MVP NEEDS A CHANGE OF APPROACH

In the last decade or so many of Jamaica’s elite track and field athletes have chosen to stay home to either study, train or both. The decision has yielded great benefits for these athletes and by extension, Jamaica. Brigitte Foster – Hylton, Shericka Williams, Asafa Powell, Melaine Walker, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Warren Weir, Yohan Blake, Hansle Parchment, Shelly Ann Frazer – Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Kemar Bailey- Cole and of course, the legend himself, Usain Bolt, have reaped the bulk of the medals since 2004 at the major championships, all while training here in Jamaica.

The success of the local based athletes speaks in part to the strength of the two main clubs here in Jamaica the Stephen Francis led MVP Track Club and Racers, headed by sprint guru Glen Mills. MVP led the way in helping shift the paradigm wherein athletes are now choosing to stay home as opposed to taking up scholarship opportunities to American universities. The success has not been lost on the US colleges who are finding it harder to recruit the best of local talent like they once used to. They are now resigned to the reality that perhaps it is best that Jamaica’s top athletes stay home. “The great ones probably should stay at home; those that are really at the top of the game should stay in Jamaica and continue their development there,” noted Pat Henry, head coach at Texas A&M University, a school that helped in the development of national representatives Howard ‘Bird Man’ Davis, Simone Facey and Richard Bucknor.

In recent times, emerging talents like Janieve Russell and Rushane McDonald, have transitioned from high school to the University of Technology/MVP set up as they hope to successfully make that step up to the professional ranks. Over by Mona, we see an even better quality making the move to the University of the West Indies/Racers arrangement. In the past few years Warren Weir and Yohan Blake have made that move with tremendous success and high school standouts Jazeel Murphy, Delano Williams, Shericka Jackson,and several others have either joined that programme or are on their way there.

The success realized by these two clubs should be paving the way for others to perhaps pursue similar arrangements with other institutions across the island, synergies that will hopefully produce even more athletes of international quality in a wider field of disciplines. My sources tell me that a major sports apparel brand had pursued such a possibility a few years back but some of the local coaches could not agree to work together so the company withdrew their offer. So, until we can get a few more clubs to start to produce athletes of the required quality, the bulk of the responsibility of producing world-beating athletes lies squarely on the shoulders of these two clubs. It is with this in mind why I fear for the future of one of them given the almost consistent controversy that continues to dog it.

Francis and MVP have done great things in the decade or so since they came into existence. In 2008 in Beijing, Simpson, Frazer – Pryce, Frater, Carter, Walker, and Williams all individual and relay medalists at the Olympic Games were from MVP. In more recent times however, their fortunes have dwindled. Frazer – Pryce was the only individual medalist from MVP at the London 2012 games. Since that time, the club has lost two of its medalists to the Racers Club with the possibility that others could follow.

Michael Frater and now Melaine Walker have left the club under controversial circumstances with both athletes making claims about the head coach’s arrogance, bullying methods and his penchant for paying attention only to the athletes he likes. He had not disputed those allegations. There have been confirmed reports that other athletes were actually on the verge of departure as well. Sherone Simpson, for example, was reportedly on her way to Racers when she was persuaded to stay with the club. Emerging 400-hurdler Ristanana Tracey and sprinter Kimani Roach have also migrated across to the UWI-based club citing better training conditions and a coach who is more like a father rather than a dictator.

Earlier on in the life of the club Francis prided himself on taking athletes low on self-belief and transforming them into champions. “Even somebody with the highest quality like Michael Frater; nobody believes much in him. He is always the person everybody seems to think is going to get left out and Brigitte, people told her she should be a fashion model and leave the running alone. Given that this was the background of most of the athletes, what it meant was that they did not know as youngsters how to win, how to become champions, how to accommodate pressure,” Francis was quoted as saying in a Gleaner story published in July, 2008, mere weeks before the Beijing Olympics that year.

No doubt the genius coach prided himself on the God-like role he played in the life of his athletes. But as time has passed and these athletes became winners, a lot has started to change. No longer could Francis maintain his psychological hold over some of them. He didn’t even have control over them just prior to the start of the Olympics that year. During his now infamous bust up with the JAAA’s over the proposed training camp the athletes were to have attended prior to the start of the Games, Francis gave his athletes an ultimatum. If they went to the JAAA’s camp, he would not give them their programmes that would prepare them for the Games. As it turned out all the athletes turned up at the JAAA camp before the stated deadline. After all, that is what they train for, to excel at the Olympics.

Yes, many of his athletes have remained loyal but their loyalty does not necessarily mean they agree with his methods. A lot of his athletes were irked when the extremely popular Frater left the club earlier this year after Francis accused him of betrayal. The accusation came after Frater, who has ambitions in politics after he hangs up his spikes, expressed his intention to run on the Dr. Warren Blake slate for the JAAA elections last November.

Walker just wanted to pursue her lifelong dream of running the 100m hurdles. Walker expressed to me that when she joined the MVP Track it was on the understanding that she would be allowed to pursue her dream as a sprint hurdler. She upheld her end of the bargain better than anyone could have ever imagined. Under Francis’ guidance she became Olympic and World Champion and won a silver at the World Championships in Daegu despite running hurt. She also became the second fastest in history 52.42, just 0.07 seconds off the existing world record. Having accomplished all that she decided it was time she collected. However, Francis, when it was time for him to live up to his end of the bargain, dismissed Walker’s ambitions as frivolous. What gives him the right to do that?

He is her coach. She pays him to coach her. If she has a desire to see if she could do something special in the sprint hurdles, having run 12.75s as a youngster in 2006, mere months before she joined the club, the very least he should have done is help her realize her dreams, not dash them. Of course, he has the right to refuse, but then he did have a verbal agreement with Walker, one that he has refused to fulfill. He has breached his agreement with her and with it her trust as well.

This is yet another public relations nightmare for a club that has had more than its fair share of controversies in the last decade. Francis’ sympathizers will always find excuses for his actions, but the bigger picture is what eludes them. The current champions from Champs, who are considering staying home have started to shy away from the club. Look at those going to Racers now. They are the best of the crop. The creme de la creme. Winners don’t like to be told what they can or can not do. Limitations mean nothing to them, that’s why they became champions. Worse, they don’t like being bullied. It is why I have always felt that Francis and Bolt would never have worked well together. The my way or the high-way approach will not work in this new era of Jamaica’s track and field, not when options are available. If they stay away, after Frazer- Pryce, Spencer and Powell move on who will be the ones bringing in the medals and more importantly, the money for MVP?

At the same time, until another club or two emerges, Racers, with their aging head coach with the special touch, can not possibly accommodate everyone. It is not physically possible. It is against this background that MVP needs to be strong and vibrant if Jamaica is to continue producing the type of athletes that will continue to bring the country success. If that is to happen, Francis, his brother, and club president Bruce James need to take a long serious look at their approach to how things are done within the club. They need to replace the collective arrogance with a more accommodating approach but one that will not compromise their standards. Athletes need to have peace of mind and a working environment that breeds success. What we have seen from MVP in more recent times is anything but that.

For the sake of their own existence and the continued success of Jamaica’s track and field, I believe the time has come for MVP to look within and clean up their act. It could very well be the difference between their continued success in the years to come and the road to ruin.

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24 Responses to “MVP NEEDS A CHANGE OF APPROACH”

DonManJ says:

April 10, 2013 at 5:52 pm

I have always wondered and often times get frustrated, why, in 8 years, Coach Francis has not produced at least one more Shelly Ann. There were so many emeging female sprinters at Champs this year, Jackson, Spencer, who Francis should be scouting.
Barbara Book says:

April 11, 2013 at 10:16 am

I would love to hear (Stephen Francis and Bruce James) their sides of the story.

After reading this article, they shouldn’t remain silent.
Jakan says:

April 12, 2013 at 1:23 am

And if Asafa Powell does not get it that he should be moving on to something else -anything else then he wishes himself no good but then where else can he go? Not too much longer in the future so too should Spencer if things do not change for the better- always coming 4th.

@ Barbara Book, my sentiments exactly.

Trust us, we always mash up what good we created
dallo says:

April 12, 2013 at 5:07 am

Writer you kinda diss Sherika Williams though. A good article still , even if it’s just one side of the story. A strong perception is out there that Franno too renk n facey and noone’s trying to hear that…i don’t think.

