Great overview. I understand soccer didn't gain traction in the U.S. until later, but I still think it's kind of funny to say it wasn't a thing during the prime of one of the game's most famous players of all time. I was of course being facetious with my reply, using a variation of the Let's Run Jordan Hasay meme.
I do think Rojo makes a good point about society/sports being more fragmented than it was 60 years ago. The flip side to that is we can now follow the sports we love much more closely than ever (that is, if we're willing/able to pay for the various track & field streaming services), which creates more scrutiny within the fan base.
In Ryun's heyday, he didn't know if track fans were talking trash about him at a sports bar in Indiana. Now, within minutes of smashing a record and making the U.S. team, Cooper could have come to this site (I hope he didn't) and seen people accusing him of using PEDs. With social media, public online discussion forums, and the ubiquity of cameras, many athletes feel like they are living under a microscope, and they are often exposed to toxic comments about them. That experience can cause them to feel increased pressure, and it can affect their psyche.
I appreciate being able to read Ryun's take on Cooper. He can obviously relate to Cooper better than any of us, and it was interesting to read his thoughts on Cooper handling pressure. Ryun also had a great insight on Cooper remaining relaxed in the final sprint.