KnowHR Blog - Latest Comments in Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Cadile — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:07:21 -0000

So i guess a cuban musician should sing english so that an english man would be understood. We Jamaicans love our culture which makes us unique. Alot of foreigners are seeking to learn our creole. Neways stop bashing the young man he will soon learn. Not everyone learns so quickly when thrown into the limelight, plus some jamaican accent is hard to understand especially if they are fro the country, believe me im from the city and i have to listen carefully so i can understand some of them.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Cadile — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:59:47 -0000

Not because you're from the caribbean means that you'll understand wat a jamaican is saying. Within Jmaica you also have different accent. Im fromthe city so you'd understand me when i speak. Where Bolt is from their accent is alot deeper. Ive been places such as the US and people cant understand me even if i speak plain english. Sometime the accent is too deep so it may not sound like english. Wat i do is to try and speak like the americans so they can understand me. Sometime wen i heard a trini person speaking even if they are speaking english i cant understand some cuz their accent is too deep. So wat u expect him to do? an accent is very hard to change. Neways i understand he needs to learn but he has time and no one is perfect he is just coming into the limelight so give him the time to learn

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

dwight — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:46:11 -0000

people speak of him eating during an interview. but if any of you know what the team goes through to hide bolt so he can get a moment by himself. if he is to wait until the media is off his case he wouldnt eat till he was back in Jamaica. Blame them journalist who dont se the importance of a man having 5 minutes to eat without bombarding him with questions. Ato again tek weh youself

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

natasha — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:06:16 -0000

Has a person who resides in the UK. I find Ato Boldon comment toward Bolt to be a case of Jealously. I watched an interview with Bolt today and the young lad was well spoken and easily understood. Every nations speaks in their language and no one criticise, why if he speaks in is dialect someone got to criticise. People remember none of the caribbean island likes Jamaican. God bless that little island and all their althletes who have done them well. People like Ato boldon should be banned from the island. He had is opportunity in life, let the young lad enjoy his. Ato was not a great athlete anyway, he could not do what Bolt has done. He needs to shut is big lips.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

CB — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:56:13 -0000

Also, leave Ato alone. He is the same one who expects much greater things to come from Bolt and called him the "new technology" in track and field.

Ato will be the first person to admit that he talks a lot - that's just how he is - and he says what's on his mind.

I also don't think Ato is in any way jealous of Bolt. Ato was never a sprinter in many eyes because he did not have the body of a 'sprinter' - as a matter of fact, his first love was football and he started running very late. But for someone who was not a sprinter, he certainly showed a thing or 2 by winning four (4) Olympic medals (2 silver, 2 bronze) so Ato, more than anyone else, should understand Bolt's position because people are saying the same thing about Bolt, that his body is not that of a sprinter.

So don't hold it against him - I'm sure he means well and would like Mr. Bolt to keep every option open and not sabotage himself in any way.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

CB — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:32:22 -0000

Sportsmanlike behaviour =

Taking performance enhancing drugs

Getting a DUI
(Michael Phelps but it was brushed off because he was just a kid!)
I guess in the US 21 is a kid but not in Jamaica

The Jamaicans were so much fun to watch - like the girl who did the dutty wine head roll for the camera BEFORE the race!!

Lighten up - have some fun - I hear it makes you run faster

Trini

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Frank...The Senator — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:12:35 -0000

Hello Marcie...I totally agree with your sentiments. However, Mickkyme missed the points. This has nothing to do with the love between Trinidadians and Jamaicans... It does not even have to do with his celebratory antics. After all, the winner of the pole vault was flexing as if a body building contest and other winners resorted to unusual and child-like routines to express extreme joy.

It is Bolts other unexpected expressions which are of concern. Grimacing into the camera, eating during an interview, winking up where ever and when ever, and his ganster signs are what will thwart his chances of being included in other events, off the field.

Also, in all his interviews, those after the race and those done in Jamaica, he is difficult to understand.

Most Jamaica musicians make no effort to be understood, so the trend may well be for all Jamaicans to speak only to Jamaicans and not to the rest of the world. Yes...Michael Holding is a great example of a Jamaican who understands the importance of being understood by everyone. The point is quite simple... The young man should have been schooled in the mechanics of public speaking, converstion, camera manners and public decorum and etiquette.

If Jamaicans believe that those requirements are not necessary for the young man, then I hope they will share the responsibility for his not reaching his full business potential. "Make HAY WHEN THE SUN SHINES" is an axiom which is applicable for Bolt. Because of the explosive and highly tuned nature of this sport, his body has to be at peak and any injury can derail a career overnight. Therefore, while he is at the top, he has to capitailze on all opportunites to make $$$$ off the field. He has to be that Jamaican and Caribbean ambasador which has now been placed on his young head. STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT... Let us all help this young man to be the best he can while it is his moment in the sun.... or rather, on the world stage.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

mickkyme — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:52:40 -0000

I bet if it was a Trini man you all would not say anything. Well the fact still remains Trini's does not like Jamaican's. As an American congrats Bolt.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Marcia @ BullsEye — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:39:16 -0000

I very much appreciate the comments from Frank.

