"Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone,"


Speaking at the UN General Assembly today..

 
While Tyson Gay and Carmelita Jeter must be congratualted for their outstanding performances at the Shanghai Meet earlier this week, some question marks still exist. At the World Championship in Berlin, Gay complained of a groin injury, stating that when the season is over he would get surgery, and is still able to run 9.69. How is this even possible? Carmelita Jeter ran 10.67 before the Shanghai Meet, and now runs 10.64 in less than 3 weeks. Jeter was comprehensively beaten at the World Champs, yet is able to lower her time so often. Is this for real?

In athletics, athletes normally peak near the end of the season, but to lower times so frequently near the end is often not seen. Bear in mind that Gay basically ran a former world record time, that set by a Jamaican called Usain 'Lightning' Bolt at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Remember also, that Bolt totally annihilated Mr. Gay at the World Champs a month ago. Is there some game going on here? Why didn't Gay run these fast times at the World Champs? Why did he choose to skip the 200M at the World Champs? All this is seeming quite suspicious to me.

In Jeter's case, she has beaten Shelly Ann-Fraser and Kerron Stewart over the season, but not consistently, then all of a sudden she is doing it with such ease. Has there been some sudden change in her training? Her body type seems a lot different than at the World Champs? We will have to wait and see how she performs in 2010. I had expected Kerron to be the one to run under 10.70s, but Jeter has proven me wrong. It is ironic that the Americans who have ran under 10.70s have always been under suspicion, with Marion Jones found guilty of drug taking, and FloJo supposedly dying at a young age, with the circumstances still unknown.

It is clear that 2010 will be very interesting in 2010. With the Jamaicans fighting to hold on to their crowns in the sprints. One thing is for sure, the 100M races are going to be worth paying attention to. It will be a fierce competition amongst the athletes. My edge is still with the Jamaicans who always peak when it matters the most....

Thoughts trapped inside,
waiting to escape,
prying the mind,
words seem silly,
is there a point to this all,

Hiding behind emotions,
love trapped inside,
shyness approaching,
wisdom is gone,
when will this end,

Fears all abound,
feelings exploding,
guilt trapped inside,
tears fill the eyelids,
what else is in store,

Sorrow in sight,
no one to lean on,
no one to talk to,
the morrow is unsure,
is there an answer,
pray for the sunshine,
heartache trapped inside...

Dayne Anderson

"Is it easier to be shy or to be to seen as shy?"
DCA

"Common sense is often misrepresented by persons with uncommon senses."
DCA

Well, well....its not official as yet, but it seems that golf may return to the Olympics. The last time golf was a part of the Olympics was 1904. If it is reinstated by the International Olympic Committe (IOC), which meets regarding the matter tomorrow in Berlin, then it would be re-introduced in 2016, as the IOC constitution requires a 7 year lead period. What is behind this though?

"Jackass."
Reaction to Kanye West's disgraceful display at the MTV Music Video Awards, where West grabbed the microphone from Taylor Swift...

An exhausted Usain Bolt arrived in Jamaica on Monday from ripping up the track at the IAAF World Championships and the World Athletics Final. Enough cannot be said about Bolt, having created history in the Olympics last year, he again created history at the World Championships. He became the first man in history to break two world records at the World Championships. He turned back the charges of Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in the 100M, then ran against the clock in the 200M to shave about 0.11 off each record.

Coach Mills should be given a lot of credit for Bolt's outstanding achievements, as he has molded him into a super athlete in less than four years. One only hopes that they will reduce his workload next year, as the Diamond League and the other meets, plus his marketing campaign will be grueling. We see where his management team has been expanded, which augurs well for the professionalism that will be required to make him a legend and to bring in revenue comparable to David Beckham or Christiano Ronaldo.

Tomorrow I will look at the awards given to Usain by the Government of Jamaica....

"Love is always true, never lying, never rude."
DCA

Following the arrest of Earl Jones, who may have diverted CAN$50M into a Ponzi Scheme, another scheme has been discovered. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have uncovered two Alberta men who it is alleged diverted over CAN$100M into a Ponzi Scheme. Investors were based in Canada and internationally.


