African runners treat Lagat like SHIT

Because he is a threat, and no longer "one of them"?

It's been going on for several years now. And yes, it's because he gave up his Kenyan citizenship. They also treat Kamel, Belal Ali, Shaheen, Kemboi of qatar, and others like shit, too. They're seen as sellouts.

Shaheen (formerly stephen cherono)'s brother, quite a successful runner himself, will not talk to his brother any more. At least it was that way for several years. Maybe they made up now. And remember, Shaheen has always made Kenya his permanent home. So, his brother would not talk to him even though he lived down the street essentially. And now the 2nd fastest 1500m man in history gave up his citizenship? Yeah, they'll treat him like shit.

can't blame lagat he is so great

So does this mean if Webb represented Kenya we'd all like him?

if rupp represented kenya we would all like him.

oh wait wouldn't make it to any championship event if he were a citizen of kenya.

you sir are a liar. Cherono still lives in Kenya and trains in Kenya.

mighty porn stache wrote:

It's been going on for several years now. And yes, it's because he gave up his Kenyan citizenship. They also treat Kamel, Belal Ali, Shaheen, Kemboi of qatar, and others like shit, too. They're seen as sellouts.

Shaheen (formerly stephen cherono)'s brother, quite a successful runner himself, will not talk to his brother any more. At least it was that way for several years. Maybe they made up now. And remember, Shaheen has always made Kenya his permanent home. So, his brother would not talk to him even though he lived down the street essentially. And now the 2nd fastest 1500m man in history gave up his citizenship? Yeah, they'll treat him like shit.

No different from the abuse Bekele has to endure from the Kenyans. In fact, Lagat is getting an easy ride by comparison.

What, you thought track was a gentlemen's sport?

Certainly none of the Kenyans resent the fact that Lagat purposely hid his American citizenship and took someone's spot on the Oly team in 2004...That couldn't be.

made me think wrote:

So does this mean if Webb represented Kenya we'd all like him?

Made me choke on my drink!

Are some of you implying that Kenyans are mean? I thought they were all supposed to be homely, considerate blokes who just wanted to run. No?

as Chris Rock would say...I don't condone it but I understand"....trader!

Trader Joe?

Kenyans aren't mean. In fact they're the nicest people you'll ever meet. Take a trip sometime, you won't want to leave. You may even understand their mentality.

Yes, the likes of Lagat, Wilson Kipketer, Greg Konchellah and Cherono are considered sellouts because they've done the unforgivable; SOLD THEIR HERITAGE FOR FINANCIAL GAIN. (sort of like the biblical Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a hot meal). To Kenyans, that is such a total loss of face and standing. People will be polite, but they won't respect you. Some don't consider them "MEN" anymore. This is especially a big deal in Lagat's Kalenjin tribe (traditionally fearless warriors). What he's done is considered a betrayal, desertion and, worst of all, cowardly. If he were single, he'd be hard-pressed to get a date in his home village.

You dumb Americans act like the other runners should treat Lagat with kid gloves and there should be a force field around him because he's running for the states now. Guess what, he ain't special, he'll be treated like every other runner out there. I've seen him reach out and receive polite handshakes from the Kenyans, post race. But he's irretrievably lost the most important thing, RESPECT.(I know that means little to Americans but in Kenya its huge).

As for Bekele, Kenyans regard him with the utmost awe and respect. Yes, there's some envy, but his exploits are acknowledged as LEGENDARY. No hate whatsoever. Every year, a new kid is inspired to run hoping to be the one to take him down. And when that day comes (and it will come), that kid will become a national hero.

Thanks for the obligatory "dumb Americans" slam.

So it's like when Sgt. Slaughter sided with the Iraqis during the 1st Gulf War and wrestled alongside the Iron Sheik.

I lost a lot of respect for him, too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Slaughter

Nice. Good to know there are still some funny people on here.

It's not about hate or disrespect, it's about using dirty tricks. At one of the Golden League meets recently, the Kenyans were blatantly sabotaging Bekele's race, throwing elbows, moving around to keep him boxed in and even stamping his foot so his one shoe was soaked in blood after the finish.

As for Kenyans being the nicest people around, I guess that violent inter-tribal fighting ahead of the elections was just a big misunderstanding?

Kenyanna wrote:

Kenyans aren't mean. In fact they're the nicest people you'll ever meet. Take a trip sometime, you won't want to leave. You may even understand their mentality.

Yes, especially when they're slaughtering each other and their heroes for no apparent reason except tribal allegiances.

Stop making generalizations. Lagat has had a long history of living in the US. His case is very different from that of Cherono.

I don't see any more bumping and grinding that I would expect. When he was a Kenyan, the Kenyans helped give him a bit of room. Now that he's an American they don't. I don't see anything weird about that.

Said Khalid Muhammad wrote:

Has anyone else noticed that Lagat is constantly being bumped, shoved, and cut off during his races by African runners? This happened in Beijing too, especially in the final of the 5000. Are the Kenyans mad that Lagat went to the US? Whatever the case, it's pretty bad sportsmanship...

Talk about bad sportsmanship.....

When Lagat lied about his citizenship in 2004, his selfishness resulted in a fraud that directly impacted at least 5 individuals: two Kenyans, two Portuguese and an American.

Lagat's fraud kept Paul Korir off of the Kenyan Olympic team. He kept Alan Webb out of the Athens 1500 semifinal. He kept Manuel Damiao out of the final. He robbed Rui Silva of the silver medal, and Timothy Kipanui of the bronze.

The Kenyans have every right to treat Lagat like shit.