The world of athletics has always had a special regard among US sports, and track and field are its ‘apple of the eye’. Yet, the sport isn’t bereft of controversy at all. One of the issues would be regarding the lack of funds coming it’s way. Upset over this fact, Olympic legend Michael Johnson once pointed it out when an NFL star called it “the only real sport”. The NFL quarterback was simply pointing out in some interviews that he believes track and field are positively unique than any other sport.

After that sharp reply by Johnson, Robert Griffin III has now come out with a broad explanation as to how his words were “mischaracterized” by him and that he expected better from a legend in his field. The back-and-forth controversial statements just extended a bit more.

Track and field legend and NFL star engage in a back-and-forth argument

A Tweet by Robert Griffin III went, “You deleted this tweet but I still saw it @MJGol. All respect to you OG, but you are mischaracterizing the message… I’m trying to build up the sport and its athletes through exciting and engaging broadcasts. STATING FACTS. You don’t play track. Your run it. Go out there trying to play and you will get embarrassed”. Griffin III also covered that the lack of money in track and field was mainly due to the negativity with which it is presented by broadcasters to the general public.

The tweet that Griffin III was referring to by Johnson went, “Track athletes would love some of that ‘just a game’ REAL money and respect that’s lacking in the “only real sports” of track and field”. Johnson attached another old tweet by Robert Griffin III where the NFL star praised the sport for being the only one where people “RUN IT”, and hence is the “ONLY REAL SPORT”.

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However, Johnson was slightly miffed by what he thought was a skewed representation of the sports owing to the large neglect it receives financially. When Griffin III found out, he was in turn shocked and disappointed that how could a legend like Michael Johnson depreciate the value and the excitement of a sport that made him into a superstar?

A misunderstanding in their respective views

In this whole verbal fiasco between the two American sporting greats, the only sufferer was the sport of track and field itself, as it further delved into controversy. Issues of track athletes have also previously been highlighted by Johnson. He, however, later took to explain his side of things by stating that his view earlier was skewed by just reading the statement made by Griffin III and not watching the interview. After watching it, Johnson realized that Griffin III was speaking in the context of the collegiate level, but on the professional level, Johnson stood by his views.

By the end, there was no love lost between the two sportsmen. Johnson and Griffin III share enormous respect for each other for their respective achievements, but a little misunderstanding between them led to a clash of opinions which put the track world into the highlight, and not for all the right reasons.

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