Didn't Make The Team? It Must Be Racism

If a black person doesn’t get the outcome they want, it must be racism.

If enough black people keep trying this argument on every time they fail, they will make a self-fulfilling prophecy of the racism they perceive in every “white” institution and every social interaction with white people.

Suppose a person is falsely accused of racism when making decisions strictly according to transparent, non-racist criteria, or even going out of their way not to make negative decisions in situations involving black people, lest they be accused of racism. They will remember the injustice. If it happens enough, people who aren’t racist or are trying hard not to be will form the expectation that black people will play the race card whenever they get a negative outcome. For people who do harbour racist tendencies, witnessing such behaviour will only serve to reinforce them.

So good work, John Steffensen. By accusing Athletics Australia of institutionalized racism, you’ve reinforced the view that black people will cry racism every time they don’t get what they want and are therefore best avoided. Even worse, he’s actually accused Athletics Australia of “racial vilification”.

Do you even know what that phrase means, you dumb shit? Are you actually alleging that officials of Athletics Australia made statements to the effect of “You’re not good enough because you’re black”?

When pressed for an explanation of what, exactly were the alleged instances of racial vilification, his response was dissembling: "Read between the lines. I don't really have to explain anything to you."

Actually, if you make public allegations like this, you do.

The facts of the case are that no Australian athlete was able to meet the Olympic 400m A qualifying time of 45.30 sec, a pretty piss poor effort in itself. Consequently, Australia was allowed ONE entrant who had met the slower, B qualifying time, which had been bettered by both Steffensen and teenager Steve Solomon.

Steffensen’s best time for the year is 45.61, in February. In March, he beat Solomon at the Australian Olympic trial, but has since had difficulties with a hamstring injury. Solomon ran 45.52 in the Junior World Championships in Barcelona last week.

So, on one hand you have a guy with injury concerns who hasn’t run his best in six months. On the other, you have an in form guy, who has just run the fastest Australian time of the year. On top of that, he’s the future and Steffensen is the past.

That’s why Steve Solomon got the nod ahead of you, Steffensen, you ignorant, mouthy, bullshit artist. Additionally, without a massive chip on his shoulder, he has less weight to carry around the track.

Athletics Australia should definitely not put up with this crap. It’s much harder for institutions to sue for defamation, although clearly AA has been here. AA should try to educe an allegation from Steffensen about a specific person or people, who could them sue him.

Additionally, they should not give in to blackmail. If reports AA are wavering in their resolve are true, that is a cowardly disgrace and a travesty for Steve Solomon. Taxpayers should not stand for it. We’re the ones who are ultimately paying to watch the team on our TVs.

AA should just tell Steffensen to fuck off. Since we cannot produce even one athlete who can run an A qualifying time, Australia is unlikely to win a medal in the 4 x 400 relay. What is lost by excluding him from selection and replacing him with a young runner who will benefit from the experience and be far less disruptive to the team?

Update:

Steve Solomon just ran a personal best of 45.18 to win his heat and make the semi finals of the 400m, then another personal best of 44.97 to make the final. When did you last run sub 45, Steffensen, you mouthy cunt?