "Rallllph, he's making us look like children".
At the time, Beamon did not have a coach, as he had been suspended from the University of Texas-El Paso track team for refusing to compete in a meet against Brigham Young University (for the LDS Church's then-racial policies) - and so Ralph Boston served as an informal coach.
Today at age 64: he deals with numerous charitable & scholarship programs and was recently hired by Chicago State University as an associate athletic director. His memoir The Man Who Could Fly was published in 1999.
It took 23 years for Mike Powell to break his world record in 1991 - but when athletes walk to the starting line for the 2012 Olympics in London: they'll be trying to break a 44 year-old Olympic record.
A different type of champion was the four-time Olympic discus champion Al Oerter - the only athlete (besides Carl Lewis) to win the same event at four consecutive Olympics by triumphing in Mexico City. He was an unexpected gold medalist (as a 20 year-old) in Melbourne, Australia in 1956. The next year he was nearly killed in an automobile crash, and so was a fortunate man just to get to the 1960 games in Rome. And it was a piece of advice from teammate Rink Babka that enabled him to come in first. In 1964, he was suffering from both a neck injury and torn cartilage (and was unable to complete his last attempt) - but his previous throw held up. And it was as an "old man" of 32 in 1968 in which his final triumph happened.
I always had a special interest in him, as he was from my native Long Island, New York and trained as an Olympic athlete while ... working as a computer tech for Grumman Aerospace (in those amateur athletic days).
In his later years, Oerter focused on his modern abstract art as an older man. He also helped to organize Art of the Olympians (photo right) which has collected the work of 14 Games veterans, including Bob Beamon, Cammy Myler, and Shane Gould. The exhibit travelled to New York City and will find a permanent home in a waterfront gallery in Fort Myers, Florida.
Al Oerter died of heart failure in October, 2007 at the age of 71. Last year, the Al Oerter Recreation Center park was opened near the US National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
In a profile entitled "The Revolutionary" - the high-jumper Dick Fosbury is accurately described as having revolutionized his sport.
In 1968, most high-jumpers used a "straddle" technique, which Fosbury did at first as a high school student in Oregon. But he found that method awkward, and began using an outdated "scissors" method. This took some time to master but he started to improve in his junior year in 1963.
He began to modify it to meet his running style - where it eventually morphed into him running up to the bar with his back to it .... and then jumping backwards over it. This would not have been safe to do just a few years earlier, when landing pits at high schools and universities consisted of sand or wood chips (and one had to actively land on their feet or hands-and-feet). But the substitution of foam rubber at the time Fosbury was in high school (graduating in 1965) made landing backwards possible without risking serious neck injuries.
His method was known as the "Fosbury Flop" technique, which drew some quizzical looks (if not downright laughter). But after Dick Fosbury won the gold medal in Mexico City people were not laughing any more. Just four years later in the 1972 Munich Olympics, nearly 70% of the competitors used it. And today, the Fosbury Flop is used by nearly all high-jumpers today.
Dick Fosbury graduated from Oregon State in 1972 with a degree in civil engineering, and is president of an engineering firm in Idaho, as well as the World Olympians Assocation president. Today, he is seeking another change - to limit the number of tries by high jumpers in competition.
Nearly every 1968 Olympics profile features the 200 meters track stars Tommie Smith & John Carlos - and I really have little more to say about them that you have not read elsewhere (except possibly the news this month that Tommie Smith will be auctioning his gold medal).
But it was only a few years ago when I read about the death of the Australian runner Peter Norman at the age of 64 that I realized a fascinating aspect to the Smith-Carlos event that I did not know before.
Peter Norman was the silver medalist in the men's 200 meters race at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and - for a long time - I thought of him as the ultimate photography prop or the answer to the trivia question "Who was that white guy in this famous photo standing next to gold and bronze medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos with their Black Power salute?" ... almost as if Peter Norman just happened to stumble into the photo.
It turns out that he not only supported but was was quite involved in their actions, which they told him about beforehand. Originally both Smith and Carlos were to have worn black gloves - and upon learning that John Carlos had left his behind at the Olympic Village, it was Peter Norman who suggested they share the one remaining pair: which is why Smith is raising his right fist while Carlos raised his left in the first photo below on the left.
