TheSportsTrap
How vain it is to sit down to write when you haven't stood up to live?
USA Women’s Track & Field Olympics Sprint Team to be Decided by Coin Flip?
The Debate: How to decide the Felix-Tarmoh tiebreaker?
Never has there been such microscopic emphasis on a 3rd place finish in sports. Sure there have been battles for the bronze medal, but nothing quite like this. Think about it—what’s more heartbreaking, finishing 4th AT the Olympic Games, or finishing 4th at the Olympic Trials, just barely missing out on a shot to make the Olympic team? Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh crossed the finish line in the 100m at thee exact same time at this week’s Track & Field Olympic Trials in Track Town USA (Eugene, Oregon).
**Remember, the sprinter’s shoulder/torso/chest is the measurement of finishing the race so ignore both athletes’ flailing arms, forehead and other extremities**
What makes 3rd place so significant is the fact that 3rd place in this particular race clinches a berth to join Team USA on their way to the Olympic Games coming up in London. So how will the winner be decided? A run-off rematch would make the most sense, right? Well, there are also talks of the winner being decided by a basic coin flip. It’s looking more-and-more likely that this will be the scenario. Rock-paper-scissors—-no? Bad idea? What about a “flip-off” in a game of Flip (Cup)? Best two-out-of-three, of course.
On a serious note, let’s be real—both ladies deserve a fair chance to make it to London, and a 50-50 coin flip is nowhere near the answer. How will the “loser” be able to sleep at night knowing she didn’t even get a chance to kick her way there? What if she didn’t believe she brought her best performance to the table, especially in Eugene’s poor weather conditions? Didn’t we learn something from the Jerome Bettis coin flip disaster? Figure it out Olympics committee, there’s a simple solution—one that is far more exciting for both Tarmoh and Felix, and for the millions of thirsty T&F fans out there as well.
Follow my Track & Field Olympic Trials trap as this saga unfolds. Jubilation & heartbreak on both on their way, divvied out evenly.
updated: After some discourse on twitter, here are some other ideas brainstormed:
- Fight to the death? (wouldn’t bode well for Team USA, especially seeing how both ladies look to be an even match in the ring)
- Thumb war. Interesting, very interesting.
- Entire decathlon competition? That could get ugly.
- Half-court basketball shots? This is always my go-to for solving any issue, especially since I have mastered the art of the deep hoist myself.
- The most interesting: Spin the wheel of death. On the wheel—all decathlon events. Sure the run-off in the 100m would make the most sense, but spinning a wheel of randomness would be extremely exciting to watch. Imagine them attempting to sling a javelin terribly, or sprint nervously trying to figure out how to pole vault. There’d be some training undoubtedly…if they want to live out the dream, that is. <—-we have a winner.
-Geoff
Justice for Trayvon Martin
This is “The Decision” I’ve been waiting for out of LeBron James. This is the type of photograph that NEEDS to go viral on the net:
photo cred: yahoo
Geoff Ziemer
Life is a short hop. Charge it or get benched
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