In a sport desperately craving transformation, Noah Lyles was supposed to be one of its architects. Instead, his decision to step back from the Grand Slam Track has shaken the very foundation of what could have been a groundbreaking era for track and field. While Lyles voiced concerns about money and marketing, this US track and field coach wasn’t buying the excuse. He’s making it clear that this choice might cost more than just medals. And he also reeled in Sha’Carri Richardson into the mix!
Coach Rob, never one to bite his tongue, addressed the fallout in an impassioned segment on Coach Rob Track and Field. He pulled no punches as he dissected what Lyles’ absence truly signals for the sport. “He chose to opt out,” Rob said bluntly. “So now let’s talk about the implications of choosing to opt out—because it really comes across like Noah Lyles wants the table to be set before he comes to eat.” To Rob, that expectation reeks of entitlement and fails to recognize the grind needed to uplift an emerging league.
And here’s the real issue, Rob warned: some track athletes, Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson included, have grown bigger than the sport. “They don’t need track and field anymore,” he said. Their income and influence flow from outside deals and media appearances. Track becomes optional. A side hustle. And that, Rob fears, is the core problem. “Now I’m going to explain Noah Lyles-and yes, I’m going to name drop Sha’Carri Richardson both… No amount of money you could actually pay them to make it worthwhile for them to go out there and compete,” he said. Lyles’ brand is thriving, but the sport he once championed is left behind.
Drawing comparisons to iconic athletes who reshaped their sports, Rob highlighted how legends like Michael Jordan didn’t wait for ideal conditions. They created them. “When Michael Jordan comes to the league, the NBA Finals was still on tape delay. His performance helped to elevate the league,” Coach Rob pointed out. Sponsorships and visibility came later, Rob emphasized, but it was Jordan’s early contributions that laid the groundwork. In contrast, he suggested Lyles may be looking to reap the rewards without helping build the infrastructure.
Rob also pointed to athletes like Caitlin Clark, who embraced a less-than-perfect WNBA to fuel growth from the inside. “She said, ‘I’m going to come to this league and help it to catapult forward,’” Coach Rob further implied. That’s what leadership in sports looks like, Rob argued. The track community needs stars willing to invest in the sport itself. Not just their personal brand.
In the end, Rob acknowledged Lyles’ right to prioritize his career and family. “I respect that for what it is,” the track and field said. But the ripple effect is undeniable. Thus, with the Grand Slam Track underway, Coach Rob will be watching closely. But he knows what’s missing. And in his eyes, that absence speaks volumes. Meanwhile, speaking on the same topic, Michael Johnson too, made some blatant comments.
Michael Johnson cool on Lyles as Grand Slam Track surges forward
Michael Johnson is standing firm. The four-time Olympic champion isn’t waiting around for Noah Lyles to join Grand Slam Track. In fact, he doesn’t think the league needs him at all.
“We’ve already signed our 48 racers,” Johnson told talkSPORT, brushing aside the buzz around whether the reigning Olympic 100m champion would compete in the newly launched series. While acknowledging that conversations with Lyles might continue, Johnson didn’t mince words, as he added, “We don’t need anyone else… we don’t have to have them.”
His stance is clear. GST isn’t hinging its success on a single star. With Fred Kerley, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Devon Allen, and Gabby Thomas already on board, Johnson is focused on momentum, not names. “The 48 Olympic champions, world champions – fastest people in the world that we’ve signed… that’s enough,” he stated. Johnson further continued, “This is the first time we’ve ever had the fastest together.”
And Johnson is betting big that the league will thrive with or without Noah Lyles. GST now boasts a major media deal, $100,000 top prizes, and a prize pool topping $12.6 million. While fans may be eager to see a showdown between Lyles and NFL star Tyreek Hill, Johnson isn’t chasing headlines, he’s building a platform. “This is year one… this is where you want to be if you’re a premier track and field athlete,” he said, framing Lyles’ past complaints about TV coverage as something GST has already solved.
The post Sha’Carri Richardson Reeled In as Noah Lyles Gets Harsh Reality Check for Bold Grand Slam Track Comments appeared first on EssentiallySports.