“Ten years ago, several Chinese women re-wrote the distance running record books, crediting a diet of turtle soup and caterpillars for the breakthrough.”
Chapter Fifteen
AUGUST
“Good evening, sports fans, and welcome to the Cable Sports Network’s ‘World of Sport.’ I’m H.R. Javitts.
“LaDewayne Morris, HIV positive, but still showing no symptoms of AIDS, led his Pistons basketball team to its tenth win in summer-league action. L.D. scored 24 points and tallied 17 assists as player-coach, only the third man to attempt the dual role in NBA history. The Pistons pounded the Jazz, 108-88.
“Chester ‘Bucky’ Rabbit, the colorful Yankees outfielder, says he’ll pursue Barry Bonds’ home run record seriously next season, after his bid for that is falling far short this year. Rabbit blames sore hands from a broken bat for his dearth of dingers this July, when he hit only five.
“Rabbit spoke to us from his Long Island mansion, where he takes two hundred swings a day in his customized practice facility.”
A film clip of the pudgy Rabbit, whaling at fastballs from a robot pitcher, amused John Corbin, who lay on the floor of his apartment, stretching and massaging his tender quadriceps.
The ball player was dressed in a Babe Ruth-era uniform. He spat tobacco juice at the camera, chortled, then went back to face the robot’s tireless arm.
“Six Chinese women runners were barred from competing at a late-summer track meet in Florence, Italy yesterday. These China Dolls were entered in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters but refused to submit to the pre-meet drug testing, citing religious and cultural prohibitions.
“Ten years ago, several Chinese women re-wrote the distance running record books, crediting a diet of turtle soup and caterpillars for the breakthrough.
“Coach Armando Animas, chief watchdog of U.S. drug testing, had this to say, when we caught up with him at Rio Grande State College in New Mexico this afternoon.”
Animas stood in a park, stopwatch in hand, while a dozen athletes whizzed past him on a woodchip path. He was obviously more interested in his runners than the interviewer.
“We’re always sorry when anyone is suspected of, or caught for, using illegal substances,” said the veteran coach. “The Italian officials are correct in pre-testing athletes at their meet, however. I’ve campaigned for years to get the Americans and Africans to do it.”
Javitts returned to the screen, wisecracking. “That’s it from me, ‘Home Run’ Javitts. I’m gonna eat some worms and then try out my new golf clubs!”
The jowly sportscaster tilted his head back, and dropped two gelatin worms into his gaping mouth. “Back to you in the studio, Deborah,” he mumbled.
Disgusting, thought John Corbin. There’s no hope for this guy. I think that kid from Ohio was running the steeple in Florence. I wonder how he did?
* * * * *
Athletics Gazette
August 18
With sadness, we report the death of Iggy Frost, the legendary coach at Nebraska State College near Beatrice, NE. Ignatio W. Frost was born in 1912, earned his doctorate in social studies at the University of Nebraska, and coached track and cross country at NSC for forty-eight years. He never married.
“Coach had a heart attack while working in his garden on August 1,” said Cecil Medley, his most outstanding athlete. “I visited him at the hospital and then at his home over the next two weeks, but he just became weaker and weaker. He told me two things: ‘Get your Ph.D. and seek out Coach Animas in New Mexico. He will help you with your training.’ “
Frost coached his small college team to eleven national championships in track and fourteen championships in cross country. One hundred and seven individuals earned All-American honors under his tutelage. The Nebraska State provost reported that Frost’s athletes had a 96% graduation rate and GPAs averaging 3.54.
Medley placed fifth at April’s Boston Marathon and earned his B.A. in history in June.