In addition, Peter Norman wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge on the podium in support of them - this was the brainchild of the noted sociologist Harry Edwards of Berkeley, whose movement many Africa-Anericans were involved in. It was said by Tommy Smith that while Peter Norman "may not have raised a fist on the podium ... he did lend a hand".
And while the firestorm that awaited Smith & Carlos (after being sent home early) was immense - my father was among those who did not approve - Norman did not escape flak in Australia, either. He was not forced to go home early but was reprimanded by his country's Olympic Committee and - after returning home - went on to explain that he joined their protest in no small part due to his opposition to his own country's White Australia policy, which excluded aboriginal people from the national census.
This proved to be more inflammatory (and to the conservative citizens in Australia in particular) and he was not chosen for the 1972 Olympic team even though he would have been the favorite.
Peter Norman went on after his retirement from running to becoming active in athletics administration for the Australian state of Victoria, Olympic fund-raising and organizing major sporting events. He often suffered from poor health, nearly losing a leg in 1985 after a tendon injury turned to gangrene.
Incredibly, when the 2000 Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia - and he still held the Australian record in the 200 meters - Peter Norman was not invited to attend in any official capacity by the Australian Olympic Committee (not even the 200 meter finals). Instead, he was invited by the U.S. team who flew him to Sydney and he was treated as an American guest. And some guest: sprinter Michael Johnson told Norman, "You are my hero".
Over the years, Peter Norman stayed in touch with Smith and Carlos and visited the US in September, 2005 when a statue of Smith and Carlos was unveiled at San Jose State University in California. And so it should not be a surprise that when Peter Norman died of a heart attack in Melbourne, Australia in October, 2006 ... both Tommy Smith and John Carlos traveled there to be pallbearers at his funeral.
I will conclude with George Foreman only in brief, because he is a larger-than-life figure today. But many may not realize his boxing career was launched winning the heavyweight gold medal in Mexico City. He credits Lyndon Johnson's Job Corps program, which helped troubled kids, with saving him from the hard streets of Houstonis 5th ward.
After winning his gold medal, George Foreman was photographed carrying an American flag around the ring. In an interview with lefty sports journalist Dave Zirin - Foreman insisted that was "spontaneous and had nothing to do with (Carlos and Smith). I always carried a small American flag red white and blue with me so people would know I was from America". When some in his hometown told him they thought he was 'betraying' them: he describes it as painful, but says he would do it again today:
I feel that I had been rescued from the gutter by America. One day I was under the gutter, chased by police, thinking dogs were going to get me. The next day there I am standing on the Olympic platform and you hear the anthem. I was proud. Thanks to the Job Corps, I had a chance. I had three meals a day and a chance. LBJ started this war on poverty from 1964 and that's why I would wave three flags (today).
Now, on to Top Comments:
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From Angie in WA State:
In this diary by the MinistryofTruth about African-American voting enthusiasm: Angie adds a final line to a POSITIVE message that is bumpersticker ready (in a season of nasty) by NYFM ...
We've Changed the Guard Now, we have to Guard the Change VOTE DEMOCRATIC!
From sardonyx:
In indiemcemopants's diary Dan Choi and the new LGBT rights movement, homogenius has some thoughts about the fine line Dan is walking.
WarrenS gives us the best knock-knock joke.
FiredUpInCA comments on current roles in the American economy.
From maybeeso in michigan:
Read the first hand account of the man who was taken out of the Cantor "meeting" and manhandled by police.
From Eryk:
In the front page story that asked, "What would happen if the headstomp wasn't on video?" - he thinks that Kristina40 nails it:
Who is shocked to find Republican family values include men beating on women? I'm certainly not.
From Nurse Kelley:
From a tribute diary by our quilt-maker extraordinaire Sara R to a Kossack gone too soon .... Onomastic has a comment which could be entitled "One Man".
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening .... ....
In the diary by Eclectablog about how the rescue of GM and Chrysler wasn't the failure the GOP claimed it would be: sodalis has a dream ....
