IF Hall won Boston would it be the best sporting event you've witnessed?

I thing Kara is going to pull it out. Hall I thing will fight, but in the end he will lose. I'll be there flying out tonight. Will be screaming for them both.

It's funny so few people in the message boards are talking of Hall winning, but he has a commanding lead in the poll on the front page.

mn guy wrote:

It\'s funny so few people in the message boards are talking of Hall winning, but he has a commanding lead in the poll on the front page.

thats because its hall mania here in the states... everyone wants to see him win so they vote for him. i hope he wins.. anyone know of anywhere online that the race will be streamed or anything?

Wow. blatant racism at it's best. Got to give it to you though....

It's funny how people still think that poor-ass, black men that live in little shacks in the middle of Africa - surely at altitude - should have to run in a league of their own because they are too talented and don't have to work nearly as hard as our own proud, white American folk.

lohalloran wrote:

Hall will probably run a new course record and still come in 3rd.

Huh?

i.e. he pulls out a monster performance and runs 2:07:05, besting the course record, but merga and cheruiyot run sub 2:07 after dropping him in kenmore square.

Boston will be streamed starting at 9:30 AM EST on Universal Sports (www.universalsports.com)

lohalloran wrote:

i.e. he pulls out a monster performance and runs 2:07:05, besting the course record, but merga and cheruiyot run sub 2:07 after dropping him in kenmore square.

That would be besting the OLD course record.

Treadmillionaire wrote:

Didn't we have an Olympian break the record for winning gold metals less than a year ago?

During the Olympics, gold is presented as a medal. Gold is also a precious metal. I know...it can get a little tricky.

..fdsfae wrote:

Wow. blatant racism at it's best. Got to give it to you though....

It's funny how people still think that poor-ass, black men that live in little shacks in the middle of Africa - surely at altitude - should have to run in a league of their own because they are too talented and don't have to work nearly as hard as our own proud, white American folk.

Seems completely unwarranted to:

Coach D wrote:

Last year Hall ran faster than all 3 Cheruiyots.

I'm with Bill Squires, pulling for Hall or Goucher to win:

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/marathon/view/2009_04_17_Bill_Squires_pumps_U_S__chances/

But to take your bait. The east Africans do seem to have an genetic advantage that can't be explained by poverty, environment, culture, drugs, etc. If they were just better than "our own proud, white American folk" that would be one thing. But, they are overwhelming better than Asian, Latino, White, west/south African, etc. There are poor people, many at altitude, throughout the world, but other than east Africa, but nothing special running wise emerges from them.

I was just thinking the exact same thing.

Have you lost your mind to be actually posting a comment like that.

Get a grip on yourself man.

wondering wrote:

What are you...10?

He'd have to be at least 14, to have witnessed and remember Jordan playing that game.

OP:

Are you really that US-centric that it would make it the best sporting event you EVER witnessed, only if Hall wins?

Just off the top of my head I would say that if Hall runs 2:06 and destroys the rest of the field it would still finish behind many events I have seen. Here are some of them:

- '08 Oly 5k - Bekele puts exclamation points on being the greatest dist runner ever. Doubles and succeeds where other greats have failed or never tried.

- '08 Oly marathon - putting 5 minutes on Ritz and Hall? Wow.

- Paris-Roubiax '09 - Boonen wins #3 when everyone knew just what he had to do, yet he still does it.

- Tour of Flanders '09 - Devolder repeats, again when everyone knows what he has to do and he just rides away from them.

- Every track WR (800m and up) and marathon WR that I have ever seen.

If Hall (or anyone else) runs low-2:06 or faster (with no tailwinds) then it would elevate it to maybe top-20 or 30 I've ever seen. Depends on how fast they go, but Hall winning or not doesn't affect how I would rank the event all-time.

I was 12 years old when the USA beat Russia in hockey and went on to win gold. Know one thought it could be done!

Do you believe in miracles?

GO RYAN

I think you will not be working for ESPN any time soon.

Because Americans "vote" for who they want to win and not for who they think will win.

I've said this before, but if Hall runs like he did in the Oly trials (and from what I've seen he's in another league from that race), then he is going to be very hard to beat. I'm predicting a Hall victory. I can't wait to see the race!! Go Ryan!!!

Yeah thats what I said...but he would be having his course record bested by two others...

Tommeke at PR beats all those Ethiopian dopers hands down.

Funny now that we can watch cycling and know it's much more pure than distance running.

Listen here girls, it is.