Tergat WR

[Guest]

Let's not forget:
1. Khalid has more CHICAGO wins than Tergat has major wins.
2. Khalid is 2-0 against Tergat
3. Marathon conditions and courses are different and head to head records are far more important than PR times.
4 Even in standardized distances, head to head is still far more important.
5. I think calling Tergat a better marathoner than Khalid is, at best, considerably premature.
6. Khalid is not getting the respect that he deserves because he is American, not Kenyan, not a high altitude trainer etc..etc..
7. It was the same prior to the London marathon when Tergat and Geb debutted...who won that race handily?

[MJD]

Re: Tergat WR

>Let's not forget:
1. Khalid has more CHICAGO
>wins than Tergat has major wins.
2. Khalid is
>2-0 against Tergat
3. Marathon conditions and
>courses are different and head to head records
>are far more important than PR times.
4 Even in
>standardized distances, head to head is still far
>more important.
5. I think calling Tergat a
>better marathoner than Khalid is, at best,
>considerably premature.
6. Khalid is not getting
>the respect that he deserves because he is
>American, not Kenyan, not a high altitude trainer
>etc..etc..
7. It was the same prior to the
>London marathon when Tergat and Geb
>debutted...who won that race handily?

You seem to be protesting to much. Who exactly is praising Tergat's performance at the expense of KK? No one on this site anyway.

[Guest]

Re: Tergat WR

Excellent points, all.

[Guest]

Re: Tergat WR

To MJD
I was protesting other sources (The NY Times) calling Tergat "a favorite to accomplish what no Kenyan ever has in the marathon-winning an Olympic Gold Mdeal."
I have not in fact seen anything on this sight ...

[MJD]

Re: Tergat WR

>To MJD
I was protesting other sources (The NY
>Times) calling Tergat "a favorite to accomplish
>what no Kenyan ever has in the marathon-winning
>an Olympic Gold Mdeal."

Here is the article which requires registration. Only KK's agent could be upset about the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/29/sport ... athon.html

You can't win with this crowd. NYT devoted 13 paragraphs which is the complaint on another thread-no press.

The article said he is a favourite not the favourite. That is not an inaccurate statement.

KK gets mentioned 4 times.

One last point. XC sure didn't hurt this distance runner.

[Guest]

Re: Tergat WR

I agree with MJD. You doth protest too much. KK is obviously a fabulous talent. And we're all pleased that Tergat has "finally" lived up to the marathon potential we assumed was there. We all look forward to seeing them meet when they're both in top form.

[Pego]

Re: Tergat WR

A question for the Neuropsychiatry. How many times exactly has KK represented the USA at the major championships (WC, OG)? He reminds me of some tennis players (Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl), always fit for the tournaments, always "injured" for the Davis Cup. Have I opened the Pandora's box?

[MJD]

Re: Tergat WR

>A question for the Neuropsychiatry. How many
>times exactly has KK represented the USA at the
>major championships (WC, OG)? He reminds me of
>some tennis players (Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl),
>always fit for the tournaments, always
>"injured" for the Davis Cup. Have I opened the
>Pandora's box?

The worst it can be is a money thing and so what if it is. Last I looked capitilism has won the day. If he completely changed his focus, these races would cost him his year and then where does he earn his money? A win in the OG or WC 100 meter immediately gives you instant
marketability and you can show up at a meet the following week(same with the Davis Cup). Not so in the marathon. This guy has basically come up from nothing. Who is anyone else to demand he represent his adopted country when the cost is so prohibitive?

[Guest]

Re: Tergat WR

>To MJD
I was protesting other sources (The NY
>Times) calling Tergat "a favorite to accomplish
>what no Kenyan ever has in the marathon-winning
>an Olympic Gold Mdeal."
I have not in fact seen
>anything on this sight ...>

Are you saying that Tergat isn't 'a favorite' for the marathon Olympic Gold Medal?

[Pego]

Re: Tergat WR

<Who is anyone else to demand he represent his adopted country when the cost is so prohibitive?>

Is it really? Aren't you supposed to give something to your adoptive country that offers you opportunities? By the way, I AM an immigrant to the US.

[Guest]

Re: Tergat WR

Is Tergat a favorite?..maybe...maybe not..I would would put my money on KK or Abera or others before TErgat. Does Tergat have potential?..of couse...but I think the assumptions I FEEL are being implied by the NYT are a bit premature...that is all I am saying...

Should Ronaldo De Costa have been a favorite in Sydney 2000 marathon?

THank you MJD for responding for me. Marathon racing has become a sport like world class cycling, and tennis where Olympic and WC medals may not necessarily reflect or affect the World Records more than Chicago. Olympic medals may not be the best refelction of who is the best...at least inthose sports

[bubba]

Re: Tergat WR

He did run in Edmonton and is planning (first you have to make the team) on running in Athens. Right now he's run 50% of the major champs marathons for which he's been eligible.

[MJD]

Re: Tergat WR

>Is Tergat a favorite?..maybe...maybe not..I would
>would put my money on KK or Abera or others
>before TErgat. Does Tergat have potential?..of
>couse...but I think the assumptions I FEEL are
>being implied by the NYT are a bit
>premature...that is all I am saying...

Tergat is "A" favourite. That can't be diputed. So you can't quibble with the NYT there. You are just saying that you don't think that he is "THE" favourite.

[MJD]

Re: Tergat WR

><Who is anyone else to demand he represent his
>adopted country when the cost is so
>prohibitive?>

Is it really? Aren't you
>supposed to give something to your adoptive
>country that offers you opportunities? By the
>way, I AM an immigrant to the US.

Who made up that rule? Some may think so but so what if he doesn't? He is clearly trying to represent his country as indicated by the post above anyway. All I am saying is that even "if" he doesn't for monetary reasons, you can't really blame him.

[miler manque]

Re: Tergat WR

The guy who gets the world best deserves all the credit and praise in the world. That's why there are world bests -- to see who's ever run the fastest -- and whoever is on top, for whatever reason, gets to shine. Sorry, that's not KK right now. It's Tergat's time to shine -- finally. He always seemed like a nice guy to me, I'm glad he's finally done something indisputably great.

KK would dearly love to win the Olympics and/or Worlds. Beyond the glory, an Olympics win would mean great and lasting commercial success for him, better than a one-time payday from a single race. So it's a good selfish goal for KK commercially, as well as to "give something back."

Of all the events, the marathon is the hardest to pick a winner. Too many unknowns, too difficult a race, too many great competitors at the Olympic level. At best there could never be less than 5, maybe 10 "favorites." Absent injury, KK and Tergat are among them --