By BRIAN LEWIS
Posted: 3:44 am
July 6, 2008
EUGENE, Ore - Anthony Famiglietti's Olympic experience four years ago left the eclectic Long Islander dismayed and disillusioned. But after a wire-to-wire 8:20.24 win in the 3,000 steeplechase at yesterday's Olympic Track & Field trials, perhaps Beijing will be better - if he doesn't boycott.
"I got out and ran aggressively, whether that meant finishing dead last with dead legs or finishing first with dead legs. Luckily it was the first," said Famiglietti, a Patchogue-Medford H.S. grad. "You have to forget if you're going to die, because you know you're going to run the first mile in 4:20.
"When there were two laps left I still had more left in the tank. I know Josh McAdams [third in 8:21.99] is a strong runner and that he'd kick near the end. That's why I went out fast; to try to take the kick out of some of the younger guys."
The quirky, bearded 5-foot-9, 127-pounder known as "Fam" wasn't that happy four in Athens when - after running a personal-best 8:17.91 in the trials - he finished just eighth in the opening round in 8:31.59.
"In 2004, I felt very lonely. The Olympics isn't what is used to be. It doesn't have the power," said Famiglietti, who suggested many of the world's top stars weren't steroid-free. "People are getting caught up in winning the gold medal, the silver, the bronze, the endorsements. It's too commercial. People are losing sight of what the Olympics is about."
Famiglietti attends both Methodist and Baptist churches, reads books by Televangelist Joel Osteen, wears a Tibetan ring on his left hand, and has a tattoo of a lotus (symbolic of Buddhism) on his right shoulder and quote from 1980s New York graffiti artist Basquiat on his forearm.
"I'm the kind of guy that likes to take the best out of everything and looks for truths," said Famiglietti, born in Medford but clearly a child of the world. He ran into the stands barefoot to celebrate with fans, but is conflicted and considering boycotting over China's poor human rights record and support of Sudan's brutal government.
"Running is a brotherhood. We're all in it for the same reason. It's easy for me to sit here and think I'm the greatest thing. I grew a beard, do things different, stay honest to myself. I don't want to get caught up in my vanity."
Jessica Cosby won the women's hammer in a trials-record 232-0, and Michelle Carter, whose father Michael won the 1984 Olympic shot put then the Super Bowl the same season with the 49ers, took the women's shot at 61-101/4. Seven-time U.S. 110 hurdles champ Allen Johnson, 37, was a DNF with an injured posterior tibialis tendon.