I know also that as a Caribbean man, he fully understands and appreciates the differences between a Usain Bolt and the Williams sisters.

No question about the importance of communication skills. I was an air traffic controller for 4 years and so specialized training in diction and clarity to make sure we met the industry standards was appropriate. Very similar to the type of speech training that radio professionals receive or corporate folks receive who might have strong regional accents.

With training, professionals like Mikey Holding, Ato Bolden etc learn to perform on the world's stage and manage their accents. For Bolt, this too will come. I didn't have a problem understanding him, and realized that after one has just finished a sprint, clarity might be sacrificed for purly physical reasons.

It's been less than a week and already we see an evolution as people learn about how to observe the strengths of a culture and put it in context.

On the business side, don't forget that PUMA, a global brand based in Germany, has rebuilt their brand globally by focusing on Jamaican athletes for the last 4 years. They, as sponsors, might have other demands. They might want to showcase what they see as Jamaican rather than what we might want to see as Americans.

It's part of our mission in HR to spot talent, and develop it to meet the needs of our spcific orgs. We should remember too that one size doesn't always fit all. What might work for a tech firm in Silicon Valley won't work in healthcare in South Florida. That's why mergers present such challenges.

We will probably be talking about this for a long time to come and it's all good.

Marcie

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Frank...The Senator — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:57:48 -0000

I just reread the comments of the head of the IOC, Jacques Rogge. Rogge felt that Bolt should have been more congratuatory to his fellow runners. Rogge wanted to express his dissatisfaction with Bolt's post race antics but did not know how. Congratulating other racers in not the expected thing to do. Those who happen to be close by MIGHT get a pat on the back or some kind words. The ususal action is to wave to the crowd, blow some kiss to MOM, grab the country's flag and run a victory lap.

It actually looks quite hyprocritical of Rogge not to comment on what happened to the Black CUBAN winner of the 110m hurdles. Nobody; NOT even ONE participant congratulated him for his gold winning performance. It was a sad moment in the Olympics...

Bolt is a young man who needs guidance for the role he must now play on the world's stage. Let all Jamaicans and Caricom persons join in celebration of this man who has made us all proud.

Frank

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Ron Ulrici — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:09:59 -0000

Frank,

So well said! It is no suprise that you are the honcho of a company focused on communication.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Frank...The Senator — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:58:47 -0000

From the blogs, I see the emphasis is on Usain's chest thumping antics... My concerns are slightly different, but all to do with his public image. While his unorthodox manner of celebrating surprised everyone, his immaturity and lack of camera etiquette manifested itself in his child-like "monkey face" grimaces into the cameras, not speaking coherently and, in the middle of an interview, stop to eat something... Someone in Jamaica should have predicted his rise to success and prepared him for such moments. Without giving up his Jamaica accent, he still needs to speak coherently. As a Caribbean man, I found it extremely difficult to understand what he was saying... Can you imagine what the rest of the world understood? Look at former West Indies Cricketer and, now, Commentator, Michael Holding. He maintains his unique Jamaican accent, with a cultured tone. Everyone on the Globe can easily understand Holding when he speaks. Yes, Bolt is only 21 and no Tiger Woods, but he still needed guidance in the field of public relations and interviews. He has to think about the real money in endorsemens. He is not an American, so he will not have that patriotic following like a US athlete. However, he would have a great chance to secure MEGA deals if his off-field behaviour was more main-stream. Do you remember how long Corporate America took before it gave big endorsements to the Williams sisters? They have an eccentric dad who seemed to do strange things at unexpected times.. It was only when he stepped aside that the endorsement came in.... Usain has to conform to the expected manner of behaviour, maturity, speach and etiquette associated with a 21 year old World Champion. Instead of defending his poor behaviour and speaking ability, Jamaicans should be assisting the young man to accelerate his learning of World Class Behaviour and Speach...

Frank

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Leonie — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:52:15 -0000

Culture or not ...the boy ran an amazingly fantastic race...He made me proud to be a Jamaican so all those moaners out there give us a break. When anyone else run and wins, pump their chest, cry with dignity as the Europeans expects us to do, you don\'t hear anything or anyone raising the alarm...so today its Jamaica day, lets celebrate!

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Frank Roche — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:04:16 -0000

All...I am letting the comments through even though it's clear that most of the people didn't even read the article above. It's just instructive...and in some cases, destructive...but we can learn. That's what I'm going with...and I'm not going to react...just watch and listen.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

