So who will be the man or woman this weekend in Normal, IL?
This is an excellent week for track and field I just want the fans to keep an eye on a few matchups. There are plenty others in other events... but you guys know I love the sprints. It's B-Side's matchups to watch at nationals.
The B Side has enjoyed himself the last couple of weeks at O'Brien stadium chillin' with my guys TJones, Abe Jones, and Jeff Bryant. You put us all together and the jokes in the press box should have us opening for Kevin Hart. Every time I walk in the stadium I get all hyped up like I'm about to run and it's 1986 all over again. You realize that you are at the State Meet and it's put up or shut up time. This is my view on both state meets and what's to come. I'm sure nobody will believe this, but this was the first boys state meet I've been to since 2010. The girls meet was just more interesting to me; they had better match-ups and story lines especially in sprinting. If you know me personally or have read my blogs you know that I'm hard to impress. I was impressed this year. Yeah, we knew the outcome of a lot of events (at least I did). I tried to tell you after indoor.
It's that time again... whew time flew by quick when you are focused and set on your goals. The annual B-Side sprint flat races and relay predictions are in order. These are purely my picks and my thoughts alone. I hope you enjoy them and good luck to all of you this weekend!
The next three weeks of track and field in Illinois will be at its peak. There will be seniors running their last races at sectionals and it can be a sad day for some coaches as their athletes move on to college to continue their track and field careers. These final weeks, the coaches are focused on getting the best performances out of their athletes. Some will win conference, sectional and even state titles. In most cases the athlete won't end up on the podium or break a record.
The Long Jump and Triple Jump are two events that even at this moment the state of Illinois has been at the forefront and known for. Cahokia superstar junior Jamari Ward is currently #1 in the US in the triple jump and in the long jump (25'6" on Tuesday). But the Golden Age of jumping would be the 1980's PERIOD!
Golden Era - "The Period when a specific art or activity is at its peak"
In the article by Jeff Miller, The Nine Ways to Recognize a Golden Age, the very first rule was to "ignore predictions". "Those who predict one is coming are always wrong because a Golden Age can't be foreseen." The third rule is a big one. "A real Golden Age is not marked by a single endeavor". The seventh rule: 'one person cannot single-handedly transform a moment into a Golden Era, let alone sustain it.'
What do the names K.D. Young (Warrensburg), Mariya Hudson (Cahokia), Brittny Ellis (Gurnee) and Jamari Ward (Cahokia) all have in common?
Last week's question on the B-Side was "who's the man or woman?"
Usain, Lebron, Tom Brady, Serena and Tiger are all athletes who are the "The Man or Woman" in their respective sports. In 1993 one of my favorite cuts, 'Who's The Man?' by House of Pain was the main song to a classic movie "Who's The Man?" featuring Ed Lover, Doctor Dre & my all time favorite Bernie Mack. This weekend is the Top Times meet and the question will be asked and answered as athletes from around the state vie for the title as best of the indoor season. "Who' the Man or Woman?"
Athletes are being directed to the track quickly. As they set their blocks, the announcer reads each ones name and resume of accomplishments earned prior to this meet, like a current U.S. ranking or state title. You soon realize this is not a regular meet.
This is New Balance Indoors Nationals weekend in New York City. There are some new athletes and teams from Illinois attending this year. There is an eerie feeling in the air that I must pounce on…
The B Side Returns!!! I just finished up my club indoor season (Dominators) and decided to pick up my pen while I take a short break....
It is the moment we've all been waiting for. Since the start of indoor when we thought we'd never see the sun again, to the outdoor season full of cold & rainy meets, postponements and cancellations. IT IS HERE.... THE STATE MEET!!!
I can't wait as state is coming closer by the blog. This week sectionals has arrived for the girls and conference meets for the boys. "Pressure busts pipes" as I always say and these last couple of weeks will tell the truth on every track and field athlete in the state.
There are two things that are guaranteed in the month of May --- Floyd “Money” Mayweather having a big boxing match and winning it; and times will drop as well as jumps and throws will increase. It happens every year.
The older I get and the more coaches I speak with whether its club or high school, I have come to realize that no matter what level of coach, what color they are or where they live -- amazingly nationwide -- they all say and deal with the same issues.
Match up- A pairing or combining; a direct contest or confrontation between two athletes.
The outdoor season is about to pick up as more meets on the boys and girls side take steps closer to the state meet. There are athletes with different levels of confidence and skill sets but there is one thing all athletes must deal with and that is the "Voice.”
It's funny how the older I get life seems to repeat itself a little. An athlete or team from the present will remind me of someone or a team from the past. A song will come out and be sampled with a beat from back in the day.
Editor's introductory note: The 1980's produced some of the fastest times in terms of sprints throughout the Midwest and more specifically in Illinois. I986 was a special year in which the state 100m and 200m all-time records were reset. But on this occasion one of the state's best ever quartets was assembled and poised for history of their own. But sometimes the best don't win. B-side puts a gut wretching spin on what happened to his fabled Decatur Mac Arthur foursome.
Confidence is a feeling of assurance especially of self-assurance.
A lot of coaches and athletes found out the hard way what nationals and New York was all about. There were many who should've stayed home....
This week’s blog is a little different from my usual. This is an inside look at my club team’s experience competing at one of the biggest meets in the country – National High School Championships in New York.
Varsity – the principal team representing a school, university or college in sports, games or other competitions. I was reading the preview to the Thornwood Open last week. It said it was involving as many athletes as possible; this was not going to be a limited meet. It got me to thinking about my days of running “varsity” in high school. Things were done differently then. You “earned” a spot on the varsity squad it was not automatic.
Athletes and teams all over the world, in my opinion, are put into 2 categories – the hunter and the hunted. I have coached on both sides of the fence and get slightly more enjoyment out of being the hunter.
The high school indoor season has finally arrived! There are some athletes who have been training for a couple of months and some who have had meets with their clubs as far back as late December. The indoor season on the national scene will pick up as early as this weekend with big meets like the Simplot Games in Idaho, University of Kentucky High School Invitational, and the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York City. Prior to these meets, there were contests hosted by Texas A&M University and the University of Arkansas. What are the benefits, if any, in attending these meets?
Last week I touched on the subject of club coaches vs. school coaches. The topic probably got a few people riled, as I am sure this week’s topic will too. I want to touch on the subject of track parents. Some can be allies supporting their kids and the team while others can be the enemy and appear to be sabotaging their own child’s success.
There has been a long-standing debate/disagreement about the club coach’s presence in the athlete’s life once that athlete begins participating in school sports, whether it is track & field, baseball, basketball or tennis. The club coach has played an integral part in the athlete’s life, probably since a very young age. Therefore, when it comes time for the athlete to participate on their high school team, put on a different uniform, it is sometimes hard to stand back and let someone else take over all they have built.