http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/08/02/the-30-foot-jump/
The majority of the article was about the track and field superstar Carl Lewis and the long jump. Carl Lewis has the most Olympic gold medals in the long jump ever, and he even won four in a row, something never done before. It was really amazing what he did because it is really hard to win all of those gold medals. The author talks about the science of long jumping, such as how every step has a purpose and it takes tons of focus and concentration to jump far without taking off over the line. In real life, someone could use that to know that it is important to be very focused and determined to become good at long jumping. The article noted how Lewis was very conceited and often times obnoxious. Despite his amazing success in track and field, he was never awarded with sportsman of the year because of his off-the-track conduct. He liked people to know that he was better than them. After his retirement from track and field, Lewis ran for senator. One can infer from these things that Lewis enjoyed feeling important and in a position of power. Carl Lewis reminded me of Michael Jackson, who was greatly criticized during his life, but after he died he was remembered for his good things. Carl Lewis was greatly criticized during his track and field days, which is why he was never given sportsman of the year. Years after he retired, however, he was recognized at sportsman of the century for his unprecedented athletic greatness.
The majority of the article was about the track and field superstar Carl Lewis and the long jump. Carl Lewis has the most Olympic gold medals in the long jump ever, and he even won four in a row, something never done before. It was really amazing what he did because it is really hard to win all of those gold medals. The author talks about the science of long jumping, such as how every step has a purpose and it takes tons of focus and concentration to jump far without taking off over the line. In real life, someone could use that to know that it is important to be very focused and determined to become good at long jumping. The article noted how Lewis was very conceited and often times obnoxious. Despite his amazing success in track and field, he was never awarded with sportsman of the year because of his off-the-track conduct. He liked people to know that he was better than them. After his retirement from track and field, Lewis ran for senator. One can infer from these things that Lewis enjoyed feeling important and in a position of power. Carl Lewis reminded me of Michael Jackson, who was greatly criticized during his life, but after he died he was remembered for his good things. Carl Lewis was greatly criticized during his track and field days, which is why he was never given sportsman of the year. Years after he retired, however, he was recognized at sportsman of the century for his unprecedented athletic greatness.
One of the main parts of the article was the mystery of the 30 foot jump. At the National Sports Festival in Indianapolis in 1982, Lewis jumped a whopping 30 feet, crushing any previous record and that would still be the record to this day, had it counted. The ref called a foul but Lewis knew in his heart that he did not foul – he could feel it. Long jumpers tend to know when they foul or not, and Lewis felt that he had not fouled. Back then, there were no instant replay cameras, whatever the ref said was the final decision. I think it is very interested how sports have changed because of instant replay. Today, Lewis' jump would have been determined a foul or not by numerous cameras zoomed in on the jumping line and the jump would be played over and over again in slow motion. I think in the future, there will be little to no more sports mysteries like that of Carl Lewis’ 30 foot jump because of instant replay.
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