Athletics has a new star, and it's not Usain Bolt
USAIN Bolt was nowhere to be seen at yesterday's British Grand Prix in Gateshead, but the real star of the World Championships was there in all his glory.
STAR OF THE SHOW: While Usain Bolt grabbed the headlines in Berlin, Berlino is the new star of athletics
Athletics has a new star - a new phenomenon to drag the sport, kicking and screaming out of the doldrums and back into mainstream sport, but it is not the boy from Trelawny who ripped the record books to pieces in Berlin.
It's Berlino.
The World Championships mascot made the trip from his native Deutschland to join the British welcome home parade, and once more stole the show.
In Berlin, the bear captured hearts and minds with his fun-loving attitude and his relentless determination to celebrate with the victorious and commiserate the vanquished
He was the only one capable of beating Bolt in the Olympiastadion and he even got away with a dramatic spill when giving 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker a piggyback.
True the Jamaican may have taken his foot off the pedal when going head to head with Berlino - but even Bolt was only too aware that he could not rain on the bear's parade.
What was he doing in Gateshead? - a relevant question and one I doubt he, or the event organisers know the answer to.
But his jovial manner and unerring propensity to get in the way ensured his presence was welcome up north.
And he was joined by Great Britain's number one over-sized fluff ball, Spike.
It's not entirely clear what creature Spike is. With his rather small, squashed head he appears to be canine, but on further inspection, with his magenta glow, he looks a dead ringer for the Pink Panther's sunburnt sibling.
Spike and Berlino's interaction was fascinating.
It's not out of the question to suggest David Attenborough's dulcet tones would provide fitting commentary to their horseplay.
Spike, with his sunshades and his posturing, is the straight man to Berlino's slapstick silliness - athletics' very own Abbott and Costello.
So while the world catches its breath and wonders how Bolt can be tested without a Boeing 747 strapped to his back, the stage is set for a genuine double act to dominate world athletics.
They'd even give the Chuckle Brothers a run for their money.
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Comments
Oh Belino is so cute. I am
Oh Belino is so cute. I am sure he stole the show!
What`s the point?
I really don`t se why someone should start arguing about racism when the article never alludes to any racial connotation.
I am led to believe that you are prone to see racial differences everywhere and you are oversensitive with that issue.
Loved the bear.
subject
While I truly enjoyed your article titled "Athletics has a. New star and it's not Usain Bolt". I took offense to your reference to Mr. Usain Bolt as the"boy" from Trelawny.
You could say Bolt is a boy
You could say Bolt is a boy as far as age wise. My son is in his 20's and I am almost old enough to be his grandfather {if his mother had him at 18}. There is no harm in using the term boy but, young man is a better way to respect him as an individual. He has my respect as a track athlete.
Much Ado About Nothing
I am a black man from Jamaica. I dont believe its a big issue calling Bolt a 'boy'. I dont believe the writer is being racist. I dont believe it was used in a belittling manner. Respect
Rohan, Thank you for your
Rohan,
Thank you for your comment. I can assure you that there are no racist undertones in the above article. My reference to Usain Bolt as 'the boy from Trelawny' came about for two reasons. Firstly, to highlight the fact that having just celebrated his 23rd birthday, Bolt is astonishingly young for all that he has achieved within his sport. Secondly, to portray someone that has been called things such as 'superman' and 'freak' in recent weeks in a more humane light. In other words, to make the point that not that long ago, Bolt was a boy, living in a relatively remote part of the world, and to highlight the meteoric rise he has made as a sportsman in recent years.
I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you, along with all of our readers, that morethanthegames has never, and would never impart any racist sentiments.
I hope that clears everything up
Gerard Meagher
@Rohan, 'boy' is a term of
@Rohan, 'boy' is a term of friendship in the UK and by the looks of things this is a UK website. American social rules belong in America.
Usain Bolt: A boy, or a Man?
Mr.Gerard Meagher,
While I truly enjoyed your article titled "Athletics has a. New star and it's not Usain Bolt". I took offense to your reference to Mr. Usain Bolt as the"boy" from Trelawny.
Usain Bolt is a man, a blackman I might add; but a man, nonthelesss.While it might be a stretch to assume that you are probably r*****. I can not ignore the fact; that you are a whiteman addressing a blackman "a boy".
Thank you
Rohan
Usain Bolt: A boy, or a Man?
Mr.Gerard Meagher,
While I truly enjoyed your article titled "Athletics has a. New star and it's not Usain Bolt". I took offense to your reference to Mr. Usain Bolt as the"boy" from Trelawny.
Usain Bolt is a man, a blackman I might add; but a man, nonthelesss.While it might be a stretch to assume that you are probably racist. I can not ignore the fact; that you are a whiteman addressing a blackman "a boy".
Thank you
Rohan
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