Was Houston McTear that good?

    Posted In: Sprints

        • Participant
          mharris on June 24, 2006 at 8:28 am #11974

          i know a couple of months ago there was a thread on him but it didnt go as in depth as i would have liked.

          So I pose the question yet again. Who was this guy and had he kept nose clean could he have been GOAT? (greatest of all time)

          :puzzled:

        • Participant
          davan on June 24, 2006 at 11:23 am #54902

          He could have easily been a GOAT–he was top in the world in high school and I believe was the only man to beat Bob Hayes in his prime (and he was again in high school!). Too bad the crack and other drugs got to him.

        • Participant
          oldspeeder on June 24, 2006 at 2:40 pm #54903

          Houston McTear never ran against Bob Hayes, McTear came on the track scene in the mid 70's, he was virtually unbeatable indoors, had a terrific start, he once ran 9.1 on grass for 100 yards.  His career was laden with injuries and was known to not train very hard, unfortunately he later became homeless as he drifted into drugs.  Muhammad Ali bought him a home at one time as McTear grew up very poor, he ran for the then Ali Track Club.  It's unfortunate, he had the capability to be the GOAT.

        • Participant
          mharris on June 24, 2006 at 9:19 pm #54904

          Holy cow! 9.1 on grass! it's a shame this guy throw it all away just because he had to support a habit. It seems that and his Jenny Craig-like work ethic are to blame for him falling short.

          Did he really beat Bob Hayes?

        • Participant
          oldspeeder on June 25, 2006 at 12:12 am #54905

          McTear never ran against Bob Hayes, Hayes was with the Cowboys when McTear came on the scene, he did however run against Carl Lewis.  At the time the best USA sprinters were; McTear, Steve Williams, Carl Lewis, Harvey Glance, and Stanley Floyd.

          You're correct, it's a shame that he gravitated toward drugs, no telling how good he would have been. :no:

        • Participant
          mharris on June 25, 2006 at 1:09 am #54906

          It is a shame. His life story would probably make a good made for tv movie though

          Does anybody know what he's up to now?

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on July 2, 2006 at 11:41 am #54907

          Wasn't he also a pinch runner for some pro baseball teams?

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Participant
          Eager on July 2, 2006 at 12:45 pm #54908

          For what it's worth….

          https://houstonmctear.com/why.htm

        • Participant
          oldspeeder on July 2, 2006 at 2:33 pm #54909

          ——————————————————————————–
          Wasn't he also a pinch runner for some pro baseball teams?

          Don't know but perhaps you're thinking of Herb Washington who had a short stint as a pinch runner in the 70's.  :bisou:

        • Participant
          ishmael-walker on July 3, 2006 at 5:09 am #54910

          HE IS THE FASTEST MAN TO EVER LIVE BEFORE AGE NINTEEN HE OUT RAN A thoroughbred horse.AND AT AGE 15 RAN 100 YARDS IN 9.8 SECONDS.DAMN SO MUCH TALENT NOT PUT TO USE

        • Participant
          Daniel Andrews on July 3, 2006 at 6:22 am #54911

          100 yards in 9.8 secs = 10.8s in 100m.

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on July 20, 2006 at 2:31 am #54912

          100 yards in 9.8 secs = 10.8s in 100m.

          It's probably more like 10.6….it's only 10 yards longer (as opposed to 10m) and at that point in the race is pretty close to top speed.

          ELITETRACK Founder

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