Milowe Allen Brost, 55, of Chestermere, Alberta, and Gary Allen Sorenson, 66, of Calgary, were charged today with fraud and theft, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in an e- mailed release.


It seems that people continue to suffer at the hands of these guys. Two guys were recently executed in China for running a Ponzi Scheme. Let hope we all learn from these sad experiences...

These tears that redden my eyes,

"When your heart grows weary and you feel all alone, let the glow of God's word soothe your mind."
DCA

"You've got to take the negative energies that negative people emit and turn it into a positive force."
DCA

Maclean's Magazine which is like the Time/Newsweek of the US, all but accused Usain Bolt of taking drugs. They claim that Usain cannot run so fast without drugs. The disrespect in the article was very blatant, with German sprinter Tobias Unger, saying that Bolt's Olympic performance was "a farce". He further went on to disrespect Jamaica, by saying that, "they do whatever they want on their island, nothing happens to them".
The belief portrayed by the article is that Bolt must be taking one of the designer drugs, which would be impossible to detect.

There was some defense of Bolt by Ralph Mann, the director of sprints and hurdling for the USA Track and Field and a world authority on the mechanics of sprinting. He stated that Bolt turnover is far superior to the shorter sprinters. He indicated that Bolt covered the 100M in Berlin in just 41 steps, compared to 3.5 fewer steps than Tyson Gay. He described Bolt as a genetic freak of nature.

What is clear from the article is that many persons want to tear down exceptional talents. There is always some negative energy, especially when you are black and come from a third world country. You can never be as good as these folks who come from the 'so called first world countries'.

As I have said and I will say it again, Bolt has endured numerous blood and urine tests, in and out of competition. All these people who are quick to tear him down, please show us some evidence of your claims. None of them can show anything that indicates that Bolt is taking drugs. In fact, in Jamaica we do take drug taking seriously in athletics, which is why five of our athletes did not go to Berlin. We did not cover it up like what they did with Carl Lewis in the US. Jamaica's Teddy McCook is a outstanding member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who does not condone drug taking at any level. At one point he was insisting that if you tested positive for drugs that you should be banned for life.

Maclean's has only shown their ignorance of the facts, and continue to spread propaganda which will only tarnish the sport of athletics. However, the bright light is that Usain Bolt signals a dawn of a new era, he has transformed the image of the sport in less than two years. Bolt is a 'once in a lifetime athlete', and we Jamaicans are very proud of him and what he has done for our 'first world Island'......

The Government of Jamaica continues to encourage businesses to return to downtown Kingston. The latest in this drive is the tax break being offered to these businesses if they set up offices downtown. This is being done under the Urban Renewal Tax Relief Act (1995). Which will see the tax credit moving from 25% to 33.33%.


While this seems like a brilliant idea on the face of it, there is a lot to be considered. One remembers that just last week, the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) was saying that if Christopher 'Dudas" Coke was extradited to the US, that downtown could be disrupted by crime.


Downtown is still controlled by extortionist. Dudas and Zekes ( who is now in prison) have controlled the level of crime in downtown, operating a system of justice, where criminals know that if they commit crime they will face severe punishment. However, can the Government continue to condone such behavior? If businesses are to return downtown, they may be required to pay extortion or be asked to leave. The police to a large extent has failed to provide the security that these 'dons' provide. It seems that the approach of the 'dons' work in downtown and some other areas, but at what cost. Taxpayers are already burdened by all the taxes they pay, and still have to find money to pay extortionist. This system is not feasible.


The Government has failed to mention what protection will be given to these businesses when they return to downtown. Are we going to continue to ignore real issues? There is dire poverty all across downtown Kingston. One just has to take a drive throughout the communities and it is glaring. What is the plan for these communities? Why are these communities even in the downtown area? If downtown is to be a business capital, then what are the plans for these communities? Will they have to be moved?


