REST in peace, Florence. FloJo dazzled with her
speed, style and graceDon't know why some of my favorite interviews have been with track and field people, but Florence Griffith Joyner is right up there with decathlete Rafer Johnson and coach Payton Jordan. She electrified a room with her energy and passion, whether she was talking about her daughter, Mary Ruth, or listening to her husband Al Joyner.
Even in silence, she was grace personified. Her death last week at age 38 won't change that.
There was FloJo the flamboyant athlete, her long painted nails and one-legged unitards, racing history at the 1988 Olympics. And winning.
Then there was Florence, the soft-spoken woman who loved her family and challenged youngsters to pursue their dreams, athletic and otherwise. She was a presence, on and off the track, the likes of which we may never see again.
It was sad that, as news spread of her death, the rumors of her drug use resurfaced. I pray that, unlike Maryland's Len Bias (cocaine overdose), her passing was not a delayed reaction of performance-enhancing drugs.
"I can't see her doing anything not above board," said former University of Hawaii vice-president Rockne Freitas. "It doesn't jive with the way she conducted herself, her whole public demeanor.
"She was a lovely woman. A little on the quiet side but very astute. I really liked her and her husband. She was a great athlete and quite a lady."
Rockne, a vice-president at Kamehameha Schools, first met Griffith Joyner in 1994. He had been appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a council that FloJo co-chaired.
"She would always down-play her accomplishments but she would use her public image toward helping the council accomplish what we wanted to do," said Freitas, a former NFL lineman.
"She never tried to dominate conversations. If someone didn't bring it up, you'd never know what she had done. I can't say enough good things about FloJo.
"I was in shock when I heard. Like Kala Kukea (veteran waterman who died of heart failure a few years ago), you don't expect a great athlete to have a heart attack."
FLOJO exploded onto the international scene -- and into controversy -- becoming the fastest woman in history with a time of 10.49 seconds at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. It would be 10 years later before anyone would even come close: Marion Jones was timed in 10.65 last month.
Griffith Joyner rose above the whispers from the beaten competition, capturing the attention of the world with her style. The sport needed her then; it mourns her loss now, with no one to carry the torch.
She came to Hawaii in 1993 as part of the Women's Equality Day at Schofield Barracks. She and husband Al, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump, conducted a free clinic at Stoneman Field.
The night before the clinic, we spoke for about 30 minutes. Four months later, I was on her Christmas card list.
At Saturday's service, Al Joyner spoke of how his wife "was with God, who is now her coach."
FloJo had wanted to do a marathon, had worked up to being a very decent 5K (3.1-mile) racer. I hope she finally gets her wish.
Long may she run.
TV TIP: For those not sadistic enough to watch the replays of the Hawaii Rainbows football games, check out "S.O.F.: Special Ops Force" late night Saturdays on KGMB.
Obviously, Dennis Rodman doesn't care if the NBA strike is resolved. He's one of the characters on the show.
How much acting is involved, we'll never know. But you'll get to see Rodman playing a different kind of defense, this time with an assault weapon in his hands.
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.
