Dreams of diversity coming true

The San Francisco Chronicle ^

[Utah Girl]

America will see a lot of Vonetta Flowers over the next few weeks.

The first African American to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics will be on Letterman and Leno this week, and there's talk of a People magazine cover.

[Utah Girl]

I'm proud these Americans won medals. It is making me a bit queasy to hear these media people say that the SLC Olympic Games were so successful because they were so diverse. Diversity is the end game in everything to them.

[Utah Girl]

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[FreeperinRATcage]

Yup...I feel the same way..I'm proud of these AMERICANS who obviously got their spots because they were the best in the world.

A new rule requires every American sports federation to develop a plan to recruit more minority athletes and administrators to their sport.

I have a MAJOR problem with this. One can see the quotas now.

[Utah Girl]

Well, they wrecked college sports with Title IX, it is now onto other areas.

[Chi-townChief]

Well, we really do need to see more caucasians in the NBA. And maybe put a few white folk on the Harlem Globetrotters also.

[Dawgsquat]

Look at the bright side. The downhill events should have more spills, thus more entertainment value.

[Sangamon Kid]

Flowers was a long jumper who didn't make the cut at the U.S. Olympic trials. When her husband happened to pick up a recruitment flier looking for bobsled athletes, she signed up, and the rest will be told this week on Letterman's show.

I'm glad for her, but really now. How excited can you get over someone with this resume. Wasn't she the "legs" of the operation, not the driver. Seems to me that any number of girls could have filled in and done the same thing. Marion Jones on the other hand...she's got the goods.

[rbmillerjr]

The report states, ""Our goal is to see minority participation double by 2006""

Darn silly me, I thought the goal would be to double the Medal count or something, but as long as we're diverse in doing it, hey 10 medals is fine.

[Mahone]

When do people stop being hyphenated Americans and are truly American? That is when minorities will know they are 'equal'!

[Jolly Rodgers]

The report states, ""Our goal is to see minority participation double by 2006""

Well then, they should plant where the ground is most fertile. They need to hammer the Japanese, Koreans and Chinese to put more Mexicans on their winter Olympic teams!

[FreeperinRATcage]

Actually...the "legs" are pretty important. That initial burst of speed means a lot...and not something any runner can do. Remember...you are pushing a rather heavy object across the ice :)

A 2nd class pusher with a 1st class drive would result in a 2nd class team. That didn't happen.

[Saundra Duffy]

Am I the only one who noticed that when someone was trying to wrap the American flag around her shoulders, she pushed it away - TWICE?!

[Utah Girl]

No, I didn't notice that. But I did notice at Flowers gold medal ceremony that she knew the words to the national anthem, stood with her hand over her heart, and cried.

[Utah Girl]

The legs are what lost Jean Racine her chance for a gold medal. She dumped her brakesperson/pusher a couple of months before the Olympics and got Gia Johnson. Only problem, Gia wrecked her hamstring the Saturday before the bobsled competition. Gia still pushed, but their start times were horrible, which cost Racine a gold...

[hoot2]

"Dreams of diversity coming true..B.S. should be this:I'm proud these Americans won medals "

from her bio;
A native of Birmingham, Flowers is married to Johnny Mack Flowers,
who was a member of the UAB football and track teams. She is the daughter of Jimmie and Barbara Jeffery.
sounds all american to me.

[rbmillerjr]

really, she seemed genuinely touched and crying during the national anthem. Have any pics? She did provide alof of integrity as she was approached by Bobslut Racine to abandon her teammate and push for her when her "girl" pulled a hammy. BTW, so much for Racine's canned story, that it wasnt about friendship, it was about the gold medal for USA,,,,,,,,apparently it was about Racine and Racine only,,,she got her justice I'd say

[rbmillerjr]

see my other response above, Racine trying to pull the fast one and get Flowers - did you hear that , what a B....

[rbmillerjr]

Yeah I'm for diversity in medals: gold, silver, bronze.......may the best American qualify and win.

[Bravu]

"Critics said that with more than 95 percent of the team being white, how were young people of color supposed to find role models to inspire them to Olympic greatness?" I think thats one of the main problems with black youth today, looking for role models in athletes.