¶2012OT w100H—Dawn Harper 12.73

[110hedgeNYC]

i agree with mump boy.

it's one thing to be media savvy, as I suppose Lolo is to a degree. it's another thing, however, to be grating, to constantly commit TMI and to be relentlessly self-consumed. This tendency will gradually turn people off.

I used to kind of like Lolo, but I've reached saturation and now find her antics and personality annoying. she comes off tacky and a little air-headed. she doesn't even seem capable of describing what she's doing (or not doing) technically to a lay audience, which seems weak for an athlete of her stature.

watched Jay Leno. it wasn't a train wreck, but it wasn't good either.

she did herself, her competitors/U.S.A. teammates (namely Wells and Harper) and the sport a disservice by not providing any context or particulars on the Olympic Trials. She could have done this in 1-2 sentences, that's all that was needed and would have taken 20-30 seconds. then, she could have resumed chattiness and Tim Tebow references. tacky.

[j-a-m]

she did herself, her competitors/U.S.A. teammates (namely Wells and Harper) and the sport a disservice by not providing any context or particulars on the Olympic Trials. She could have done this in 1-2 sentences, that's all that was needed and would have taken 20-30 seconds. then, she could have resumed chattiness and Tim Tebow references. tacky.

That's exactly my criticism of Lolo. She should feel free to celebrate all she wants after making the team, but once she appears on Leno, at least show some respect of your sport and your competitors.

[110hedgeNYC]

she did herself, her competitors/U.S.A. teammates (namely Wells and Harper) and the sport a disservice by not providing any context or particulars on the Olympic Trials. She could have done this in 1-2 sentences, that's all that was needed and would have taken 20-30 seconds. then, she could have resumed chattiness and Tim Tebow references. tacky.

That's exactly my criticism of Lolo. She should feel free to celebrate all she wants after making the team, but once she appears on Leno, at least show some respect of your sport and your competitors.

complete agreement. it was disrespectful, and also counterproductive (i.e. it should have occurred to her that by acting as a good ambassador to the sport she also elevates her status by both showing respect and helping casual observers better grasp the magnitude of her achievements - without coming off as self-aggrandizing).

[ATK]

That press conference was horrendous to watch, there is not one ounce of humility. It is not her fault that the questions are directed at her but it is her fault that she self servingly answers, all of them without reference to her competitors at all. She goes on and on about ME ME ME ME ME. The only time she acknowledges the winner is to make some snide remark about Dawn coming 3rd in 08. There is no problem with trying to gaining attention but it would be behove her try and do it in a less obnoxious way. There is no reason that you can't be media savvy and nice at the same time. As for the virginity thing !! it's just plain desperate and embarrassing

She needs to go watch the womens 800m press conference.
Alysia was obviously getting most questions, but her respect and ability to keep the other two athletes involved and actually interested when she was answering was amazing. Something Lolo can learn from.

[lonewolf]

Lets see.. I think most, with the exception of NPE, will acknowledge that Lolo is passably attractive, a better than average athlete, reasonably articulate, reportedly generous, presumably moral, functionally intelligent, promotionally aware so why are so many eager to throw her under the bus because she does not comport herself in accordance with their personal opinion of what is "right" or "fair" in every situation?
C'mon, the girl is just making a living. I have never heard her bad mouth anyone. She is under no obligation to promote anyone else or avoid attention. Leno invited her. He apparently did not invite Wells and Harper. Is that her fault?
This is a unique time and circumstance and ya gotta strike when the iron is hot. Go, Lolo!!

[j-a-m]

She is under no obligation to promote anyone else or avoid attention.

No obligation, but recognizing Harper and Wells would show respect to her sport and her competitors. And if she doesn't, it seems fair to criticize her for showing a lack of respect, not more, not less.

[marknhj]

i agree with mump boy.

it's one thing to be media savvy, as I suppose Lolo is to a degree. it's another thing, however, to be grating, to constantly commit TMI and to be relentlessly self-consumed. This tendency will gradually turn people off.

I used to kind of like Lolo, but I've reached saturation and now find her antics and personality annoying. she comes off tacky and a little air-headed. she doesn't even seem capable of describing what she's doing (or not doing) technically to a lay audience, which seems weak for an athlete of her stature.

watched Jay Leno. it wasn't a train wreck, but it wasn't good either.

she did herself, her competitors/U.S.A. teammates (namely Wells and Harper) and the sport a disservice by not providing any context or particulars on the Olympic Trials. She could have done this in 1-2 sentences, that's all that was needed and would have taken 20-30 seconds. then, she could have resumed chattiness and Tim Tebow references. tacky.

Yes, I'm in agreement your view and mumps. I used to like Lolo and admired how she handled her 2008 disappointment. But it's just got too much. I don't blame her for cashing in, but, to me, she's morphed into a narcissist with probable intimacy issues who is one hurdle short of a complete race (I saw her on a BET show a month ago and she did seem a little, "air-headed").

I now find her and her antics irritating to the max and assume she'll try and get herself a tacky dating reality show after London. I've now turned off and tuned out...