Oftentimes, perception becomes the reality and so it’s important, critical in fact, that MVP say a thing. They’re an incredibly important part of our thing right now, we wish ‘em well and some form of soul searching may be in order.

Penitence is gonna be needed to sort this out.
Gman says:

April 12, 2013 at 11:08 am

I read and a lot of what your saying is true but I’m walker case anyone that knows track or run track knows that has you age you going longer distance not shorter she will have no chance in the 100 or 110 hurdles I know it’s her dream but it makes no sense
johntowit says:

April 12, 2013 at 5:55 pm

@Gman: You could also say she’s probably tired of the brutal 400m hurdles training programme. She’s older is a fact and the programme for 400m hurdles is one of the toughest out there.

And ur right, as sprinters age they lose their sharpness; but probably she reckons she would do better at the shorter distance than the longer one.

Did’nt Melanie had some kind of cancerous sickness recently? I am sure I saw her on tele, where her sickness seems rather acute. I no longer hear her talk about it.
starapple says:

April 12, 2013 at 5:58 pm

Kudos to the writer of this article. You have hit the nail on the head. I have always said that Francis is his own enemy. What frustrates me is that the man is a genius, when it comes to the technical aspects of coaching, but his interpersonal skills are severely lacking. We deserve to have two vibrant clubs in Jamaica. Let us not forget, Racers still has a lot to prove when it comes to producing top female athletes and top athletes who don’t run the short sprints.
andyb says:

April 12, 2013 at 7:47 pm

MVP’s condition is approaching disaster…..change or die
Dorothy Hobson says:

April 12, 2013 at 8:46 pm

As an outsider I do not want to take sides since there are generally three— your side my side and the truth.

I will however proffer this; Melanie as an adult,and therefore should be in a a position to decide what happens to her life and by extension her career as an athlete and her handlers should respect that.

She has been there and done that so if now she wants to dabble in the shorter distance then why not. Give her that freedom to pursue her dreams. She may ‘fall flat on her face’ but that wont matter, she would have tried.

I look forward to this challenge.

GOOD LUCK MELANIE
Dorothy Hobson
Jakan says:

April 12, 2013 at 9:26 pm

Poster, don’t forget that Bridgett Foster-Hylton was kicking up Rumpus when she was way older than Melaine is now.At D. Hobson, I agree. They should respect the athletes wishes. Did they all not think Usain stood no chance in the short sprints since he is too tall? The rest is History. Nobody needs to be bullied. Respect due
Plain truth says:

April 14, 2013 at 6:30 am

Unbelievable!

No one person here seems to understand the sport?

This article is total nonsense and clearly demonstrates the ingorance of a wagonist.

I see comments about us “deserving” 2 vibrant clubs. What a joke! What do we deserve when MVP was a fledgling organization, who in Jamaica jumped to provide aid and support? To me we are wallowing in reflected glory that we have almost nothing to do with, so we should not be so quick to cast jusdment and tell people what they need to do to attain success. I recall Mills/Bolt being villified in 2006 too.

THEY (MVP and Racers) have attained success while our country is a mess. I suspect this vitriol and pontification would be better directed at our governance structures.

Coming back to the matter at hand, an athlete does not dictate to a coach, it’s the other way around. If the athlete does not like the decisions of said coach, the athlete is free to leave ANYTIME. I do agree though that BOTH sides should have made a curt joint announcements about the severing of ties and their moving on, based on a difference of athletic vision. A nice touch would have been to wish each other the best for the future. This is the mature professional way, so I fault both parties there.

There is no comparison between Racers and MVP when it come to either female results of hurdles results. So far Racers is a Sprint club, but MVP has had global 400m, hurdles and HJ success, in addition to the sprints. They have done this largely with NON-Stars from High school, so there is no need for them to panic about not getting the APPARENT cream of the crop from Champs! Indeed, Francis does NOT seem to want the stars for several reasons.

As to choice of events, that has to be carefully weighed as choices have consequences and shoe companies, other sponsors and meet directors drop you like a bad habit based on even a SINGLE down year. Melaine’s stunt in London was surely going to affect her pocket. These are hard nosed, non-sentimental business people and they dont care that MW is important to us in Jamaica, she is only a commodity to them and only as useful as her recent resume. We need to grow up and understand how the professional world works.

