ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607310032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
The Olympic cauldron atop the rim of the Georgia capital's new stadium seemed to flicker higher and brighter Monday night.
Maybe it was the welcome breeze. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the humidity.
Maybe it was the hot air. Maybe it was an attitude.
On a memorable night when Carl Lewis likely won his last Olympic medal and Michael Johnson set his first individual Olympic record, there was plenty to talk about.
And Lewis and Johnson love to talk - just not about each other. The two greatest trackmen of our time happen to both be from Texas, where you have to be big just to live there.
OK, Mary Lou Retton is an exception.
Anyway, Lewis and Johnson both are connected to the late great Jesse Owens, who put Hitler in his place in the Games six decades ago. Their connection is on the stage on which they compete.
Neither asked to be linked to Owens, but since they are, the shared responsibility seems uncomfortable.
It started long before Lewis won his ninth overall gold medal with a spectacular performance in the long jump. And it started long before Johnson breezed to a 400-meter gold in what appeared to be a warm-up for a historical Olympic double in the 200 on Thursday.
Lewis, on his fifth Olympic team, has been around long enough to have had the chance to talk to the late Owens. Johnson carries with him a letter from Owens' wife, Ruth, commending the star sprinter on how much he reminds her of her late husband in the upright way he runs and forthright way he conducts himself away from the oval.
After being the star of the sport for years, Lewis struggled just to make the Atlanta Games in one event. Johnson strode into the Games for his double with a world-record in the 200 at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
``Carl is trying to hang on to his reputation as the greatest track and field athlete since Jesse Owens, and that's good and fine,'' Johnson said before the trials. ``I think most believe it's me.
``As long as Carl is still hanging on, it's worthy of a conversation. But at the Olympics, I plan to take it.''
Gee, it sounds like Johnson should be throwing the javelin, too.
On Monday night, Lewis wasn't going anywhere except to the gold medal stand for a fourth straight Olympics, joining discus man Al Oerter (1956-68) as the only athletes in history to accomplish that feat.
Oerter appeared at Lewis' post-jump news conference and joked, ``Carl's making it very difficult. I'm going to have to come back in 2000. I'll be 64.''
Lewis, introduced before the competition over the public address system as ``a man whose list of accomplishments defies description,'' was waiting for the ``torch-passing'' question about Johnson.
He took off, much as he did on the way to his jump of 27-10 3/4, his longest legal jump since he won the Barcelona Games gold four years ago.
``Let me clear this up,'' said Lewis, at 35 seven years older than Johnson. ``I don't know what anyone has to do to pass a torch. There's no manual on how you do it.
``There are about 30 events in track and field. If we had 30 Michael Johnson and Carl Lewises, there wouldn't be any other sport. Ours would be No.1 in the world.
``Michael Johnson needs to realize that there is no torch. We should celebrate everyone who performs. There is no such thing as so-called 'passing the torch.'
``I don't really understand that. I think there's room for Michael, for Allen Johnson [won won gold in the 110-meter hurdles], for Charles Austin [who won gold Sunday in the high jump], for me.
``I don't think there should be jockeying for one or two positions,'' Lewis said. ``If I hadn't set a standard, Michael wouldn't be making the money he's making. What we should celebrate is the opportunity to have multiple stars in our sport.''
Their sport certainly could use them. If Lewis and Johnson are competitors - and it sounds like they are - then it's only a plus for track and field. If they are competitors, it's only natural. Olympic champions didn't get where they are without thinking they're the best.
Lewis wants one more shot at gold. He'd like to run the final leg of the 400 relay, in which the finals are Saturday night. Nobody's done it better. Lewis has anchored two world-record runs in the event in two previous Olympics.
Unless someone gets sentimental, it's not going to happen, and we will have seen the last of Lewis as an Olympian. And whatever Johnson does - and it promises to be spectacular - Lewis' place in history is secure.
If Lewis does run the relay, he likely will tie swimmers Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi and shooter Carl Osburn for the most career medals among U.S. Olympians, at 11.
Lewis used to be arrogant, or at least detached. Johnson never has been so accused. He's learned personality is part of the package when you're selling something the American masses only seem to buy during an Olympiad.
No one would ever say Lewis is the retiring sort, but in Olympic competition, he is. His first medals, four gold ones, came in the 1984 Los Angeles Games; by his count ``12 years ago, 16 hairstyles ago, 15 pounds ago and no gray hair ago.''
Beginning Thursday night, the spotlight Johnson seems to be seeking will be his, whether he runs in gold shoes or not. He's finding it difficult to be patient.
It's understandable. He's a sprinter.
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB