ridecamp@endurance.net: RE: Endurance Bloodlines

RE: Endurance Bloodlines

Truman Prevatt (truman.prevatt@netsrq.com)
Wed, 14 May 1997 15:42:31 -0400

>Ok, my .02 cents worth:
>
>A Michael Johnson or Michael Jordan is not 'bred' for, they are a
>unique(random) co-mingling of genetic traits. The same is true for the
>horse world. The bulk of horsekind is composed of essentially average
>horses - some above, some below, but still within the bell curve.
>Statistical genetics requires this. Once in a great while, certain
>genes will combine to produce an "out-of-curve" individual - an
>exceptional, nearly one-of-a-kind individual who performs at a level
>beyond his/her peers.
>

Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team until his junior
year! He was not the child prodigy of basketball. Micheal Johnson never
broke Ules Williams high school 440 record. I came closer to this record
than did Micheal Johnson - but I am no Michael Johnson! Michael Jordan has
made a greater impact on his sport than any athlete has every make on a
sport. Micheal Jordan can totally dominate a game like no other athlete in
any other sport can or ever could and he can turn this dominance on almost
at will. There was a recent article on Jordan about this ability -
considering the fact that he should be over the hill at 35. Micheal Jordan
is the best conditioned basketball player in the NBA. He is 6-6 and only
weights 212 and has the lest percentage of body fat of any NBA player. In
the forth quarter when the other team is tired, Jordan turns it on. He
scores most of his points in the forth quarter - when it counts.

Jordan and Johnson work there butts off to be the best. They also know
they are in better shape than their competition which gives them a great
boost in confidence. Yes Jordan and Johnson are the best that has ever been
in their sports but they weren't born that way - the did it by working
harder than anyone else.

I remember a Larry King interview with Magic Johnson - speak of greats.
Magic Johnson said what put Michael Jordan apart from the rest was his
absolute dedication to be the best. The same thing can be said about
Michael Johnson. There are athletes with better "natural ability through
their genes" than this pair, but it is what you do with it that counts.

>That individual's ability to pass on that unique genetic structure is
>limited again by statistical genetics, so that the bulk of the offspring
>from the individual will have some of but not all of the superior
>characteristics. I'd expect Michael Jordan's offspring to be tall, but
>will they have 'hang time?' Will they be able to do a 5' vertical leap?
>Anyone placing bets? Of course not.
>
>Very few of us will ever own or ride a superior horse (like a
>Secretariat). What we can do is seek out those individuals that are at
>the upper end of the bell curve and maximize their potential via
>training and conditioning. Yes, finding the horse at the upper end of
>the bell curve can involve examining their pedigree, but the proof is in
>the pudding, not in the recipe, so to speak...
>
>Mike Sofen
>Redmond, WA

Truman Prevatt
Mystic "The Horse form Hell" Storm with a lille hellion on the way
Danson "Deamon in Training" Flame
Sarasota, FL

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff