My Little League Son for Sullivan Award

[gandalf]

Re: My Little League Son for Sullivan Award

My GUESS is that the AAU is suddenly taking the word "amateur" in its name very seriously and the real track and field athletes aren't allowed to be nominated because they're all pros. (But they could have found many choices better than the one they came up with)

[Powell]

Re: My Little League Son for Sullivan Award

She is a remarkable athlete FOR SOMEONE HER AGE. If that's enough to get her nominated, why should that not be the case for a kid who is a standout in his age group (be it age-11, age-7 or whatever) ?

[tafnut]

Re: My Little League Son for Sullivan Award

As a masters athlete, I am familiar with her career and it the most decorated in history. I do have a problem with masters athletics in general (we claim our marks are equally as 'worthy' as current internationals, which they clearly are not), and the Sullivan award is a little much, but your insinuation ('nominate my son') is that she is not a remarkable and exceptional athlete, which she clearly is. She deserves your apology.

[incredulous]

I'm starting a campaign to get my son nominated for the Sullivan Award. He's only 11, but by next year he should be the star pitcher on his team, and after what I read today from USATF, he certainly merits the chance.

From USATF press release:

Raschker named finalist for Sullivan Award

Masters track and field legend Philippa (Phil) Raschker has been named one of the 12 finalists for the AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation. The 57-year-old track and field star was nominated for the award by the National Senior Games Association for her world record masters performances in 2003. Additionally she is recognized for her outstanding contributions for promoting women's athletics.  

During the 2003 season, Raschker won numerous National Senior Games and National Masters Track and Field titles. She set age-group world records in the high jump, indoor heptathlon, pentathlon, and 60-meter hurdles. Competing at the World Masters Association Track and Field Championships this past season in Carolina, Puerto Rico, she won five gold medals in the heptathlon, 80m hurdles, high jump, pole vault, and triple jump.

Raschker becomes the first track and field athlete over 40 years old to be nominated for the award. Over a span of 23 years of competition, she has won more championship gold medals on the international and national level than any other masters track and field athlete. She has been voted by her peers at the USATF Annual Meeting as the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year 13 times.

The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to prominent athletes of our time including last year's recipient Sarah Hughes. Others include: Bobby Jones (1930), Peyton Manning (1997), William "Bill" Bradley (1965), Dan Jansen (1994), Janet Evans (1989), Jim Abbott (1987), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986), Greg Louganis (1984), and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988).

ME AGAIN: By the way, I thought USATF was supposed to promote track and field. What do we care if past winners include Sara Hughes, Bobby Jones, Peyton Manning, Bill Bradley, Dan Jansen, Janet Evans, Jim Abbott, and Greg Louganis?

That's nice for comparison, but how about a list of the track people that won the award? I pulled this from the AAU website, and its a pretty good group of people. And most of them are in the Hall of Fame.

1996: Michael Johnson
1991: Mike Powell
1988: Flo-Jo
1986: JJK
1985: Joan Benoit
1983: Edwin Moses
1982: Mary Decker
1981: Carl Lewis
1976: Bruce Jenner
1974: Rick Wohlhuter
1972: Frank Shorter
1969: Bill Toomey
1967: Randy Matson
1966: Jim Ryun
1963: John Pennel
1962: Jim Beatty
1961: Wilma Rudolph
1960: Rafer Johnson
1959: Parry O'Brien
1958: Glenn Davis
1957: Bobby Morrow
1955: Harrison Dillard
1954: Mal Whitfield
1952: Horace Ashenfelter
1951: Bob Richards
1950: Fred Wilt
1948: Bob Mathias
1942: Dutch Warmerdam
1941: Les MacMitchell
1940: Greg Rice
1938: Don Lash
1936: Glenn Morris
1934: Bill Bonthron
1933: Glenn Cunningham
1932: Jim Bausch
1931: Barney Berlinger

Does Phil Raschker stand with that crowd? Nominate my son, please!