Lagat 3'29.30 ! [ancient thread revived]

[tafnut]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

It's funny to say Lagat is not American in every sense of the word, because America's primary strength has always been the amalgam of differences from all over the world. To try and say Lagat is not a 'legit' American is to say none of us are - not even those interloping 'natives' who crossed the Bering land-bridge. Silly.

[MJD]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

Then again, Lagat for personal reasons, may simply not file the
>paperwork for the 2004 mark as he would presumptively still have the AR anyway
>from Rieti.

What if he doesn't file the paperwork for this one? At what point does it become a question of fact?

[RedPete]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

For the sake of US distance running, I'm glad Lagat will be around for awhile. He'll make the USATF 1500 more exciting and push [pull] Webb to a higher standard. It'll only help our local boy get stronger and make the American Record that much greater.

However it's very surprising to see so many Lagat supporters here. I thought AW was the "great _____ hope" on this board, able to cause 100 posts at the mere mention of his name. Does nobody else care that all the achievements we were hoping to see in his future will be stolen by a free agent?

[kuha]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

"it's very surprising to see so many Lagat supporters here."

No, it's not even remotely surprising.

[tafnut]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

>>I thought AW was the "great white hope" on this board,<<

I have NEVER seen that before, and I come around here quite often.

edit - nobody is stealing anything from anyone. Two Americans are excelling and hopefully pushing each other to great performances. It happens in many events - the Shot Put, for instance.

[RedPete]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

I have NEVER
>seen that before, and I come around here quite often.


You're right. My bad, that's Jeremy Wariner. Please have that "great hope" comment striken from the record.

But still, there's no denying Webb threads are incredibly popular here. Doesn't anybody agree about his bright future being cut off?

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

>Does nobody else care that all the achievements we were hoping to see in his future will be stolen by a free agent?

if you have a million dollars and i have 1.2 dollars dont you still have a million dollars? and if not-
how did i steal your money? know what i mean?

[kuha]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

Hey--this is NOT a "slow news day." There's no need to try to stir up unnecessary "controversy" here today...

[tafnut]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

JW is a great American hope; his color is, of course, irrelevant. It doesn't help him run faster or slower. Webb welcomes Lagat - why the heck would we NOT?

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

i use to cheer for an earlier great american hope, steve holman. i only saw him as an american.

[RedPete]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

Please disregard my foolish use of a stupid cliche'.

Alan Webb is extremely popular on this board and most hoped for big things from him....such as a 3:29.xx AR. That's the point.

[EPelle]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

"Doesn't anybody agree about his [own] bright future being cut off?"



Ritzenhein



"Lagat is one of the nicest people in the sport. It's great for his life I'm sure to come over to this country and become an American citizen, but at the same time I don't particularly support people changing their national affiliation this often because I think it's something special that you take pride in. I take pride in being an American runner, (having been one) ever since I was a little kid kid in a small town in the Midwest. People can associate with that. Lagat, he's been here for 10 years or something like that, he's an American, but I'm torn. I accept him as a rival and a runner, but at the same time I'm not necessarily very super enthusiastic about it." Cached news report

[RMc]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

>"Remember neither Frank Shorter nor Alberto Salazar were born in America
>either. Citizenship is citizenship."

Shorter was born of US citizens who
>happened to be living abroad at the time...nothing "quasi" about his
>citizenship.

But he can't be President....

[darkside]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

Ritz is probably not superenthusiastic about it because Lagat could move up to 5k as he ages, which is soon. Now that Lagat has 1500 AR, will he want 5000?

I think Ritz expresses well the ambivalence many feel. Would it be a problem if the U.S. and other countries' distance teams at the Worlds and Olympics were filled almost exclusively with former Kenyans, Ethiopians, other East or Northern Africans?

Would it matter how long the transplant has been here? Lagat 10 or so years, though not a citizen. Meb coming here as a child, and becoming a citizen sooner. Someone who just comes over without connections. Is any ambivalence justified for these different scenarios?

Do we connect as fans with athletes on national teams because we share something of the same background (and I don't mean race, obviously, because U.S. is very diverse)? Or do we root equally for someone who may become a citizen after a short time here?

This wouldn't be such an issue except for the utter dominance of the East Africans, which leads some to believe that there is some innate genetic or environmental advantage not shared by anyone born here.

[expat]

Re: Lagat 3'29.30 !

If Lagat is really living in the US, and has been for a long time, then certainly like any other immigrant he should be able to have citizenship ... me, for instance <g>. But in my opinion this whole thing highlights the foolishness of stressing nationality in what is fundamentally an individual sport.

(Take the US relay squad ... please.)

Didnt I see the other day that Wilson Kipketer of Denmark (formerly Kenya) lives in Monte Carlo? Where does Ramzi hang out? For that matter, where does St Paula of Radcliffe really spend most of her time?

Me, I'm UK/US dual but I root for athletes I admire, and against those I dont, no matter where they come from. The fact is, we often dont really know where they're living. I dont care much. Except as gossip -- now, that's important.