I would really like to see the CEO's of GM and Chrysler film a commercial in which they thank the American taxpayers ... broadcast every evening for a week .... specifically thank every senator and congressman who voted ... that American jobs could be saved. ... but I'd probably die of shock if it ever happened.
And lastly ... Top Mojo - (cskendrick/sardonyx-style) excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers and (alas) ... da pooties:
1) I can't believe I am hysterical and mortified... by Richard Cranium — 202
2) Jon Taylor & Free Speech in Virginia s 7th by frisbee — 179
3) Caprio shot himself in the foot by aaraujo — 135
4) He certainly did by moonpal — 126
5) politically tone deaf and bone headed by aaraujo — 115
6) Isn't it amazing... by Flint — 106
7) Republican Thuggery and Ignorance by JekyllnHyde — 106
8) Rachel Maddow was on this like a hawk by DiegoUK — 93
9) Best diary you've written in a while. by Giles Goat Boy — 93
10) It's one thing to be tone deaf... by AuroraDawn — 88
11) you can come home again AK Dems by brasilaaron — 84
12) Just another isolated incident... by The Dead Man — 83
13) This might turn out to be the most... by markthshark — 80
14) If Caprio had listened to consultants by aaraujo — 79
15) Good post. by TomP — 78
16) Funny how they never seem to beat on by Snud — 76
17) Important story. Thanks for the diary. by odonian — 74
18) yet they're against "sharia law." by terrypinder — 74
19) That is exactly right. by The Lone Apple — 73
20) The town police questioned him first because by DWG — 72
21) Don't worry, Tom by tomjones — 72
22) That was good, but this by Lisa Lockwood — 70
23) I was astounded when I heard that by dwahzon — 70
24) frisbee, have you called the ACLU? by Tchrldy — 69
25) Sigh. by boran2 — 68
26) So the teabagger went to beat her up by Shockwave — 66
27) And Chrysler's opening an Illinois plant by droogie6655321 — 66
28) We should never, ever permit prisons to be by rontun — 65
29) Today, I watched a Nevada Reporter/News Person by ANY THING TOO ADD — 63
30) My high school friend in CO is in denial. by Benintn — 60
31) The price of dissing the president by aaraujo — 60
32) See? Keeping GM from bankruptcy was a by tom 47 — 60
33) This is what happens when we allow by blue jersey mom — 60
34) Sue. His. Foxteabagpublican. ASS. nt by Forward is D not R — 60
Top Mojo with No Exclusions, no nothing:
1) Tip Jar by Renzo Gasolini — 605
2) Tip Jar by Michael Moore — 481
3) Tip Jar by aaraujo — 400
4) Tip Jar by greendem — 392
5) Tip Jar by phenry — 380
6) Tip Jar by Free Chicken and Beer — 311
7) Tip Jar by Eclectablog — 296
8) Tip Jar by blackwaterdog — 262
9) Tip Jar by lwisne — 249
10) Tip Jar by lowkell — 235
11) Tip Jar by Scarce — 225
12) Tip Jar by TomP — 225
13) Tip Jar by Drdemocrat — 221
14) I can't believe I am hysterical and mortified... by Richard
Cranium — 202
15) Tip Jar by akmk — 188
16) I don't need your tips, I need your assistance by Seneca Doane — 182
17) Jon Taylor & Free Speech in Virginia s 7th by frisbee — 179
18) Tip Jar by anthonyweiner — 145
19) Tip Jar by Troutfishing — 143
20) Caprio shot himself in the foot by aaraujo — 135
21) He certainly did by moonpal — 126
22) politically tone deaf and bone headed by aaraujo — 115
23) Tip Jar by demandcaring — 111
24) Isn't it amazing... by Flint — 106
25) Tip Jar by Forrest Brown — 106
26) Republican Thuggery and Ignorance by JekyllnHyde — 106
27) Welcome - let us celebrate stumpy's life together by Sara R — 99
28) Tip Jar by weathercoins — 99
29) Rachel Maddow was on this like a hawk by DiegoUK — 93
30) Best diary you've written in a while. by Giles Goat Boy — 93