Just making a constructive suggestion for our men's (and women's) track relay teams for the next Olympics-- it's pathetic that our senior level track stars can't seem to execute a simple baton pass that HS kids regularly do without problems.

The problems of the US track sprint relay teams are so reminiscent of the problems of the recent US men's international basketball teams-- too much talent, but too little teamwork and too little execution of basic fundamentals. Interviewed after the latest men's relay fiasco, Tyson Gay (who dropped the baton) was asked why the men had a problem with the baton exchange; Gay replied that the team had "practiced a couple days ago, and we were sharp"-- A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO! What the heck have these guys been doing with all their free time? Gay (like the other members of his relay team) hasn't even had a race since Saturday night-- don't you think he and these other prima donnas could have found more time (and reason!) to practice their exchanges recently more than once A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO!

We think we can just toss out 4 better sprinters than the other countries and just chalk up another gold medal. The US had won the 4x100 men's relay in 15 of 21 Olympic Games, and of those 6 misses, I'll bet I've seen the US be disqualified for failing to pass the baton in the passing zone, going out of its lane, or dropping the baton at least 2-3 times. Marion Jones (when she wasn't cheating with "the clear") managed to sabotage the women's relay 4 years ago, as well.

As bad as the exchanges always are for the US relay teams, the problem is even more maddening because usually (as was the case in both of today's races), the US team is so far ahead based on raw team speed, that the two exchangers could slow to a mere trot to ensure the baton pass happens without mishap, and still have the speed to win the gold medal-- they're screwing up needlessly, while leading the race by large margins. Yes, the Jamaican team has the speed to challenge the US in this year's games, but the Jamaicans weren't even in the US heats today, and the Jamaicans don't have smooth, high speed exchanges either. It's not like Phelps and the US freestyle swim team vs. the French, where the French had as good or better team speed as the US-- most of the time, all the Americans in the track sprints have to do is stay on their feet, in their lane, and pass the baton in the exchange zone without dropping it, and they are going to win the Gold Medal... seems like the perfect environment for Coach K to impose some of his patented leadership and discipline on a fractious, egotistical bunch of prima donnas.