Jon Drummond throws a hissy fit

Butter · 08-27-2003, 08:38 AM

Anyone see this on the coverage of the World Track & Field championships? The rule may suck, but it's there and he acted like a baby about it. It was embarrassing on many different levels. I also saw an interview with him about it where he was crying about losing his opportunity in the 100 m. Well, now he's been pulled from the meet completely, so who's fault was that?

Butter · 08-27-2003, 08:42 AM

For those who missed it:

Sprinter pulls out rather than being forced out

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press

SAINT-DENIS, France -- This time, Jon Drummond accepted defeat.

Faced with being expelled from the World Championships for his tirade on the track, the American sprinter avoided a showdown and pulled out of the rest of the meet Tuesday.

That still wasn't good enough for world track officials, who threw him out anyway "for behavior bringing the sport into disrepute.''

The International Association of Athletics Federations had given USA Track & Field a deadline of Tuesday night to sanction Drummond, who refused to leave the track after being disqualified from the 100-meter quarterfinal heats on Sunday.

USATF officials said they no procedures to act on such an expedited basis, but Drummond notified them he was withdrawing from the meet on his own and pulling out of the rest of the 2003 season.

"I felt very strongly that I was disqualified from the race unfairly, and I protested my disqualification,'' Drummond said in a statement. "It was never my intention to harm the sport in any way or to inconvenience my fellow competitors or the fans.''

Drummond threw a tantrum after being thrown out of Sunday's heats for false starting. He lay on his back on the track, argued with officials and gestured to the crowd in an angry, tearful tirade which disrupted the meet for nearly an hour.

The turmoil was the result of a new IAAF rule on false starts, which disqualifies a person who commits the second false start in a race, regardless of who commits the first.

Drummond, who had hoped to run in the 400-meter relay this weekend, insisted again Tuesday that he only flinched and did not jump the gun.

"My spirit is broken because it has always been my desire to provide entertainment for the fans,'' he said. "It saddens me that I will not have that opportunity this weekend or the rest of the season.''

The IAAF said it is now waiting to receive a full report from USATF on the conclusion of its investigation before deciding if any further action is necessary.

Some IAAF officials are pushing for Drummond to be suspended on top of his exclusion from the meet.

"I think it's a serious case,'' IAAF vice president Arne Ljungqvist said. "Athletes at the top level know they should respect the judges and the rules. Disqualification from these championships should be a minimum punishment.''

The IAAF also ordered the USATF to take action against Michael Cain, the U.S. national teams manager, who jumped out of the stands, ran up to Drummond and spoke to him briefly at the side of the track. USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said Cain's credentials were revoked for "breach of security.''

Drummond, 34, won two World Championship relay gold medals at the 1993 and 1995 meets and ran the first leg on the U.S. team which won the gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He ran the opening leg on the team which equaled the world record of 37.40 seconds at the 1993 championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

"It is my hope that positive results will come from what was an unprecedented situation for everyone involved on Sunday night,'' Drummond said. "I hope that everyone in track and field can work together to create a better system that serves athletes, coaches, officials and the sport.''

3ric · 08-27-2003, 10:26 AM

I saw that incident live on TV. Pure entertainment, but I could see what he was upset about in the first place. It was not at all a clear-cut call for his disqualification.

Butter · 08-27-2003, 12:34 PM

If Ato Bolden did it, you think it would've been as big of a news item? I think Drummond is perpetuating the stereotype of the egotistical American.

Ragone · 08-27-2003, 01:47 PM

Mr Drummond Threw a fit? What you talking about Butters!

damnMikeBrown · 08-27-2003, 02:22 PM

He embarassed me as an American. He shouldn't be allowed to compete under the country's flag anymore. The behaviour he exhibited would be inappropriate for a 3yr old, let alone a 34yr old racing under his country's flag. A petulant display of immaturity and poor sportsmanship while racing under the flag of my country on the worlds 2nd largest track & field stage. He has shown himself to be incapable of upholding any level of respectability required out of a national team member, and tarnished the image of USA Track & Field.

KWhit · 08-27-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by damnMikeBrown
He embarassed me as an American. He shouldn't be allowed to compete under the country's flag anymore. The behaviour he exhibited would be inappropriate for a 3yr old, let alone a 34yr old racing under his country's flag. A petulant display of immaturity and poor sportsmanship while racing under the flag of my country on the worlds 2nd largest track & field stage. He has shown himself to be incapable of upholding any level of respectability required out of a national team member, and tarnished the image of USA Track & Field.

I'm guessing you didn't approve of his behaviour. Is that a fair assessment?

MIJB#19 · 08-28-2003, 02:37 AM

Class act, the current "false start rules" are just stupid.
Sure, other athletes had to wait another 15 minutes (you will survive it), tv schedules had to be reshuffled (as if that is important).
Somebody had to step up and get these rules reversed.
The first false start doesn't even matter, but the second is an immediate ejection.
You either give everyone 2 chances or nobody, not just the person that makes the first false start for whatever reason.
And then with the electronical reaction time measurement, moving your foot makes a false start even if it is a disadvantage for the athlete.

And if tv schedules are so important, why not let them run the race and disqualify false starters after the race? That's what they've introduces in swimming at the same time the athletics federation adjusted to the old rules in swimming.

