Jacques Rogge Ripping into Usain Bolt?

Jamaica's Usain Bolt is the second athlete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics to leave me absolutely speechless.

He not only had an unsuspected victory in the 100 meter race, but he won with a world record time of 9.69 seconds while pulling up before the finish, and followed that with another world record win in the 200 with a time of 19.30 seconds.

Bolt can be looked at as a savior of the Olympic Games post Michael Phelps, the human fish who captivated so many of us in the first week.

We all love to see our countrymen and women go out and win medals with great performances. I certainly feel that way every time an American is competing in an event.

But when someone can do what Bolt did in a race largely dominated by Americans, I have to commend him and give the respect he's due.

Breaking records formerly held by the likes of Olympic heroes Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson, Bolt went out and methodically earned his place in history.

So what did IOC President Jacques Rogge decide to bring center stage in this Olympics?

China's potential age scandal? The wrestler who tossed his bronze medal onto the ground during the medal ceremony? China's unfulfilled promises in getting the games? The heartbreak for the Bachman family after the unprovoked attack? Nope.

He decided to rip into Usain Bolt's celebration after the biggest moment of his life.

It never made sense to me that the bigger heads waste time scratching at the smaller bait when there is so much on the table.

It's like when a policeman decides to prey on people with a missing tail light in a crime-infested neighborhood. There is so much he could be attending to, yet he decides to hassle people who probably work their butts off to live and never committed a crime in their lives.

Bolt worked his butt off to double in the Olympics' most intimidating sprints, and he most certainly deserves to celebrate a bit.

Rogge was quoted saying this in response to Bolt's celebrations after his victories:

“That’s not the way we perceive being a champion,” Rogge said of the Jamaican sprinter. “I have no problem with him doing a show. I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish, and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 meters.”

Gestures? What?

Nobody seemed to care when Michael Phelps and the relay team became visually excited and began to exclaim their celebration after their defeat of the trash-talking French, and I loved it.

What is a victory you are not allowed to celebrate?

What Bolt did was no more degrading or inherently wrong than any other Olympic champion's excitement. He saw his work pay off in world record fashion, and he was happy about it.

At least he didn't lie about his age to do it.

Now Rogge wants to bring his name up and shed negative light on his achievements? That is terribly unfair and un-called for.

Maybe Rogge is excited that the IOC finally did a decent job judging gymnastics and wanted to lash-out on someone. It shouldn't have been Bolt.

We are left with only some media sources reporting on the potential age scandal from the host country that may potentially give the United States gold.

The subject was downplayed until the IOC could no longer ignore it. Instead of giving an in-depth analysis of that situation, we get Rogge attacking Bolt.

Will we ever find out more about the attack on Todd and Barbara Bachman that left Todd Bachman dead and Barbara in critical condition? Why are we worried about Usain Bolt?

It just reflects the notion in our society that the ones who reside on the lower level get stepped on the most, even when it may not be fully justified.

Bolt probably was amazed to hear his name in this ridiculous mess, and other athletes didn't find him disrespectful at all in defeat.

American Shawn Crawford said, “I don’t feel like he’s being disrespectful,” and Bolt, "deserves to dance.”

Yes he did, and it wasn't done in a way that should be deemed disrespectful.

If Jacques Rogge and the IOC are going to try and make a statement, it shouldn't be directed at a sprinter who helped to inject life into the Olympic Games that were sure to suffer after the departure of Phelps.

It shouldn't be directed at a harmless celebration of a man who did his share to reach the pinnacle of the Olympic stage.

It should be against those who work to tarnish the legacy of what the Olympics should be about: fair competition, equality, and integrity.

Now, what was that about potential scandal?