(Image courtesy of New Line Cinema)
For those of you who read 2015' Who' The Man or Woman? This is not the same blog. I'm just Say'n.
Usain, Steph Curry, Lebron, and Serena are all athletes who are "The Man or Woman" in their respective sports. In 1993 one of my favorite cuts was "Who' The Man?" by The House of Pain rap group which mega-hit song was the title track to the self-titled classic movie. It featured Ed Lover, Doctor Dre and my all time favorite comedian Bernie Mack. This weekend the Top Times meet will come and the question will be asked and answered "Who' The Man or Woman?" of the 2016 indoor track season.
I feel the 2016 version of Top Times will bring us some great performances. Except for a few performances at the New Balance Indoor National Championship in NY a couple of weeks ago. Oops, said I wouldn't speak on that! Let's just just say we aren't going to talk about the past and look forward to this weekend. The Top Times meet usually produces nationally ranked times, jumps and distances. I expect the same thing this year. The meet is scheduled to have some must-see athletes that will be in their last meet of the indoor season and some will be in their last indoor high school meet of their careers.
We've got "The Man" Period! Jamari Ward (Cahokia). He's #1 in the long jump, triple, 60m and #2 in the 200m. This is his grand finale! It won't just be in the pit, but on the track. The only question in the jumps is will he go after New York's Ravon Grey; US #1 and New Balance winner at 26'00 1/4"? Personally, I want to see him in the 60/200m. I said last year, if he focused on the sprints he'd be a problem.
Josh Eiker (Galesburg) is in Class 3A now and nobody has touched him. He comes in at 6.88 in the 60m (would've been a nice matchup if he was still in 2A vs Jamari at 6.85). I'm just say'n. Anyway, if things go right we could get a rematch of Josh vs Cary Lockhart (Bloomington) and this time Cary is the home team! Josh has been "The Man" all season and his 21.57 (flat track) would've been 3rd at New Balance.
The women's side side brings us the always consistent KD Young (Warrensburg) Class A shot putter who was 5th at New Balance. Jaime Robinson (Homewood Flossmoor) 3A TJ who was 4th at New Balance (told you she was one to watch when she was a freshman) and Imani Carothers (Brooks College) who is #1 in the LJ/60h.
There are different levels to being "The Man." An athlete can be "The Man" on their team, city, conference, area, sectional even state, but barely show up on the national radar. There are always athletes who think they're "The Man" in their own mind and this weekend may prove different as others attempt to knock off those with the best times, distances, and jumps for the indoor season. An athlete who is considered the man or woman has an automatic target on their back whether they want it or not. Because of prior success there are expectations placed upon them by their teammates, media, fans and some coaches. They are expected to win!
The pre-high school super star Dajour "Cinnamon" Miles has been placed in the cupboard for the Top Times
The funny thing about Top Times is everybody isn't there. You could win and feel you're the man or woman... and you are; for indoor. I, being a club coach (Dominators), and being on the circuit know of such an athlete. One who if she was entered would turn this meet upside down. A freshman from Waubonsie Valley named Dajour Miles aka 'Cinnamon." I don't know what's going on? Maybe they're waiting on outdoor season? Maybe they think there is too much hype and pressure and she can't handle it? Whatever the reason, as fans, in the infamous words of DeAndre Jordan sporting a wig in the State Farm "Hoopers'" commercial.. 'We've Been Robbed!!" Please don't say she isn't ready for varsity competition. The B-Side ALWAYS comes with facts. Cinnamon is battle tested! She was at the University of Kentucky Invitational while track was basically her part-time gig, because she also plays basketball. Cinnamon ran 24.78 in the 200m and placed 13th. That was higher than any other IL athlete and faster than anyone in 3A coming into Top Times. The top athletes coming in were also at the meet in KY and finished behind her. At New Balance that 24.78 would've been 5th in the Emerging Elite Division and 7th in the Championship Division. In the 400m, Cinnamon got 3rd in 55.42. She would've won the Emerging Elite Division in NY which was 56.00 and she would've been 12th in the Championship Division. And shes NOT entered in Top Times?! I've personally seen her run way faster than these times. I'll go out on the limb, not that it's a stretch because I've already seen this movie. Coach unleash her and give the Illinois fans a taste of Cinnamon. Barring injuries, Dajour Miles will be one of the great ones. I'm just say'n!
Now that I have that off my chest, the athletes coming to Top Times your competitors are just like you and for the most part have the same attitude. So the question becomes, Who wants it the most? Who worked the hardest? "Who's The Man or Woman?"
Shout out to the Illinois athletes who went to New Balance in New York and truly represented the state and stood on the podium with the crown on their heads. Special shout out to Titus Jeffries from VA who I met at last years New Balance meet sitting in front of me. And this year was part of the 1600 medley championship relay that set the national record. Good Show!