It's a go figure world when prior to the Olympics the Harlem Globetrotters draft the worlds fastest man short distance runner and world record holder Usain Bolt. WHY? The Trotters are interested in his dunking ability.

Bolt is widely regarded as the fastest person ever. He is the first man to hold both the 100 meters and 200 meters world records. He is the reigning Olympic champion in these three events, the first man ever to win 6 Olympic gold medals in sprinting, and a five-time World champion. He was the first to achieve a "double double" by winning 100 m and 200 m titles at consecutive Olympics (2008 and 2012), and topped this through the first "double triple" (including 4x100m relays)

During the Olympics it was reported that Manchester United is interested in Bolt's athletic talents by offering a try out to the 3 gold medal winning Olympic champion in London to play on their football team. Why they are interested is not clear but Rio Ferdinand is said to have something to do with arranging a tryout for the Jamaican.

But basketball is a more realistic venture should he decide t become a two sport athlete and joining the ranks of Deon Saunders (NFL & MLB), Bo Jackson (NFL & MLB) and Bill Conley (MLB & NBA). The Globetrotters are more of a how team than a serious competitor to play against top competition. They travel with a team the Washington Generals that serve as their competition in exhibition games which are more entertainment than sport. The Generals are also on the Trotters payroll.

In the past the Globetrotters were a more competitive team during the early 50's in winning games against the LA Lakers then the Minneapolis Lakers and a legitimate college All-Star team which they would play a series of games while traveling around the country. The Globetrotters then featured Goose Tatum and Marquis Haynes.

The college All-star team I saw had the Ricketts brothers Dick and Dave from Duquesne University. Both went on to become major league professional baseball players. The college team also had the O'Brien brothers from Seattle University who also played major league baseball. The globetrotters would try to clown around and do their tricks but the game I saw the college team won and the Trotters had to play hard.

One of the reasons the Globetrotters were so competitive at the time was the team is all black and black players weren't welcomed to play in the NBA as racism was rampant in all team professional sports at the time. This gave the Trotters a serious talent pool to choose from.

One of the greatest NBA players of all time Wilt Chamberlain played one year with the Trotters after he left the University of Kansas early. Ay that time the NBA would not take a player unless they graduated from college or until the college eligibility expired. Chamberlain played with the Trotters during the 1958-59 season to compensate for the year's difference he dropped out of college thus making him eligible for the NBA.

Chamberlain signed with his home town Philadelphia Warriors for a mere $64,000 which was the leagues largest contract at the time. With that money he bought himself a white 1959 Cadillac convertible and a house on Cobbs Creek Parkway which at the time was a fashionable white neighborhood opposite Cobbs Creek Park.

Times have changed and the offer from the Globetrotters would be a more realistic venture for Bolt should he decide to try another sport. He would be a great attraction but CAN HE PLAY? The other factor is should he suffer a leg injury his superior running achievements would be over.

Bolt's personal best of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters is the fastest ever legal time. Bolt also holds the second fastest time in the 100 meters that being 9.63 seconds which is the current Olympic record. Bolt's personal best of 19.19 s in the 200 meters is the world record. This was recorded at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin against a headwind of -0.3 m/s. He has also broken the Olympic record with a time of 19.30 s (more precisely 19.296s) -the previous world record prior to Berlin 2009-thus breaking Michael Johnson's previous world record and Olympic record of 19.32 s. The Jamaican relay team including Bolt set the 4x100 meters world and Olympic records at the 2008 Olympics with a time of 37.10 seconds.

As result of his athletic prowess he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for 2009 and 2010.

* IAAF World Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2009

* Track & Field Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2009

* Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2009, 2010

* BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year: 2008, 2009

There is an argument that Bolt is the greatest track athlete ever better than Jesse Owens. Sports has come a long way with Nautilus and other physical body building equipment, track surfaces have improved, food training diets have greatly improved as well as medical treatment for injuries. Bottom line is you can't compare eras spanning over a half a century.

There is a downside to Bolt as he has been criticized for demeaning Olympic champion Carl Lewis. "Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him," Bolt said. "The things he says about the track athletes are very downgrading. I think he's just looking for attention because nobody really talks about him. I've lost all respect for him. All respect."

He also compares himself to being in the class of champions Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. As great as Bolt is there is a major difference to his winning title and those of Ali and Jordan.

Bolt just trains and competes in a NON PHYSICAL sport. Ali and Jordan competed in physical sports. Ali had to take a physical beating and defeat many opponents to win a title. Jordan had to be a part of a team that played an 82 game regular season schedule and win four best of seven game playoff series. That could possibly total him having to play 110 games if all the series went to 4-3 in their favor before he won an NBA title ring while it take Bolts less than 10 seconds. Bolt is great but he is in for a jolt if he thinks he's in the Ali, Jordan category.

Bolt is carrying a double edge sword. He is looked upon as being charming and comical. On the other side of that sword h is reported as being offensive on making acrid comments. Stay tuned for the next chapter of Usain Bolt.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS PRESS RELEASE