of January 11, 2004, I named the then fledgling Usain Bolt, as one of the 'Top Ten Personalities of 2003', describing him as "the inspirational future of track and field". Well, my dears, it is now August 22, 2008, and that future has arrived, and how truly inspiring!
Oh my word, dears, mine eyes have seen the glory of this nation through the gifted and talented sons and daughters, as exemplified by the awe-inspiring exploits of one of the greatest track and field athletes of our time - Usain Bolt, and it does make one proud!
In fact, Mr Bolt, please allow a grateful nation to bask in the reflection of your great and immortal performances. And if grown men choke up and their emotions give way to tears and otherwise coherent people are reduced to incoherent babbling, and women and young girls swoon in your wake, we humbly crave your indulgence. This is not only your finest hour (to date), it is a moment in which you carried the weight, hopes and aspirations of a nation on your young shoulders and you not only bore up well, you carried us all into a euphoric state of being.
Joint effort
And do remember that it was a joint effort, as we your countrymen, albeit spiritually and vicariously carried you on high across the finish line in your quest for gold in both the Olympic 100 and 200-metre dashes in every one of your races, leading you to your date with destiny.
And as we ponder the renaming of streets, highways and boulevards, establish scholarships and track and field colleges, pronounce and pontificate, do so forgive us, please, as you know we must break out the champagne and celebrate your triumphs.
Usain Bolt, we salute you! We honour you! We revere you! And we commend your authenticity! You, a truly great Jamaican, who has now come into your own and in so doing, inspired and humbled your nation by your awesome display of talent and playful exuberance.
Foretold and predicted
Oh, precious angels, as it was written, foretold and predicted, Usain Bolt not only stuck gold in Beijing, China, he did so twice, demolishing his rivals and naysayers in his wake. He did so with two eloquent world records that patrons, who in the stadium, saluting his spectacular feat on the eve of his birthday, broke into the 'Happy Birthday' chorus.
And dears, it is definitely the age of Leo, as also celebrating their birthdays are Olympian Kathy Rattray-Williams, who celebrated on Tuesday, August 19, and the track darling Sherone Simpson who celebrated her special day on August 12.
Champagne toasts all around with beluga treats!
As for Messrs Costas and Boldon, we here in Jamaica, found nothing distasteful in Usain Bolt's 'show-boating' save and except that had he not done so, he would have totally obliterated the 100-metre world record which, no doubt, would have caused you gentlemen, further agony!
