NBC didn’t let me see the 100 meter final until a few minutes ago, despite the fact that I knew what had happened 13 hours ago. Usain Bolt, OBLITERATED the field. He had such an enormous lead, he was able to prance across the line over the last 20 meters, flailing his arms and whooping to the crowd. He represents a new breed of human – one that I don’t believe we will see again for another 100 years. Tyson Gay and even Asafa Powell (poor guy – he bombed again) are both iterations of previous body types. Compact and powerful, neither stands a chance against Bolt. If he stays healthy and trains hard, he could crack 9.60 in the next year. Hell, he could have run 9.64 today if he ran through the line. The man is just qualitatively different than the other athletes.
Of course, staying healthy and remaining hungry are big ifs. Lightning Bolt’s real event is the 400 meters. He has such a long stride, the start is his only weakness. While he has a legitimate chance to threaten Michael Johnson’s previously invincible 200 meter record later in the week, he could shatter the 400 record if he tried for it. Despite his coach’s pleas, he refused to train for it, saying that training for the 400 meter is too hard of work. It is harder work; olympians chew steel and spit nails, hard work is what is supposed to fuel their forge. Bolt does it on polished talent.
Unfortunately, you saw three medalists showboating around the track after the race was over. This is why distance runners love Tyson Gay so much – he’s almost one of us. He has all the fame and notoriety of a sprinter, yet the attitude of a distance runner. He gives interviews like he’s honored that someone would want to talk to him – he gives people his time as though he’s no big thing. I wish he were healthy, but alas, he was not in top form.
Addendum
I suppose I should weigh in on Tropical Storm Fay. While conditions are favorable there has been a persistent problem. Land. Hispaniola and Cuba are tropical graveyards. Expect Fay to pop off Cuba as a minimal tropical storm, then ramp up somewhat immediately before landfall in Florida. While strengthening storms are significantly stronger than weakening storms with the same reported windspeeds, I still don’t think this is a huge deal for anyone. In fact, it might help ease drought conditions in southern Georgia. Still too early to say what will happen after the first landfall.
Addendum, 2
I got a google search today for “Can Usain Bolt outrun a bear?”
Lara might say no. But I say yes. Absolutely. He’d high step away from the bear, taunting.
Words 
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