{"id":589,"date":"2011-10-01T07:55:00","date_gmt":"2011-10-01T14:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=589"},"modified":"2011-10-01T07:55:00","modified_gmt":"2011-10-01T14:55:00","slug":"where-is-our-legendary-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=589","title":{"rendered":"Where is Our Legendary Leadership?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"image\"<\/a>Recently the conversation has resurfaced regarding the CEO position at USATF \u2013 specifically the fact that the position is STILL unfilled, and the difficulty that the organization has had with respect to the process. <\/p>\n

As I read the various comments that have been made, I wonder what has happened to the leadership of this sport over the years? Because when I look at traditional track powers like Britain, Russia and Cuba, I see the legends of the sport from their countries actively involved to help move the sport forward with Sebastian Coe, Sergei Bubka and Alberto Juantorena all in major roles within the sport. <\/p>\n

Coe was appointed President of the British AAA in 1998, and is currently serving as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Bubka is a Council Member of the Ukrainian Federation, and has been an IAAF Council Member since 2001, currently serving in a Vice President\u2019s role. And Juantorena is Vice Minister of Sport in Cuba and a member of the IAAF Council as well as Senior Vice President of the Cuban Olympic Committee. And while not in quite the same category star quality wise, Frank Fredericks, Nawal El Moutawakel, and Irina Szewinska \u2013 all serve on the IAAF Council. <\/p>\n

In contrast none of the U.S.\u2019s former track and field \u201clegends\u201d have a presence within the sport \u2013 either via USATF or the IAAF. The closest has been Edwin Moses who has done extensive work with the Laureus World Sports Academy, as its inaugural Chairman, as well as serving as a member of the IOC Ethics Commission since 2000. So while he has had tremendous global involvement in sport, we here in the U.S. have not had the benefit of his abilities here at home. <\/p>\n

Yes, I know that USATF hired former hurdler Benita Fitgerald Mosely as Chief of Sport Performance. However, and no disrespect to Ms. Mosely, I\u2019m talking about star quality, clout \u2013 someone that could become a mover and shaker within the sport. I\u2019m talking about an Edwin Moses, Evelyn Ashford, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson type \u201clegend\u201d \u2013 someone whose name and accomplishments are on par with Bubka, Coe and Juantorena. In short an athlete whose name alone would give them instant respect. <\/p>\n

I often wonder why other nations find their top athletes coming back to help build the sport but our top level athletes don\u2019t \u2013 at least not organizationally or politically. We have athletes that come back to impart knowledge on other athletes as coaches \u2013 Jon Drummond, Leroy Burrell, Harvey Glance, Alberto Salazar, Johnny Gray and Mike Powell come to mid \u2013 but I\u2019m talking about top level leadership positions within the sport. Because right now when leadership seems to be sorely lacking, we could use the star power that a \u201clegend\u201d could bring to USATF. Not just in terms of name recognition, though that might help, but in terms of networking, coalition building, and bringing respect to the organization from our peers. We could use someone like an Edwin Moses interfacing with the Coe\u2019s, Bubkas, and Juantorena\u2019s that are becoming the global face of track and field. We too could use that sort of global presence. <\/p>\n

Personally, I see that as the first step in restoring track and field in this country \u2013 bringing a \u201clegend\u201d back into the fold. I say first step because in one respect USATF got it right with their outrageous job description for the CEO position. All that is mentioned within it is necessary to bring to the table to restore the sport to glory in this country. The problem is that \u201cSuperman\u201d doesn\u2019t exist \u2013 there is no single person that would ever fit that job description. So looking for \u201cThe One\u201d based upon that is a failed process before it begins. However, broken up into a set of parts, it could be actualized \u2013 the first step being to secure a \u201clegend\u201d and adding just the right \u201cparts\u201d to the equation. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s the key in my humble opinion, legendary leadership \u2013 which is proving to work for others \u2013 with a dash of additional leadership gained not from the track or field, but from having worked in the trenches. And I think I know just the right combination that would work, because we do have some great leaders out there that possess the right mix of skills and qualities. <\/p>\n

