quote:

Bizarre Protest by Smith, Carlos Tarnishes Medals
by Brent Musburger

MEXICO CITY-Tommie Smith and John Carlos must be labeled unimaginative blokes if they can't come up with a stronger and more effective protest than the one they staged her last night during the Olympic medal ceremony honoring their accomplishments in the 200-meter run.

Smith and Carlos looked like a couple of black-skinned storm troopers, holding aloft their black-gloved hands during the playing of the National Anthem. They sprinkled their symbolism with black track shoes and black scarfs and black power medals. It's destined to go down as the most unsubtle demonstration in the history of protest.

But you've got to give Smith and Carlos credit for one thing. They knew how to deliver whatever it was they were trying to deliver on international television, thus insuring maximum embarrassment for the country that is picking up the tab for their room and board here in Mexico City. One gets a little tired of having the United States run down by athletes who are enjoying themselves at the expense of their country.

Protesting and working constructively against racism in the United States is one thing, but airing one's dirty clothing before the entire world during a fun and games tournament was no more than a juvenile gesture by a couple of athletes who should have known better.

If Smith and Carlos were convinced that the ends justified their black power demonstration during the National Anthem, they should have avoided the award ceremony altogether. If it's true, as Hayes Jones says, that an athlete competes for himself but walks to the stand for his country, then a more courageous protest would have been for Smith and Carlos simply to stay away and not pick up their medals.

Their ignoble performance on the victory stand completely overshadowed a magnificent performance by two black athletes. It's a shame. Smith will not now be remembered as that splendid runner who so thoroughly demolished the world's record that he ran the last 10 yards with both arms held high in triumph over his head as he crashed through the finish line in the fantastic time of 19.8.

He will instead be remembered as the militant black who shook a black glove and black track shoe during the playing of the National Anthem. It hardly seems on the level with his first accomplishment, and it did absolutely nothing to relax racial tensions any place.

<end of swipe>

then in 1999 he followed up it like this:

Musburger, now with ABC Sports, said yesterday that his words were ''a bit harsh,'' yet questioned the value of the gloved-fist salute. ''Did it improve anything?'' he asked, then added, ''Smith and Carlos aside, I object to using the Olympic awards stand to make a political statement.''

summation:

eff a Brent Musburger then, now, and forever