A few thoughts on Usain Bolt and letsrun.com’s supersleuthing.

When I first popped open my computer this afternoon, I saw the results of the 110m and for a moment mistook the name Robles for Blake (must be the B-L?)  and thought that Robert Johnson’s detective work had paid off in a rather short amount of time.  Of course it only took me another moment to realize that I was jumping the gun (get it…?) and that the ruling made on the track still stood. 

I admit that upon first seeing video footage of the 100m, I was a bit hopeful that Johnson was correct and that the decision might somehow be overturned.  The idea of a governing body of track and field being corrected by one of its many super fans excited me, but now a day later several other thoughts concerning what might have come from such a bold change.

Picture it now, some state meet in some random stadium somewhere in the US, kids crouching down into their blocks getting ready to run the race of their life.  And behind them, a crowd of dedicated parents, coaches, fans etc each with a camera phone waiting to confirm that their kid isn’t going to get cheated.  Hyperbole, yes…but not entirely far-fetched.  We have officials for a reason, to make split second decisions based on years of watching track and field from a far different perspective than those of us at home or in the stands.  And while modern video technology can prove very useful, I for one don’t want to see it push its nose any further into track and field.  The last thing we need to adopt at track meets, which are already staggeringly long to begin with, is a review booth.  Regardless of the flinch, Bolt is still the one who reacted and made the violation, conscious or subconscious. 

That being said, many have placed a lot of stock into the block systems that are supposed to detect any movement…but where does one draw the line?  Clearly Blake flinched, but how much force need be applied for it to register?  Where do you draw the line between unavoidable movement, a fly landing on the blocks, and scandalous race changing flinches?

Further if that line can be drawn fairly, can competitors use it to their advantage like some sort of sick head game-perhaps like slaps?

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hands)

 

What do you think?  What place should official/fan review hold in our sport and where do you make the distinction?