September 22, 2012 Carl Lewis Is Running..

For Political Office Milik Robinson

If there was a roof over Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the frantic crowd would have certainly popped it off as they anxiously awaited the start of the mens 100 meter final. The 100 meters, the crown and jewel of any Olympic Games bestows upon its winner the glitzy title of The Worlds Fastest Man. Among the sprinters vying for the coveted title was the young American hopeful Carl Lewis. Lewis a tall, dark and sculpted man whos sheer athleticism, movie star smile, suave good looks and vibrant personality inevitably predestined him to become the star of these Olympic Games. Despite his physical attributes, Lewis was also shooting for history. No man since Jesse Owens in 1936 had won four Olympic Gold Medals in track and field competition in a single Olympic Games. The beginning of the quest for four began in the 100 meters. At the starters command all runners assembled into their blocks and patiently awaited the pistol to send them off. POW! The

starters pistol like a whip cracked into the pink Los Angeles sky. In a picture-perfect display of power, Lewis surged passed to field to claim his first of four gold medals and his place in history. In his illustrious career Lewis would claim a total of ten Olympic medals: nine gold, one silver. Somewhere, in unison with the stars and stripes a pride flag flew merrily in celebration of Carl Lewis many athletic achievements. Over a decade after winning the last of his gold medals, Carl Lewis is running a different race. To the disapproval of many, Carl Lewis is running for the New Jersey state senate. Its interesting how Lewis was respectable enough to represent his country in athletic competition but not sufficient enough to represent his district in the state senate. In recent years, many commoners, celebrities and even foreigners have run for public office with little public scrutiny and political experience. However, unlike his rich, famous or peasant-like counterparts a cloud of mystery has always ran with him. Lewis ability to outrun his competitors by at times the biggest of margins made him a household name in American sports. Despite all his accomplishments, Lewis could never distance himself from the speculations and allegations surrounding his sexuality. If Lewis Republican opponent doesnt beat him, the murkiness surrounding his orientation will. By no means was Lewis the most masculine of sprinters during his tenure in the sport. During his peak he drew comparisons to fellow female sprinter Florence Flo-Jo Griffith-Joyner whose loud, eccentric outfits were her suits of choice in running record breaking times. Lewis didnt help his case when he posed in heels and a womans leotard for a photo-shoot, or raced

with a braided mane or ultimately venturing into pop and dance music (topping it off with an offkey rendition of the national anthem at a 1993 Chicago Bulls game.)

Lewis refusal to address his sexuality adds more fuel to the mysterious fire. If Lewis is indeed gay: why is it so important that he confirms something that essentially is very obvious? Also, will Lewis orientation have any signifigance on future New jersey legislature? Setting his sexuality aside, a more legitimate reason should be presented as a reason for him not to run for office, afterall Maywood, New Jersey mayor Timonthy J. Eustance is gay (also running for state senate) and his city is doing just fine! There must be a more usable reason to deter Lewis from pursuing political office. Its a crisp, calm Monday afternoon in the Jersey suburbs. Carl is relaxing in his office, going over campaign strategies when he recieves and email from an unlikely person. With mounting curiosity he opens the email from the wife of republican congressman Pat Delaney. Through a screen Mrs. Delaney hurls bitter, sick, twisted, racial and homophobic charged offenses at Carl in response to his campaining for office. Whoopee! Republicans have discovered another reason to throw Lewis off the ballot. If being gay wasnt bad enough, then being black and gay is just downright sinful.

News of Mrs. Delaneys email spread like wildfire through Jersey news outlets. To her embarrassment and husbands absolute humiliation the letter caused both to to resign their positions in public office. A positive for Lewis, so you would think. With his name once again at the forefront of the news, media outlets deemed it necessary to increase the severity of the ridicule of Lewis running for office. Firing off various press, Gay Olympian Carl Lewis Announces Run For New Jersey State and Gay Lewis Runs For NJ Senate. If ever there was such a thing as a living contradiction, you could call upon Lewis campaign efforts to rebuttal the belief that all publicity is good publicity. Unsurprisingly Lewis well his naysayers managed to find yet another way to plant his mug on the front cover of a news periodical. In ugly, bolded, enlarged letters a title read Carl LewisIs Running for New Jersey State Senate. Will he finally address his sexuality? Though published in a lesser well virtually unknown publication, its author made no efforts in packing anything less than a knockout punch worth of insults and indecencies towards Lewis campaign efforts, going as far as suggesting Lewis alleged sexuality forbid him from obtaining lucrative endorsements at his peak of marketability. To add salt to his wounds, the author referenced the former track stars tone-deaf rendition of the national anthem as yet another reason for him to remain quiet and out of the public eye as he had for majority of the past decade. With Lewis once celebrated named being converted into a media punching bag, it didnt take a Harvard grad to pick up the clear sexual prejudice being chucked his way. If this election yielded anything positive for Lewis, it was the fact that he enjoys representing his people and country. After all, he did compete for his country in five consecutive Olympic Games. So whats

the difference in being a champion gay athlete on the worlds biggest stage and being a gay representative behind a closed door with fellow law makers? For five consecutive Olympics, Lewis ran with the hefty hopes and pressures of a whole nation upon his shoulders and not once did his knees buckle. The total commitment and determination to represent his country in the highest most respectable manner in front of billions should without a doubt carry over into his decision making as a government official, no matter who hes cuddling with in the comfort of his own home. As of late, in Lewis native New Jersey, residents have been enraged about hikes and taxes and cutbacks in education. As resident tempers reach a fever pitch, they should shift their focus to someone who could aid them. So what if Carl Lewis likes a little sugar in his bowl? He could be just the man to sweeten up the New Jersey department of education! Ask any gay politician! Sexuality does not influence decision making, period! If you are on your sickbed, I am sure your doctor would prescribe you the correct medication, and not a Diana Ross or Madonna greatest hits album to cure your pneumonia. In his career, Lewis in with all his extravagance, flair, and flamboyance competed and beat the seemingly socially superior masculine sprinters in his day. In his prime, he seemingly walked around snatching sprint titles like complimentary mints. So is it more respectable to be a gay athlete due to the lack of formal structure in sports? Across the US in state and national assemblies alike, a conscious effort is made to maintain a standard of tradition, meaning weeding out of outcasts (i.e. homosexuals). Regardless of the weeding efforts, there is still the likelihood of having a closeted politician in office. Like his contemporaries, many dont know he goes the other way, but yet he continues make

decisions that can either benefit or hinder the general public. Regardless of his sexuality, the politician is an everyday person who only wants the best for his people. As ever changing the times maybe, it is obvious that the public is not yet willing to allow any eccentrics or flashiness of an openly gay man in one of the most conservative, customary parts of American culture, politics. November elections are right around the corner, and the battle continues to ensue to clear Lewis name off the ballot. No matter how legendary Lewis stats were on the track, how many medals and world championship titles hes won; its looking more like a losing race. No the media badgering wont beat Lewis, not even anyone from the Republican Party. Carl Lewis is beating Carl Lewis. Being the circle in a roomful of squares is about to get Lewis rubbed off the voters paper rectangle.