KNOCK ON WOOD : History in the blink of an eye
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008
There's an old stand-up bit by Richard Pryor about having to be home by 11 p.m. as a teenager but that nothing ever happened until 11: 30 p.m.
"You walk up to a brother standing on the corner and ask him what he's doing. ' I'm wait'n' on 11: 30. What do you think I'm doing ? Nothing happens before 11: 30 !'"
Obviously, the joke is funnier the way Pryor told it, but Friday night something very big could happen before 11 p.m. in the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center in Friday's final race in the Tyson Invitational.
Fayetteville's own Wallace Spearmon will attempt to break his own American record of 20. 10 in the 200-meter dash at 9: 55 p.m. and if everything lines up just right, the sinewy ex-Razorback and ex-Purple Bulldog could break the world record of 19. 92 held by Frankie Fredericks of Namibia.
If Spearmon can top or come close to either of those marks that would certainly qualify as something, even in the late Richard Pryor's book.
Friday will be Spearmon's first and likely only indoor appearance of the year. With this being an Olympic year, he will train through the indoor season in order to be at his best of the USA Olympic Trials, held June 27 through July 6 at Eugene, Ore.
Like every other top track and field athlete, he's putting everything into making his country's Olympic squad for the Beijing Games, which begin in August.
If this race were held almost anywhere else in the world, Spearmon probably wouldn't consider attempting a record-setting run at this point in his training.
But the lanes at the Tyson Center are special, not just because Spearmon has trained on them since his prep days at Fayetteville High or that he set his 200 U. S. record on them as a Razorback.
The lanes are internationally known for being fast. That's why the 200 and all of the other events on Friday are packed with talent that will no doubt show up at the Olympic Trials in June and even the Olympics in August.
Spearmon related on Monday how ideal it is for such a fine track to be located in his hometown, but how it's become somewhat of an ordeal because many of his friends and acquaintances on the pro track circuit have been calling him to see if he can help get them in the event.
Like in the past, event organizer and former Razorback Artie Huff is in the unenviable position of turning down many excellent athletes for inclusion in the Tyson Invitational.
The meet is going to be an early showcase for some of the best talent you will see time and again this year if you follow track.
All 14 events of the invitational, which begins promptly at 8 p.m. and should end right around 10 p. m., are loaded, but the collegiate 4 x 400, the women's pole vault, the men's 800 and mile runs and the shot put would be standout events almost anywhere in the country.
While tickets are going fast, some are still available by calling 1-800-766-4626. If you wait until at the door, all of the reserved seats will likely be gone for the event, which ESPN 2 is taping for replay on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.
So, if you are waiting on 11: 30 p.m. for something to happen Friday, why not do it at the Tyson Center ?
You might just see Spearmon make history in the blink of an eye.
Terry J. Wood is the sports editor for the Northwest Arkansas Times.
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