[jazzcyclist]

Lets see.. I think most, with the exception of NPE, will acknowledge that Lolo is passably attractive, a better than average athlete, reasonably articulate, reportedly generous, presumably moral, functionally intelligent, promotionally aware so why are so many eager to throw her under the bus because she does not comport herself in accordance with their personal opinion of what is "right" or "fair" in every situation?
C'mon, the girl is just making a living. I have never heard her bad mouth anyone. She is under no obligation to promote anyone else or avoid attention. Leno invited her. He apparently did not invite Wells and Harper. Is that her fault?
This is a unique time and circumstance and ya gotta strike when the iron is hot. Go, Lolo!!

Amen lonewolf. Amen!

By the way, I wonder what these folks thought of Gwen Torrence's press conference in 1992.

[SevenOf Nine]

or maybe Lolo is just using the track and field career as a platform to do other things. There is a saying that the ones who don't have the talent or abilities often use other things to market themselves. Not to say that Lolo is not talented she has gone this far and is an elite athlete so I am not going to take anything away from her but she has been inconsisent and her careers expentacy is smilar to that of a gymnast there is a possibilty that this will be her last Olympics especially that she has been plagued by a spinal injury .The media like anything else lives to get a story she is just making the most off of her 15 minutes of fame she has been a open book for herself which the media is attracted too unlike Allyson and Carmelita who choose to keep their lives very private.She probably knows deep down that all these commericals, being on primetime, posing nude, etc is not going to last forever.Making any medal will be good for her in the level she is in. Most track and field athletes live and breathe that sport like Dawn Harper but Lolo probably knows that she does not have the luxury to do this for another four years. Getting herself out there so she becomes irresistable to sponsors and may use this to find other forms of work for herself.

[gh]

at this point (late to the game I realize), allow me to suggest that if you wanna get into the noncompetitive aspects of the Lolo Phenomenon, go to this thread

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47270

[26mi235]

To me her flinch was blatant, and I don't know how anyone could have missed it. I've seen less noticeable flinches result in false starts or warnings numerous times, and was suprised it was ignored in such an important competition.

I like them being tight on false starting. However, for the most part, a flinch is not really a false start. Rarely does an athlete gain from the flinch, and it usually has little to do with starting prematurely. It can cause problems by setting other athletes off, although when called before the gun, it is not yet affecting anyone's race. In races beyond 110, the flinches have almost no effect on others (leave aside 1500+ races where FSs are a different deal) because the separation of the athletes isolate them. There are, of course the considerations that flinches set off the sensors in the blocks.

I would not mind a dual FS rule -- jumping the gun is a one-and-done FS; flinching is you-get-one.

[GDAWG]

If she successfully repeats, it'll be hard for the media to ignore Dawn Harper. In order for that to happen though, Sally Pearson has to slip up and she has to race at her absolute best.

[jazzcyclist]

If she successfully repeats, it'll be hard for the media to ignore Dawn Harper. In order for that to happen though, Sally Pearson has to slip up and she has to race at her absolute best.

Isn't that what happened in 2008 with Lolo? Who says lightning can't strike twice?

[GDAWG]

If she successfully repeats, it'll be hard for the media to ignore Dawn Harper. In order for that to happen though, Sally Pearson has to slip up and she has to race at her absolute best.

Isn't that what happened in 2008 with Lolo? Who says lightning can't strike twice?

If it does, it will be hard for the media to ignore her. It could happen. She went under the radar after Beijing, but I don't see it happening it again if lightning does strike twice. This could be a fantastic Olympics for USA Women.

[Speedster]

If she successfully repeats, it'll be hard for the media to ignore Dawn Harper. In order for that to happen though, Sally Pearson has to slip up and she has to race at her absolute best.

Isn't that what happened in 2008 with Lolo? Who says lightning can't strike twice?

Lolo's technique isn't as consistent as Sally's, though I think both have similar flat speed.

[mal]

If she successfully repeats, it'll be hard for the media to ignore Dawn Harper. In order for that to happen though, Sally Pearson has to slip up and she has to race at her absolute best.

Isn't that what happened in 2008 with Lolo? Who says lightning can't strike twice?

Lolo's technique isn't as consistent as Sally's, though I think both have similar flat speed.

11.12 vs 11.24

[asindc]

If she successfully repeats, it'll be hard for the media to ignore Dawn Harper. In order for that to happen though, Sally Pearson has to slip up and she has to race at her absolute best.

Isn't that what happened in 2008 with Lolo? Who says lightning can't strike twice?

Lolo's technique isn't as consistent as Sally's, though I think both have similar flat speed.

11.12 vs 11.24

How does this post contradict what he said?

[26mi235]

It does not need to be read as contradicting the statement; rather it clarifies. I gives information that helps people more than an opinion which is of uncertain veracity (not to disparage the veracity; even if it is 99% it is not known to be so by all readers).

[neion]

To me her flinch was blatant, and I don't know how anyone could have missed it. I've seen less noticeable flinches result in false starts or warnings numerous times, and was suprised it was ignored in such an important competition.

Didn't Queen Harrison get DQ'd for a similar flinch? At least that is what I heard.

[jazzcyclist]

To me her flinch was blatant, and I don't know how anyone could have missed it. I've seen less noticeable flinches result in false starts or warnings numerous times, and was suprised it was ignored in such an important competition.

Didn't Queen Harrison get DQ'd for a similar flinch? At least that is what I heard.

Harrison ran under protest and was reinstated. However, I will admit that when I saw it on TV, I thought Lolo would get disqualified.