DENNANGEL — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:50:00 -0000

I am not surprised by some of the comments coming from the Americans as much as i am disgust. Most of the americans are their athletes are SORE LOOSERS. How may times have we seen American Athletes bragging and behaving as if they are alone in the world, how may times, well i know its countless. The real problem is the performance of the JAMAICANS show up the true faith of the Americans and they dont like it. LISTEN TO ME AMERICANS, GET OVER IT, DEAL WITH IT, THE JAMAICANS ARE TRUE RUNNERS AND IF YOU THINKS THEY WERE ENHANCED BY ANYTHING IT WOULD DEFINATELY BE THE YELLOW YAM, CASSAVA AND THE STRONG CORNMEAL DUMPLINS. I am very proud of the Jamaica Athletes, all of them and u all should be proud too instead of critisizing. OTO BOLDEN eat your heart out with jealousy. Jamaicans are very excited when they work hard and achieve, Usains mother was just overjoyed and proud of her son and if she screamed and shouted with glow there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, i would do the same as a proud mother. This attachment below is a conversation of oto bolden and whoever his American buddy is, they disgust me. No matter what is said the fact is JAMAICA HAS THE WORLDS FASTEST MAN AND WOMAN IN THE WORLD AND NO-ONE CAN TAKE IT UNTIL THE LORD DECIDES ITS TIME, SO DEAL WITH IT.

Read the conversation below between Oto and American friend.

Ato, Ato Bolden ,thank you!!. You spoke as a true Trini. The behavior of the Jamaican athlete
after winning the 100m sprint was obnoxious, disrespectful and had no class for the
intemational stage. His mother's behavior when he won one (1) gold medal was deplorable and
I, being a Caribbean national was glad to know that I am not a Jamaican. I couldn't believe that
she went all the way to Beijing to be a national disgrace. I say national because the caribbean
community lives in unity with each other and when something like that happens, it cast a
gloomy shadow over the entire community. Imagine, Michael Phelp won EIGHT (8) GOLD
MEDALS. His mother was at every event, and with such an outstanding performance by her
son, she carried herself as a lady. I looked with disgust to see how the Jamaican woman was
just plowing through the stands, pushing everyone left, right. and center, screaming like a
banshee as though he had just won eight Gold medals. He needs to be reprimanded in such a
way that will send the message to all who dare to conduct hislher self in this manner that it will
not be tolerated. I know that if he was running under the USA banner he will be dealing with the
consequences.
Caribbean/American
8

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

cat — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:29:28 -0000

How come when Flo Jo broke the record back in the day n she celebrated before crossing the line or when Ato Boldon used to tear off his clothes after races he or Bob Costas never saw anything wrong then????? How come??????

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Renea — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:47:28 -0000

U guys don't see celebrating yet i wish u all could see the motorcade they had this morning in honour of the big man usain bolt. I wish u all could know him then u could find out that he is really a humble person and not one to be disrespectful to his peers or other people

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Rohan Northover — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:34:17 -0000

Congrats Usain, You have made us all proud
I would like if you could use this opportunity
to say to the jamaican "keep the crime down"

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Kelly — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:24:50 -0000

Americans complaining about a lack of sportmanship. How hypocritical.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

cee — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:40 -0000

I think the cultural context is important. If you read the news people in Jamaica were watching the Olympics from screens mounted in public places regardless of the threat of Hurricane Fay and when he won the pots and pans came out as people banged on them and danced in celebration. He was just doing what he had been brought up around and I so applaud him.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Jens G — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:24:49 -0000

During his legendary 100 metres sprint Usain Bolt was wearing an orange bracelet. The orange color has become a sort of ‘secrete’ signal to the world that there’s something wrong about the human rights in China. Also on the rostrum Bolt was wearing the orange bracelet.

So the Jamaican elite sprinter has achieved to break a world record and perhaps at the same time denounce that the Chinese authorities have failed to comply with the promises they have given as a condition for hosting the Olympics.

Danish artist Jens Galschiot is the architect of Thecolororange.net, a campaign promoting orange as the color symbolizing the human rights during the OG. He declares: I do not know Usain Bolt’s motives for wearing the bracelet, but we hope that the aim is to highlight the human rights in China. If so, Bolt has made an amazing stunt in front of millions of TV viewers in China and the rest of the world. Unfortunately he probably cannot say it openly, as the IOC might withdraw his medal, as they have emphasised that no political symbols whatsoever will be tolerated. So he will just have to say that he is fond of orange.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Meg Bear — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:11:28 -0000

Thanks Frank for showing the courage to change your mind. I find that the most impressive thing in this whole discussion.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Caddy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:35:19 -0000

I think that they are alot of double standands especially with some Americans. They criticise Bolt for his chest thumping. I dont think it's half as bad as the americans who before the end of the race were looking at each other and talking. Yall need to look it up and see for yourself. It was Justin Gatlin and a fellow USA teammate. The male USA athletes are the ones who are known to show-off. No one commented about that, but as soon as a Jamaican did it they have a problem. Well some people just dont like when others try to celebrate in their winnings, life is so unfair.

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

djvenom — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:37:05 -0000

if he slow down we complain that he didnt break the world record when he could. If he run leave them we say he embarass the rest , people putting usain in a lose- lose situation. But for me he is still the champ

Re: Why I’d Want Usain Bolt on My Team

Ben — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:32:09 -0000

Having spent my early in Jamaica. I've on occassion ran against a few of the top runners from Calabar H.S. It was customary then for the clear leader to "pull-up" so as not to embarrass us.