War Of Words Spices Sprinters’ Showdown

Like two heavyweights preparing for a title fight, Michael Johnson and Donovan Bailey got into a verbal confrontation Tuesday over their June 1 showdown at 150 meters.

Bailey, the Olympic 100-meter gold medalist with a world-record time of 9.84 seconds, insisted that the title of “World’s Fastest Human” should be determined solely on the fastest man at 100 meters, as it has traditionally.

“The fastest man is based on speed and you or anyone else never has done what I’ve done in my first three years in the sport,” the Canadian said to Johnson during a teleconference call. “Your top speed is only 23 miles per hour.”

Bailey was quick to point out that this much-ballyhooed event should not be looked upon as a race for that unofficial title.

“There is absolutely no discussion about who the fastest man in the world is,” the Canadian said, leaving no doubt that the title belonged to him. “This is a joke to say that this is for the fastest man in the world title.”

If it were, Bailey said to Johnson, “You wouldn’t be included in this race.”

The low-key Johnson, the Olympic gold medalist at 200 meters with a world record 19.32 and at 400 meters with an Olympic record 43.49, brushed off Bailey’s posturing.

He noted that last week he had guaranteed victory and said to Bailey on Tuesday he “will be sorry to disappoint you” about being the winner of the $1 million winner-take-all first prize (each participant is receiving a $500,000 appearance fee).

“You’ll have your chance” to win, snapped Bailey.