I'm the best, not Haile: Bekele

[puddys12]

I know this has been talked about many times but Bekele saying he is the best and only the Marathon Haile is better. Dont agree when you consider Haile records (top 5) from 1500 meters to the marathon. Does Bekele really believe that ? Yes Bekele is a legend at Cross country and 5000, 10000 but nobody has done what Haile has.....I hope Bekele starts doing half Marathons and Marathons soon..How many world records has Haile had ?

[Powell]

Bekele already has 3 Oly golds vs Geb's 2 and 5 WCh golds vs Geb's 4. Plus he's won a ton of WXC medals, something that Geb tried in his earlier days and couldn't do.

Sure Haile set a lot more WRs. But you have to remember he was competing in an era which saw big progress across the board in the long distances. His records were not head and shoulders above his contemporaries - several runners actually beat them before Geb managed to reclaim them. Kenny hasn't set dozens of records, but he did run faster than Geb at both 5000 and 10000. And with no one else getting close to those performances, he is actually further ahead of his generation than Geb was.

The things that Geb has going for him are his versatility - from World Indoor title at 1500 to WRs in the marathon, and his longevity at the top.

My verdict: at this point, I'd actually say Bekele is the best 5000/10000 track runner ever. Geb is still the best overall distance runner of all time, but it is getting close.

[Marlow]

My verdict: at this point, I'd actually say Bekele is the best 5000/10000 track runner ever. Geb is still the best overall distance runner of all time, but it is getting close.

Zackly.

[hi-tech]

Bekele lost it!

First Bekele started dancing and performing like Bolt and now he's trying to convince people and himself that he's better than Gebrselassie. It's hard for copycats to be better than the original. Holmes learned that after succeeding Ali. Geb is admired for his racing and running ability but his stature has grown even more because of his open friendliness and dignity. He's not nicknamed the Little Emperor for nothing. Maybe Bekele wants to be called the Littler Emperor now. I don't know if Bekele is trying to market himself differently now but he should know that just maybe if he tries too hard to convince people of his greatness he may just bring out for everyone to see the pettiness in his character.

[jazzcyclist]

Bekele must realize that it's not his job to proclaim his greatness. That's for the fans and the journalists.

[Noon]

Geb has broken 26 world records, has broken every record from 2000 (indoor) to marathon. He has broken at least one world record in 14 of his 17 years as an elite distance racer. He has been at the top for 17 years and has plenty of gas left in the tank to make it 20.
No distance runner, and not even any ATHLETE, has ever gotten close to that kind of longevity and dominance and range in such a grueling field of athletic competition.
Most distance racers last about 4 years at the elite level if they are lucky. Bekele has been around for 6 years thus far.
If anyone should know better than to make a statement like that it's him.

Geb is not only the greatest distance runner ever he is, in my full opinion, the greatest athlete in history.

[lovetorun]

I agree that Bekele doesn't endear himself to fans by declaring himself the best....athletes that are secure and grounded speak with their performance not there words...

[doug091463]

I agree that Bekele doesn't endear himself to fans by declaring himself the best....athletes that are secure and grounded speak with their performance not there words...

muhammad ali would probably diagree with you.

[jazzcyclist]

I agree that Bekele doesn't endear himself to fans by declaring himself the best....athletes that are secure and grounded speak with their performance not there words...

muhammad ali would probably diagree with you.

While Bekele may be one of the few athletes who deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence with Ali when it comes to athletic accomplishments, he's not in Ali's class when it comes to charisma and humor. Not every athlete can pull off brash successfully. Besides Ali, Joe Nammath could do it and Deion Sanders could do it. Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson can't do it, although they try. Some people have it and some don't. I believe Usain Bolt has it and Bekele doesn't.

[yung4evr]

I agree that Bekele doesn't endear himself to fans by declaring himself the best....athletes that are secure and grounded speak with their performance not there words...

muhammad ali would probably diagree with you.

MA had his share of detractors in his heyday for his outspokeness. Bekele has been talking a lot lately - baiting Bolt to a challenge. Somewhat out of character for a distance runner and certainly not in the character of previous world distance champs. I can only assume he's not getting enough attention to satisfay his ego.

[bman]

Yea, Bekele doesn't speak with his performances.

:lol:

Oh, I forgot, he is not American. I'm embarrassed by my baseless sarcasm.

[nevetsllim]

I don't think there's any argument that Bekele is greater than Geb on the track and Bekele has acknowledged this. What Bekele has said is purely based on facts, not bravado.

"I don't agree with that. Haile is no longer the best long-distance runner. I think I am the best. I have his world records now and I have won more titles than he did. Haile never achieved the double (5,000 and 10,000) at the World Championships or the Olympic Games. I have the double at both these events (at Beijing Olympics last year and at the Berlin World this year). Except for the marathon, I think I am better than Haile in everything else."

[TrackDaddy]

I agree that Bekele doesn't endear himself to fans by declaring himself the best....athletes that are secure and grounded speak with their performance not there words...

Bekele must realize that it's not his job to proclaim his greatness. That's for the fans and the journalists.

While I agree that Bekele would probably be better served letting others proclaim his greatness, a little self promotion has worked for others in sport in the past. To be honest, the distance races could use a little more vocal tension from time to time.

Ali, Mo Greene and Deion Sanders, for example, come to mind.

Of course in those instances you have many people who will ignore your performances and hate you for your "cockiness."

Also, it might be that in his culture honestly stating what you believe about yourself is acceptable.

[TN1965]

Bekele may not the the "greatest" yet, but he might already be the "best." And it is the latter, not the former, he referred to.

[doug091463]

Of course in those instances you have many people who will ignore your performances and hate you for your "cockiness."

i was watching a talk show a few years ago with then minnesota governor and former professional wrestler jesse ventura, and he was asked about playing the bad guy, and he said wether you play the good or the bad guy does not really matter, wether the fans like me or hate me as long as they come to see me, what matters is people want to see you perform.

obviously that has a lot to do with how much there paid and with track a lot of times the stadiums are pretty empty even when there is world class talent, example the addidas classic in may in carson, ca.

with muhammad ali the people who liked his bragging/showmanship because it is rebellious want to see him and then the people who dont like his cockiness still want to see him, hoping to see him lose, either way i am sure he makes more money that way, than if he were a reserved great fighter who says only noncontroversial comments (evander hollyfield is an exception)

i am happy just seeing great performances, but if trash talking/putting on a show helps track stars get more of the public interested in the sport, i say why not.