Lightning Bolt and Cricket

Usain Bolt, the Jamaican track phenom, loves cricket, Australia, and Matthew Hayden:

"I can't wait to come to Australia and I'm trying to find a way to get down there because it sounds great and you're fun people," Bolt said.

"And one of my favourite cricketers in the world is from your way. I am a huge fan of Matty Hayden and he's a cool customer out in the middle and I like his style."
...
Bolt is a cricket fanatic and played the sport as a teenager in the cricket loving Caribbean island.

Hayden has never met the dual gold medallist and was flattered his name was mentioned just moments after Bolt broke Michael Johnson's 12-year-old world record in the 200m..

"Just to see him dance and carry on is truly inspirational and for him to have me in his mind is just so humbling," Hayden told Channel 7.
...
Hayden intends sending Bolt a signed cricket bat and wants to meet the Jamaican speed machine when he visits Australia. [LINK]

Also, running was not Bolt's first passion. Perhaps Windies cricket has lost a potential superstar. Although, a fast runup doesn't necessarily equate to a great bowler:

But Bolt wasn't always set to be a sprinter. Cricket was his first love. He stood out as a fast bowler playing for William Knibb High School in Trelawny, and only ditched his cricket whites when his coach, seeing how fast he could run, suggested he have a go at athletics. [LINK]

And a message to the Jacques Rogge and the IOC - STFU!!! Let Usain celebrate - everyone loves it, save some out-of-touch stuckup suits whose goal is to take the fun out of everything (shades of ICC, huh?). If you have any balls, bring up the issue of 12 and 13 year olds playing for China. Then I'll give you some credibility around sportsmanship. He's 21 years old, he's done something no one has ever done before, and he hasn't disrespected anyone. Sure he could be more gracious (as could anyone). But for the IOC's head to single him out, that's just pathetic!

Usain...ignore the IOC! With all due respect to 10CC and their song Dreadlock Holiday, I think the entire world will agree with me if I add this line to the song...

"I say we don't like Lightning...oh no...we love him!!!"