Smith Disputes Carlos Version Of '68 Race In New Book

[gh]

http://www.nbcsports.com/sports/997716/detail.html

[Daisy]

Re: Smith Disputes Carlos Version Of '68 Race In New Book

Carlos says he let Smith win -- that what he, Carlos, truly cared about was making a statement on the victory stand. So, according to Carlos, the important thing was to finish in the top three.
Coming out of the turn, it is indisputable that Carlos was in front by about a meter and a half. He said he was in control of the race, then slowed down to let Smith pass him.
"Man, if you look at the tape, the tape would explain it all," Carlos said in a recent telephone interview. "It's obvious I was out in front of that race. If you look, you see me slow down. You see me say some things," to Smith, telling him to hurry up.
"The bottom line is, he has the gold medal," Carlos also said. "But what happened in that race -- I can't lie to myself or to the public."
Smith says Carlos can't handle the truth.

[SQUACKEE]

The biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves. :cry:

One reason to never let anyone win a serious competion is its cruel to the guy how did win. It cheapens they're efforts. Or he is lying which needs no comment.

[Daisy]

One reason to never let anyone win a serious competion is its cruel to the guy who did win. It cheapens they're efforts.

That's what i try and tell my son when he loses at memory game He still hates me. :cry:

[SQUACKEE]

One reason to never let anyone win a serious competion is its cruel to the guy who did win. It cheapens they're efforts.

That's what i try and tell my son when he loses at memory game He still hates me. :cry:

But some day he will beat you and he'll know he's finally smarter than dad, or just wait until he becomes a teenager! :x

[gh]

Carlos has been saying that for decades. I've never bought it, but I do think (and thought the instant the race unfolded) that once he saw Tommie was going to win he pretty much lost interest in the race and didn't even try to hold Norman off for the silver.

[paulthefan]

unfortunately for Carlos there is a pesky little bit of footage out there that shows the whole race.

My own opinion is that Carlos and Norman spent way too much in the rounds. Tommie could afford it, they could not. Had they been more judicious they would have been under 20 no problem in the final. But under no circumstances were they in the league of big daddy long legs.. He was operating at 19.6 speeds that week...

I have seen the race more than a few times and I dont see Carlos holding off Norman regardless of his intentions.. He is just plain spent, as I view it he is giving his all to get to the tape, leaning and pushing .. there is simply nothing left in the tank for the big man.

Carlos should take a different approach to the race and simply sell his Mexico city performance for what it was, one of the greatest displays of raw speed in an opening 100m of a 200m race ever seen, I time him at 10.2 on that curve and he was a big man and that was a tight curve...... it was spectacular and it showed that in Mexico he was a legitimate threat for double individual sprint medals. He deserved to be on that 4x1. If any American sprinter's medal total underrepresents his talent it is Carlos' single bronze.

Also in Carlos' favor, had he been healthy and ready in 72 he was the one American that probably had the hardware to beat Borzov. The 69/70 Carlos nips the 72 Borzov.

[dukehjsteve]

I will say it plainly, even if it gets deleted:

Carlos is full of shit.

[Jacksf]

Smith BLOWS by Carlos....watch it for yourselves..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--lzACn0aZ8

[paulthefan]

yes and then Norman blows by Carlos....

watch the heats and you wonder what Norman was thinking to drop a 20.17 is initial heat... big mistake... same goes for Carlos...

[SQUACKEE]

Smith BLOWS by Carlos....watch it for yourselves..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--lzACn0aZ8

Yes he does and then he starts pressing, not relaxed and starts kinda leaning way too soon. Doesnt look like a guy shutting it down. Carlos is full of silly putty. How the putty got there i dont know, but its there. The term is revisionist i believe. He's not the first to suffer this affliction.

If he's telling the truth just think how unfair that is to his wife/girlfriend, highschool coach, family, friends and coaches .He let someone else win. All those people who love him and wanted him to win so badly.

He didnt give his best. He cheated everyone of this priceless once in a lifetime olympic performance.

Very sad if true for all everyone involved. Puts a tainted victory for the great Tommy Smith. Its pathetic John. How dare you. Makes me sick.

[trackworld]

Carlos sure is chattin some bull there. Why does the clock stop at 19.78? Was there a built-in delay on the clock or something?

[trackworld]

Them Tommie-Jets are dangerous! The way he pulls away from the field in the Semi & Final is just pure speed. I love to watch anyone pour on the speed and watching those races again after not seeing for a while just brings home how fast he was. Kinda reminds me of Hayes' 64 anchor

[gh]

Carlos sure is chattin some bull there. Why does the clock stop at 19.78? Was there a built-in delay on the clock or something?

yes.

[dakota]

Carlos' explanation is absolutely bonkers. How would throwing the race alter the podium finish? If he repeats this nonsense again the IOC should call his bluff and investigate his ridiculous claim for bringing the sport into disrepute. Race fixing is usually the preserve of gambling syndicates after all, and besides, deliberately losing would cut against the ethos of the sport. One would hope he was just yanking people's chain with the typical ego of a sprinter, because otherwise his story is so full of holes it practically implies brain damage. And it's pretty cheap using a legendary civil rights demonstration to cover his limitations as an athlete, even if he was responsible for staging it. That's gotta be the worst excuse for losing I ever heard. If his point was that the result of the race is inconsequential to him next to the opportunity the Olympics afforded him to impart his message globally, well then that's cool, but by god should he have found a better way to say so gracefully.