Finally, when I read hear all the doomsday talk about MVP and then study the results of recent development meets, I see: Stephanie McPreson has the fastest time in the world at 400m, Carrie Russell is the 2nd fastest at 100m, Markino Buckley has returned to MVP from Racers, Anniesha has just run 11.39s while under full training load, Julien Forte ran a 1:59 800m and he is a 200m specialist, UTech has a 20.8m shot putter, and we dont even talk about Shelly, Sherone, Nesta, Sherieka, Kaliese, Janieve, Chrisne Day or many others yet.

Nah, it seems to me that BOTH Racers and MVP are quite vibrant and we as fans need to back off and let the experts do their thing without our useless comments from the peanut gallery.
guest says:

April 14, 2013 at 11:27 am

I keep seeing this nonsense about Francis not wanting champs stars or achieving stardom with neophytes. can someone name me one athlete who has reached any level of achievement on the world scene who was a neophyte at champs. i await eagerly.
Plain truth says:

April 14, 2013 at 4:17 pm

Asafa Powell, Sherieka Williams, Nesta Carter, etc.

The point was not about neophytes at Champs (YOUR term) but about NON-stars, SS was not a star, neither was Shelly.

I cant recall ever hearing about Stephanie McPerson or Christine Day at Champs. Not Markino Buckley either.

Brigitte, Frater, Melaine and Kaliese are the “names” I recall from youth days.

The biggest youth star in the camp is Anniesha and she has yet to explode on the global senior scene..neither has Carrie, but they seem set to rectify that this year.
The Real World says:

April 15, 2013 at 1:14 am

Mr Author, you say, “The current champions from Champs, who are considering staying home have started to shy away from the club. Look at those going to Racers now. They are the best of the crop. The creme de la creme. Winners don’t like to be told what they can or can not do”.
That’s an interesting comment, and a troubling perspective. These kids coming out of high school are kids! So who are they to dictate terms to the clubs and coaches who have produced the world’s best athletes and continue to do so. Now that they have elected to be professional athtles, they have to start at the bottom of the pack like everyone else. We hold these kids up as they they are gods and when they realize that the real world of professional sports is not like Champs, they have a rude awakening and sometimes crumble. Francis and Mills are running a business; and a part of this business involves producing champions. These coaches personalities may be different, and they might be a little to harsh for some people’s taste, but such is life. Does that guarantee success or failure of the athlete b/c one coach seems to be “nice” and the other “not nice”. It’s like choosing to work for a company because the CEO is “so pleasant”, vs the merits of what they do, and the way in which they transform their team to become winners. While the media and fans can cast stones on Stephen Francis, you know what you are getting and you know where his passion is. We seem to forget that athletes have personalities too, and they sometimes let their personalities get in the way of their success. Every coach is leads differently. Could Shelly-Ann have been a double-Olympic champ under Mills, or Warren Wier capture the bronze under Francis, or Parchment sealed the bronze had he not been with Coleman? Maybe, maybe not.
No coach nor athlete is perfect. If they had elected to accept a scholarship to the states and flourish there, do you think the coaches there would have been any nicer than Francis? We need to get off this personality foolishness and recognize that these coaches have a job to do. Last time I checked neither Mills nor Francis were running a babysitting business. Welcome to the real world.
Jakan says:

April 15, 2013 at 3:01 am

It has always been the peanut gallery that is used as the gage of what is desired in this instance. Anyone who thinks let alone says Mr Francis and MVP should maintain the status quo does not mean him and his club well. Anyone who does not see how wrong it is for Mr Francis to stifle his charges such as he tried to do with Frater in his attempt to serve the JAAA and the serious ERROR of his ways in his usual intent to mash up the Jamaican camp at international meets such as the Olympics and World Champs by insisting that his plan supercedes Jamaica’s so his athletes should not report to camp as required. If his athletes are not available at these times then what is their purpose for having him in the first place? MVP has no lane assignment at the Olympics or world champs, Jamaica does

I have never heard so much poppy cock in my entire life
Ric Bent says:

April 15, 2013 at 6:32 am

The writer like so many of us have our judgement clouded by the success of the Jamaican athletes on the world stage.