Businesses cannot thrive for long when poverty is all around. Crime will increase for sure. If 'Dudas" is extradited, then you can expect that crime will be on the increase. What plans does Government have in terms of working with these area leaders to change the extortion system that is now in place. It would be really crazy for businesses to just move without considering all the issues at hand.


However, if businesses are willing to fork out money every month to pay extortionist, then go right ahead. But bear in mind, that even when your businesses are not doing well, you still have to pay. We have recently seen where Phil's Hardware was fire bombed because they could not pay extortionists. The tax break is great, but not anything new.. The Government needs to have a clear vision for Jamaica, right now it seems as if there is no one at the wheel, the country's affairs are on auto pilot....

President Obama clearly indicated in his speech yesterday that Illegal Immigrants will not benefit from the proposed overall of the US health care system. About 11.9 million unauthorized immigrants are currently in the US. Over 50% of these persons have no access to health care. The cost for treating these persons amount to approximately $4.9B annually, according to local, state and federal reports.

The issue at hand is that even though Illegal Immigrants are not supposed to get health care, they often do. The President has not outlined what persons would be required to present at a clinic or hospital. It seems quite clear to me that the Social Insurance Number (SIN) should be presented at each visit. If this is not enforced then immigrants will be allowed to access the health care system.

There are a lot of details that need to be outlined by the President if he is to get support for this bill. Over the next few weeks we will see if more detail is provided. One thing is sure, he will face mounting pressures from the lobbyists, who are supported by HMO's and large pharmaceutical companies......

"You have to know when to give in to the temptations of this life, the first step is to allow God to lead your steps."
DCA

The plot thickens. It seems that the South African,Caster Semenya is a 
hermaphrodite. That is the claim being made by an Australian newspaper. I will wait on the official verdict... It that is the case then she/he would be banned
from future competition and will lose her Gold Medal, won at the World 
Championship in Berlin.

"The time for bickering is over."
President Obama responding to the criticism regarding Health Care Reform [September 9, 2009]

Following his impressive performances at the Olympics in Beijing and recently at the IAAF World Championships, Brand Bolt is yet to be framed. The level of exposure that Usain Bolt has brought to athletics and to his home country Jamaica is undeniable. But where do we go from here? That seems to be the number one question of everyone's mind. What is the Jamaican Government doing to maximize the gains from Brand Bolt? It seems like they are presently asleep at the wheel. It is not just Bolt that has lifted Jamaica's flag high, but all the other athletes who have received gold medals, such as Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly Ann-Fraser, Melanie Walker, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and so many others. Why hasn't the Government taken advantage of this? Time is quickly moving, while Brand Bolt and Company is fading in the distance. We only hear that there are meetings taking place, but nothing else is said.

The fact is, we need to utilize these athletes to clear up the image of Jamaica. Presently we are seen as a place filled with crime and violence. Jamaica is a beautiful country, with great people living in and outside of the country, this needs to be emphasized. We should never be defined as a 'crime den', because a few rotten eggs continue to destroy our image.

Bolt and Company can make a difference. A brand must be built around him and the other athletes who have made Jamaica proud. The time is now for the Tourism Board, Sports Ministry and other stakeholders to act.

My view is that the following steps should be taken. Firstly, Bolt and Company should be used to advertise Brand Jamaica, including in this would be the food, culture, music, beauty and brilliance of the people and the sites of Jamaica. Secondly, they should be used to advertise their vales to the Jamaican people, the greatness one can achieve if they work hard and stay focused, as well as to appeal to those who are destroying the image to stop. Thirdly, their merchandise should be fully copyrighted, and should be exclusively marketed by Jamaica, and no other country. Fourthly, sports earns billions a year, and Jamaica should seriously consider Sports Tourism. While the athletes have been flawless, the real heroes have been the coaches of these athletes. We no doubt have two of the greatest coaches on the planet, Stephen Francis and Glen Mills. However, we have failed to build an industry around our local coaches. The Government should build an additional track stadium, so our athletes can have the best facilities, and thus be able to bring more foreign athletes to our shores. This will make Jamaica one of the premiere countries in athletic development. Tourist will no doubt want to come and visit. Fifthly, as part of Sports Tourism, every community from which these athletes originated should be made into National Treasures. This would involve, making these communities fit for tourist visits and tours. Presently, communities such as the one Bolt came from is appalling to say the least, not to mention the community that Melanie Walker is from. These communities must be fixed, this will create jobs and bring a sense of hope to the children.

