SOUTH FLORIDA – Anyone contemplating the Usain Bolt victory on Sunday (Aug. 23rd) and believe all we saw was a superb athlete, then we have missed the essence of not only what happened, but also who this young man is.
He had a series of mishaps, injuries, illnesses and other setbacks that would have caused mere mortals to shy away from the spotlight. Add to those situations, the fact that much of the athletics world, yes, even some Americans, had placed on his shoulders the job of becoming the savior of athletics good name. The natural Jamaican versus drug failed American.
So what happens? He goes to China, stumbles in all his lead up races. Gets off to a bad start in the final that was watched by billions of people around the universe, and what does he do? He goes into the realm of his Lion Heart and pulls out a scintillating victory for Jamaica, and some are now saying for the saving of athletics good name and reputation.
But the real lesson out of Usain Bolt’s victory is for Jamaicans. It is for Jamaicans to learn, in the increasingly dog-heart culture, that what really makes a champion, what demands respect across the entire world is what the Rasta Man taught us decades ago. In this case it is Usain Bolt’s Lion Heart.
Photo Credit: Leroy “Dreamy” Riley
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