Posted on 08/26/2004 8:16:00 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
THENS (Reuters) - The three Americans who made a clean sweep of the Olympic 200 metres medals took a diplomatic stance over the booing and jeering that delayed the start of their race.
Once it finally got underway, Shawn Crawford led home Bernard Williams and 100 metres winner Justin Gatlin in a strange atmosphere in stark contrast to the carnival scenes that preceded the 100 metres final on Sunday.
The 75,000 crowd at the Olympic Stadium booed and chanted
"Kenteris" in frustration at the absence of Greek 2000 Olympic champion Costas Kenteris, who withdrew from the Games after missing a drugs test.
"I think I understood what they (the Greek spectators) were going through," said Crawford.
"We are here at the birthplace of the Olympics and the defending champion is from Greece...and he was not allowed to compete.
"I can understand that they were upset but I don't know why they had to react like this."
Gatlin took a similar stance. "We train our whole lives for the Olympics," he said. "We wish no hardship on any athlete, we understand the Greeks wanted their hometown favourite in the race but we were not going to let it put us off."
Crawford and Gatlin said they had been warned by their coach that the crowd was likely to be hostile and so were prepared for the hold-up.
"I don't think the delay disrupted anyone," said Crawford, who was certainly on his game as he raced to gold in a personal best 19.79 seconds.
"That's part of athletics. You get used to false starts, people raising their hands because of noise. It all tests your capacity as an athlete.
"I really didn't pay any attention to the booing. You've just got to be ready to go off, whatever's happening in the crowd and be really focused once the gun goes off."
Gatlin, who has won many friends with his dignified approach in a era where pointless posturing seems the norm for the 100 metres, said he had not experienced any animosity during his time in Athens.
"We just wanted to show the world we were not here to hit on anybody," he said.
"Every Greek athlete I saw has shown me love, every Greek volunteer has shown me love and I gave love back."
All three athletes were happier talking about the race than what went on before it, revelling in the first U.S. clean sweep in the event since 1984.
"It shows our dominance," said Crawford. "It's a young team and we are carrying on the tradition.
"This is the pinnacle of track and field and it hasn't been done for 20 years."
Gatlin, who said he had felt a little tired after running eight races in a week for the first time in his life, agreed.
"We wanted to sweep the 200, we've talked about it a lot and we've done it," he said.
"I'm not disappointed with the bronze at all. I'm 22 and have two Olympic medals, one of them gold, and I'll maybe get another in the relay."
The US got the last laugh by sweeping the medals of the race, despite false starts due to excessive booing and whistling.
Now I hope they all parade around the track with Old Glory.
What? Terror-loving media-slave Greek dhimmi-mob shows bad manners? Whoduhthunkit?
No go Greeced lightning...
I just saw this on tv and posted about it in another thread. What a bunch of clymers. I loathe the Grees, bunch of poor sport losers. I won't forget the way they kept booing to try and ruin Paul Hamm's routine either. Greece should not be allowed to host another Olympics with this type of behavior.
NBC just showed the race about five or six minutes ago.
The commentators said that many of the Greek fans bought into the crazy rumors going around that the Americans had something to do with their man Kenteris being busted for doping (for a SECOND time). They just can't face facts: Their guy cheats, and the U.S. guys are far superior. Couldn't be happier that those sore losers in the stadium forked out the big bucks for this ticket just to see the U.S. sweep.
and people call Americans rude.....BAH!
After watching several days and nights of Olympic coverage, I come away with one question: Why?
Why did they have the Olympics in Greece? Hopefully, the next host city will appreciate the events, and the athletes who play by the rules.
How many of the fans were actually from Greece and what percentage of them were booing (whistling) Americans?
The majority of the crowd was Greek. They had paid big bucks far in advance because they thought their Greek athlete was going to be in this event. Hahaha, all the money spent to watch the Americans sweep! How sweet it is!!
They were pissed because their man didn't run the race.
They boo'ed every one of the races except for one. 3 were Americans.
I doubt they'd have been boo'ed if Kenteris had of run the race.
Of course, some firmly believe it was an American conspiracy that kept Kenteris out of the race, and that's why they were booing our guys.
Now I have a little tiny taste of what it's like to be a Jew among Arabs.
Well, their boorish behavior did intimidate the gymnastics judges into awarding the gold in the rings to their entry even though it was obvious that the Hungarian deserved it instead of getting silver. When the Muslims decide to take over Greece, I think our military ought to be too busy doing something else, like sorting their socks, to come to their aid.
Once it finally got underway, Shawn Crawford led home Bernard Williams and 100 metres winner Justin Gatlin in a strange atmosphere in stark contrast to the carnival scenes that preceded the 100 metres final on Sunday.
Dear Greeks: "Why don't you put a little ice on that..."
Someone needs to put together a Michael Moorish type documentary depicting the ridiculousness of Europe's lack of hospitality.
Maybe that will get their attention... A documentary that paints them in a bad light...but unlike Moore, it would be factual and in context.
I'm not disputing that this happened at the event, but I think the crowd might have booing the absence of Kenteris, more than anything.
Greek food sucks, by the way. I'd starve there.
Yes, that was my impression as well.
If Kenteris would have been there, there wouldn't have been any jeers. Case closed.
Being a American Greek it was embarasing for me to watch the fans tonight in Athense. Their anger should be toward Kenteris and his failure to test...AGAIN. He failed them, and blaming Americans is getting old.
I would not have been surprised to have seen "IT'S BUSH'S FAULT" signs in the stands.
The Greece I remember as a kid seemed better than that.
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