These are a few of the proposals which I believe should be followed. Some may argue that a lot of these things should be done across the board, such as fixing communities. But the fact is, Bolt and Company is a powerful brand right now. If we can focus on changing the image of Jamaica through them, then that's the way to go. If this happens, then all f Jamaica will be transformed. The Government needs to act now, time is ticking away. They have already missed the Beijing opportunity, let's see what they do now....

"If your faith is that of a grain of sand, even the greatest wave cannot move you."
DCA

     
The final major event for the athletics season takes place of Friday, when the scene is set for the World Athletics Final. All the big names are set to be on show. The format will be straight finals over 2 days, so there should be no excuses from athletes about being tired. Usain Bolt will be the show piece as usual, he will run in the 200 meters. His rival Tyson Gay has said that he will only run the 100 meters. It seems that Gay continues to hide from Bolt. The race of the meet should be the women's 100 meters, with a battle royal expected from Carmelita Jeter, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart. Jeter has been beating Fraser and Stewart since the World Championships in Berlin. Another interesting race will be the 100 meters hurdles, where Foster-Hylton, Canada's Lopes-Schliep and the US pair of Dawn Harper and Virginia Powell. We cannot count out Delloreen Ennis-London either. Other interesting races will be the women's 200 meters race, where the battle continues between Veronica Campbell-Brown and Allyson Felix. The 400 meters hurdles for men and women will also be a keen battle. There will be no relays at this event. It should be another entertaining affair with the show man Bolt on show. Asafa Powell may shock a lot of people on Friday....

"No matter how words may rip at your heart, let peace and love prevail."
DCA

Despite the many critics of President Obama's speech to back to school goers, the show went on. Many schools did not even allow Obama's speech to be heard in their schools. This did not stop the President, as he delivered an excellent speech that would inspire any young person. Bear in mind that these young people will be the future of America. It matters not what the Republicans and critics say, if the children had listened to his speech they would realize that there is just political rhetoric going on around them, it has nothing to do with their ideologies. To call President Obama's speech as socialism is just crazy. There is no justification whatsoever to make such a comment. But the hate for the President continues, but he shall overcome......

Key points of speech:

• "What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future"
• "You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment."
• "You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free,"
• "If you quit on school -- you?re not just quitting on yourself, you?re quitting on your country," 
• "At the end of the day, the circumstances of your life -- what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you?ve got going on at home -- that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude,"
• "That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying"
• "Where you are right now doesn?t have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future,"

Recently I read an article where Naomi Campbell was criticising top magazines for using the recession to exclude black models from its covers, and I believe she is right in every regard. Campbell is one of the world's most famous black models, being one of the first and only black women to appear on British Vogue and French Vogue. She was recently criticised for modeling fur for designer Dennis Basso, after she had once said she would go nude before wearing fur. The fact is that black models are being treated unfairly during this recession. It has nothing to do with the recession, as these Companies are still using white models. Campbell describes the industry as racist towards black models and other races. This is so true, no other race has been used in any of the major covers. It is really sad that even with a black President in the White House and the steps which we have made, that blacks and non-whites are been treated this way. It just goes to show, that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The good news out of this is that Naomi, who is often criticised by many by her actions, is speaking for all non-white women, this is very commendable and should be applauded by her detractors. Let us remember that Naomi is a product of the Land of Wood and Water, she is following in the steps of one Marcus Mosiah Garvey...Keep fighting girl...let your voice be heard...

"The black man has advanced, but the white man still tries to conquer him."