as tony cornheiser put it on PTI the other day, there are only two titles in sports that matter: 1) the world’s fastest man and 2) the heavyweight champion of the world. but since america seems so enthralled with ultimate fighting and not boxing, let’s talk about track and field for a moment.

over the weekend, a young gun shot out of the blocks and stunned the athletics community. critics cannot fathom that a dude with practically no 100 meter race experience produces, on a wet track, a time like 9.71, making tyson gay look slow in the process. steroids? everyone is holding their breath for sure.

i sincerely hope that this isn’t another ben johnson situation. i want to believe that athletes are capable of incredible feats without the usage of performance enhancing drugs.

if bolt is eventually found guilty of using the juice, i’m not sure that i can ever watch track and field again without questioning all of the victories, performances and special moments that tend to accompany world championships and olympic games. and that makes me sad.

for the time being, however, i’ll give bolt the benefit of the doubt. check out the race below: