Scott Goldstein

Hey All:



I, like everyone, was greatly saddened to hear of the loss of Joe Hailey.

I didn't really know him, but like many, I raced against him and found him

to be really special person on the bike. Here is my little "Joe Hailey

Anecdote":



I was racing as a CAT IV at the Tualitin (Crawfish Festival) Criterium in

1995. I was feeling good and the course suited my pitiful crit skills (it

has a hill) I was absolutely sure I was going to win. Well, when we come

out of the final turn at the base of the hill, I was amazed to see that I

had completely blown it and two guys had a big gap on me and the rest. I

blew by one of them but didn't get the other guy and thus I lost. I was

just crushed. I went back to my car sulking and who happens to be parked

right next to me but this white haired dude who informs me that he was the

guy that I blew by to take second. Well, I didn't want to talk to anybody

about the race, least of all some old dude who wanted to give me advice

about racing a crit.



The next day was the District Crit. So here I am racing away to the best

of my limited critability in the last few laps of the race. I think I'm

hearing things but I keep getting what seems like an Obi-Wan Kenobi voice

talking to me in my ear. I soon realize that it was this Joe Hailey guy

giving me pointers as to where to go, what wheel to get on, etc...during

the flippin race! Of course, I didn't win cuz I can't sprint, but I came

away from the race thinking about this amazing Joe Hailey dude. Here was a

guy who had the right perspective on bike racing. To help out a competitor

(during a race) to his own detriment really showed class. On top of that,

I am fairly sure that he won the race as well.



Everytime I saw Joe Hailey race, he would never be the fastest guy out

there (being 20-30 years older than most of the field), but he always

seemed to be at the right place at the right time. That's how I'll

remember him.





Scott













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USC: 16    -    Notre Dame: 27 The Agony of Defeat!

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