To be continued \u2026..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recently the conversation has resurfaced regarding the CEO position at USATF \u2013 specifically the fact that the position is STILL unfilled, and the difficulty that the organization has had with respect to the process. As I read the various comments that have been made, I wonder what has happened to the leadership of this sport over the years? Because when I look at traditional track powers like Britain, Russia and Cuba, I see the legends of the sport from their countries actively involved to help move the sport forward with Sebastian Coe, Sergei Bubka and Alberto Juantorena all in major roles within the sport. Coe was appointed President of the British AAA in 1998, and is currently serving as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Bubka is a Council Member of the Ukrainian Federation, and has been an IAAF Council Member since 2001, currently serving in a Vice President\u2019s role. And Juantorena is Vice Minister of Sport in Cuba and a member of the IAAF Council as well as Senior Vice President of the Cuban Olympic Committee. And while not in quite the same category star quality wise, Frank Fredericks, Nawal El Moutawakel, and Irina Szewinska \u2013 all serve on the IAAF Council. In contrast none of the U.S.\u2019s former track and field \u201clegends\u201d have a presence within the sport \u2013 either via USATF or the IAAF. The closest has been Edwin Moses who has done extensive work with the Laureus World Sports Academy, as its inaugural Chairman, as well as serving as a member of the IOC Ethics Commission since 2000. So while he has had tremendous global involvement in sport, we here in the U.S. have not had the benefit of his abilities here at home. Yes, I know that USATF hired former hurdler Benita Fitgerald Mosely as Chief of Sport Performance. However, and no disrespect to Ms. Mosely, I\u2019m talking about star quality, clout \u2013 someone that could become a mover and shaker within the sport. I\u2019m talking about an Edwin Moses, Evelyn Ashford, Carl Lewis, Michael Johnson type \u201clegend\u201d \u2013 someone whose name and accomplishments are on par with Bubka, Coe and Juantorena. In short an athlete whose name alone would give them instant respect. I often wonder why other nations find their top athletes coming back to help build the sport but our top level athletes don\u2019t \u2013 at least not organizationally or politically. We have athletes that come back to impart knowledge on other athletes as coaches \u2013 Jon Drummond, Leroy Burrell, Harvey Glance, Alberto Salazar, Johnny Gray and Mike Powell come to mid \u2013 but I\u2019m talking about top level leadership positions within the sport. Because right now when leadership seems to be sorely lacking, we could use the star power that a \u201clegend\u201d could bring to USATF. Not just in terms of name recognition, though that might help, but in terms of networking, coalition building, and bringing respect to the organization from our peers. We could use someone like an Edwin Moses interfacing with the Coe\u2019s, Bubkas, and Juantorena\u2019s that are becoming the global face of track and field. We too could use that sort of global presence. Personally, I see that as the first step in restoring track and field in this country \u2013 bringing a \u201clegend\u201d back into the fold. I say first step because in one respect USATF got it right with their outrageous job description for the CEO position. All that is mentioned within it is necessary to bring to the table to restore the sport to glory in this country. The problem is that \u201cSuperman\u201d doesn\u2019t exist \u2013 there is no single person that would ever fit that job description. So looking for \u201cThe One\u201d based upon that is a failed process before it begins. However, broken up into a set of parts, it could be actualized \u2013 the first step being to secure a \u201clegend\u201d and adding just the right \u201cparts\u201d to the equation. That\u2019s the key in my humble opinion, legendary leadership \u2013 which is proving to work for others \u2013 with a dash of additional leadership gained not from the track or field, but from having worked in the trenches. And I think I know just the right combination that would work, because we do have some great leaders out there that possess the right mix of skills and qualities. To be continued \u2026..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa3DCY-9v","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2483,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=2483","url_meta":{"origin":589,"position":0},"title":"Why the Decline?","author":"CHill","date":"December 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Once upon a time, not that long ago, the US was a true power in the sport of track and field. By true power, I mean beyond just having many of the world's best athletes. That is almost a right of birth - a conversation for another day. Not that\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/trackchill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Track-Section-1-129x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":490,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=490","url_meta":{"origin":589,"position":1},"title":"USATF CEO Search \u2013 Another Bobble","author":"CHill","date":"May 26, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"USATF \u2013 USA Track and Field. The governing body of the sport in the United States of America. Outside of the IAAF, the body that should be the most powerful in the sport \u2013 in charge of the deepest strongest team on the planet. 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After all, I\u2019m not sure\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=397#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":244,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=244","url_meta":{"origin":589,"position":3},"title":"Coaches Association Emerging","author":"CHill","date":"October 27, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"As I take a look at the state of professionalism in the sport of track and field it comes to my attention that the coaches may be the ones to lead the way. In talking with various individuals regarding the current state of the sport I've received information on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":212,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=212","url_meta":{"origin":589,"position":4},"title":"Time for the US to Step Up and Host a World Championships","author":"CHill","date":"August 3, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"With two weeks until Worlds and no other meets to look forward to, my mind is now fixated on the World Championships and Berlin. The World Championships have been a staple in Europe since its' inception in 1983. So far eleven renditions of the meet have been held and all\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":345,"url":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=345","url_meta":{"origin":589,"position":5},"title":"Coaches Registry Latest Misstep of USATF Leadership","author":"CHill","date":"June 16, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"When discussing \u201cLeadership\u201d from a management perspective, it is often defined as the ability to motivate a group of people towards a common goal. Once again USATF management has shown that it is sorely lacking in this skill set. The latest drama emanating from the head office is the \u201c\u2019Coaches\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/?p=345#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/trackchill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}