Last time I checked, both “clubs’ were commercial ventures, with a business model that involves contracting with athletes to prepare them for competition for a fee. I have no knowledge of the details of the contract between player and club, but I would think that if either party is unsatisfied, then there is the option to mutually terminate the contract. So, if Ms. Walker, for example decides its not working for her, then she would be free to make an adult decision to go seek her fortune elsewhere; without the drama and conjecture from the likes of the writer of the article.

The point is, the writer, like so many others is confused about what the public “deserves”, the “responsibiity” of the clubs, etc. Until the public is invited to buy shares in these “companies”, or somehow invest with the associated risks, they deserve nothing! And the clubs have no “responsibility” to you. You are free to partake of their “product” or not.

Frankly, I am still trying to figure out the point of the article.
levyl says:

April 15, 2013 at 7:39 am

We all understand that the club is a business but not all business is about money all the time. If Ms Walker goes on to become a world class 100m hurdler what will you say then. Business is also about taking risks and innovation, not just about profit.
Ric Bent says:

April 15, 2013 at 9:35 am

“Business is also about taking risks and innovation, not just about profit.”

So let me get this, as a business, what would be the point in taking risks, if not for profit.

If Ms Walker goes on to become a world class 100M hurdler, then I would say , good for her; hopefully she feels a sense of achievement and gets financially rewarded.
DonManJ says:

April 15, 2013 at 11:56 am

To echo the sentiment espoused by one of the above comments, I too have been patiently waiting to see the explosion of Carrie Russell onto the international scene. She, for me is like the female Usian Bolt. Her stride patterns are so powerful yet elegant and smooth. Hope Coach Francis can do for her what he has been doing for Shelly. I’ts such a treat to watch Carrie sprint.
s gordon says:

April 15, 2013 at 12:25 pm

It is not impossible for Melaine Walker to achieve her dream,if she is determined and puts her mind to it.
How ever I do believe she has left it too late, at thirty one should be thinking about retiring not going for a more competitive race with so many younger talents.
How ever I believe arrogance is not the way forward,IT’s not what you say to some one is how you say it. If after saying it the right way she still wants to go a head it’s her choice.She pay the man to do a job.
levyl says:

April 15, 2013 at 1:46 pm

Age is only but a number. Look at Felix Sanchez, Brigitte Foster Hylton. They achieved greatness well into their 30s. Brigitte won in Berlin when she was 35.
dallo says:

April 15, 2013 at 3:10 pm

It’s true that Franno is artful at taking unheralded athletes and propel them into into stars and all. And of course MVP is a much more rounded operation than Racers…hurdlers, quarter milers, high jumpers to go along with the sprinters, they got it.

But to say they can’t be taken to task for the way they do things – as evidenced by defections, threatened defections, disenchanted campers etc. – you kidding me?

Issues pertaining to discipline, those are non-negotiable; if it’s big-headeness or other ego related stuff, then somebody needs to step back and take stock.

If their business practices are in disrepute, let their PR arm step forward and iron out what could be hindrances to their recruitment goals.
multilinks says:

April 17, 2013 at 4:24 pm

That Francis is a great coach is not in doubt. What is also not in doubt is that he has neither tact nor a professional approach when dealing with his professional relationships. Whether it be threatning to or actually ostracising his own athletes because they were a part of the Jamaican camp at the Olympics, or any of his many other fractious interactions with the JAAA, Franno needs assistance in developing his relational skills! Hate to see another great asset undermine his own contributions because of something that can be corrected with good coaching. Maybe Bruce James can assist!
Polly Brown says:

May 28, 2013 at 3:18 pm

With all of Melanie’s success she was never embraced by corporate jamaica and its native. She achieved what she set out to do and if she wanted a switch it’s her decision to make,not her coach. He is there to coach her not to bully her. She pays him for his duties so at the end of the day it’s her decision. She is tired of the injuries and she just want to have some fun now as she is ageing. She gets no recognition in that club anyway so step off Melanie and do what pleases u, after all its ur career, body, mind and soul. Good luck u will be alright.