PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth native LaShawn Merritt has been a little busy since winning gold medals in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay events during the Beijing Olympics.
He's flown from races in Switzerland and Miami to New York, where he was inducted into the Friar's Club and appeared on BET's music video show "106 & Park."
But the 22-year-old's first stop when he returned to Portsmouth on Friday was his friend Michael Carr's Midtown eatery, the Up Top Restaurant and Lounge.
"I'm happy to be home," the Woodrow Wilson High School graduate said.
Flanked by his father and Portsmouth Mayor James W. Holley, Merritt said the first thing he wanted to do when he got back was to celebrate with the people who sent him off and knew he could do it before he won the medals.
Holley said Portsmouth's young people need to watch carefully and try to walk in Merritt's footsteps.
"We encourage them to realize that you can do whatever you want to do," Holley said. "But you've got to work, you have to make sacrifices."
The city is still working on plans for a parade to honor Merritt.
Merritt said his plans over the next few months include a vacation to the Bahamas.
Asked about a potential late-night talk show appearance, Merritt would say only that "some things are in the making."
James Wynn Jr., a former Woodrow Wilson substitute teacher who also worked with Merritt at the Cavalier Manor Recreation Center, said he was proud of his former student.
"You see how humble he is? That's how he was all the time," Wynn said.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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Marks
There was a local parade when "mission accomplished" was announced several years ago and there were parades in the future. Please don't bring politics and non-related items into this. That's the very heart of the olympics. Our heroes are all respected and have been honored, and will be honored. Let this be what it is, which is the story of a good kid that grew into a great man, won two gold medals and is receiving the accolades of his fellow citizens. Sure veterans deserve attention, but it's a completely different topic. Please don't cast a shadow over a very good thing accomplished by a very good individual. Save your comments for the city council and let this man have his day and let the city share it with him without you're implying that there should be some guilt involved.
marks57720, stay on topic!!
Some of these posters absolutely make me SICK! The story is about LaShawn. Can't you just be happy for him?! Yes, we all appreciate what our service members do for us. That's why we have national holidays to honor them. How realistic is it to have a parade each time a service member comes home? And chances are, marks57720, you wouldn't even be there. You'd be at home posting something else stupid and off topic. Jeez!!!!!
Parade?
Very nice to have a parade for him...but we should also have a parade every time those courageous young men and women who are fighting for us in Iraq and Afghanistan return...they're not getting the recognition and glory they deserve! Their sacrifice preserves our freedom...not so sure what the Olympics does for us, other than pure entertainment...
breath of fresh air
We've had many local athletes make it big and most have been very good influences, but lately we've heard about the bad apples, the Vick brothers, those involved in the Marion Jones scandal, our young man from Salem H.S. getting shot outside of a "club" otherwise known as a local dive bar with a secret back room, at 2.a.m. on a school night. But now we have LaShawn Merritt and anybody that has known or been around this man since he was in high school knows that he is everything we need in a role model and more. He is a class act, he's a sportsman and just an overall good influence and role model.
Hampton Roads has definitely got reason to be proud of this man and it's been a pleasure to watch him go from running high school invitationals to winning two gold medals on the world's biggest stage.
Yea!
Welcome home, Mr. Merritt. You make us proud. Cheers, MGM
Outstanding effort!
This young man's performance was inspirational. It's just that simple.