Ragone · 08-28-2003, 02:48 AM

Thats kinda shitty rule to be honest.. I ran track in school.. and i knew of several guys on other teams who were jumpy.. if that rule was in place i'd purposely jump the first time to set them up for dq's.. with that rule in place.. and i'm sure thats the case with events now

08-27-2003, 08:42 AM	#2
Butter Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dayton, OH	For those who missed it: Sprinter pulls out rather than being forced out -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press SAINT-DENIS, France -- This time, Jon Drummond accepted defeat. Faced with being expelled from the World Championships for his tirade on the track, the American sprinter avoided a showdown and pulled out of the rest of the meet Tuesday. That still wasn't good enough for world track officials, who threw him out anyway "for behavior bringing the sport into disrepute.'' The International Association of Athletics Federations had given USA Track & Field a deadline of Tuesday night to sanction Drummond, who refused to leave the track after being disqualified from the 100-meter quarterfinal heats on Sunday. USATF officials said they no procedures to act on such an expedited basis, but Drummond notified them he was withdrawing from the meet on his own and pulling out of the rest of the 2003 season. "I felt very strongly that I was disqualified from the race unfairly, and I protested my disqualification,'' Drummond said in a statement. "It was never my intention to harm the sport in any way or to inconvenience my fellow competitors or the fans.'' Drummond threw a tantrum after being thrown out of Sunday's heats for false starting. He lay on his back on the track, argued with officials and gestured to the crowd in an angry, tearful tirade which disrupted the meet for nearly an hour. The turmoil was the result of a new IAAF rule on false starts, which disqualifies a person who commits the second false start in a race, regardless of who commits the first. Drummond, who had hoped to run in the 400-meter relay this weekend, insisted again Tuesday that he only flinched and did not jump the gun. "My spirit is broken because it has always been my desire to provide entertainment for the fans,'' he said. "It saddens me that I will not have that opportunity this weekend or the rest of the season.'' The IAAF said it is now waiting to receive a full report from USATF on the conclusion of its investigation before deciding if any further action is necessary. Some IAAF officials are pushing for Drummond to be suspended on top of his exclusion from the meet. "I think it's a serious case,'' IAAF vice president Arne Ljungqvist said. "Athletes at the top level know they should respect the judges and the rules. Disqualification from these championships should be a minimum punishment.'' The IAAF also ordered the USATF to take action against Michael Cain, the U.S. national teams manager, who jumped out of the stands, ran up to Drummond and spoke to him briefly at the side of the track. USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said Cain's credentials were revoked for "breach of security.'' Drummond, 34, won two World Championship relay gold medals at the 1993 and 1995 meets and ran the first leg on the U.S. team which won the gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He ran the opening leg on the team which equaled the world record of 37.40 seconds at the 1993 championships in Stuttgart, Germany. "It is my hope that positive results will come from what was an unprecedented situation for everyone involved on Sunday night,'' Drummond said. "I hope that everyone in track and field can work together to create a better system that serves athletes, coaches, officials and the sport.'' __________________ My listening habits

08-27-2003, 10:26 AM	#3
3ric College Starter Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Sweden	I saw that incident live on TV. Pure entertainment, but I could see what he was upset about in the first place. It was not at all a clear-cut call for his disqualification. __________________ San Diego Chargers (HFL) - Lappland Reindeers (WOOF) - Gothenburg Giants (IHOF) Indiana: A TCY VC - year 2044 - the longest running dynasty ever on FOFC!

08-27-2003, 12:34 PM	#4
Butter Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dayton, OH	If Ato Bolden did it, you think it would've been as big of a news item? I think Drummond is perpetuating the stereotype of the egotistical American. __________________ My listening habits

08-27-2003, 01:47 PM	#5
Ragone Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, Mo	Mr Drummond Threw a fit? What you talking about Butters!

08-27-2003, 02:22 PM	#6
damnMikeBrown College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati, OH	He embarassed me as an American. He shouldn't be allowed to compete under the country's flag anymore. The behaviour he exhibited would be inappropriate for a 3yr old, let alone a 34yr old racing under his country's flag. A petulant display of immaturity and poor sportsmanship while racing under the flag of my country on the worlds 2nd largest track & field stage. He has shown himself to be incapable of upholding any level of respectability required out of a national team member, and tarnished the image of USA Track & Field.

08-28-2003, 02:37 AM	#8
MIJB#19 Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands	Class act, the current "false start rules" are just stupid. Sure, other athletes had to wait another 15 minutes (you will survive it), tv schedules had to be reshuffled (as if that is important). Somebody had to step up and get these rules reversed. The first false start doesn't even matter, but the second is an immediate ejection. You either give everyone 2 chances or nobody, not just the person that makes the first false start for whatever reason. And then with the electronical reaction time measurement, moving your foot makes a false start even if it is a disadvantage for the athlete. And if tv schedules are so important, why not let them run the race and disqualify false starters after the race? That's what they've introduces in swimming at the same time the athletics federation adjusted to the old rules in swimming.

08-28-2003, 02:48 AM	#9
Ragone Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, Mo	Thats kinda shitty rule to be honest.. I ran track in school.. and i knew of several guys on other teams who were jumpy.. if that rule was in place i'd purposely jump the first time to set them up for dq's.. with that rule in place.. and i'm sure thats the case with events now

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