The UNCENSORED "Week that Was"

800: No one makes finals b/c no one ever makes finals

1500: No one makes finals except Lagat b/c no one ever does except Webb and Lagat. Why does everyone on this website hate on Webb so much? It's CRAZY. He has so much potential, hope for a gold medal. He's just doing what he has to do for the long term to get back to real training.

Steeple: No one makes the final

5k: Lagat, Teg, and Solinsky in the final. Tegenkamp medals. Not Lagat.

10k: Ritz gets like 6th, Rupp 7th.

............

* 800m: Bold Call that Symmonds does not make finals.

* 1500m: OK I tend to agree with you on the "Lagat-Only Logic"

* 5K: Solinsky? Interesting. Teg spanking Lagat....I don't know

* 10K: Interesting....must be basing this on Ritz spanking Hall in the Marathon.

Thanks my man - "runscz". Now that the BROJO's have finally put out their "Weak-Ass That Was" commentary the following is my response and I urge all to join in....seeing that the BROJO's don't put out a thread to comment on their mainstream observations. That said, here goes w/a focus on the negative:

* Eugene Track Oversaturation: Fellas, enough of the handwringing and false analogies in comparing the Champs with a UO basketball game. The cold, hard facts....and this is coming from a non-OU/Nike/Salazar Mancrush Guy.....is that there is no other place in the United States where you could get 9,500 folks a day. So put the tougue back in the mouth because your "Told You So" perspective doesn't stand.

* The Bye's: BROJO's its not about YOU. We should be grateful for not only our returning World Champions, but an opportunity to put four in the respective event.

* BROJO Commentating: Don't get to proud of yourselves as reflected in your "We were proud of ourselves for asking if the Schumacher sweep of the 5k was possible with 1k to go." One of you kept righting off Fernandez during the 5K where he broke the American AJR. I'm sure that wouldn't have happened if he was from Portland or OU.

* Webb Analysis: Concur

* On Going Pro Early: I like your one-sided perspective with all the cherry-picked examples of those who've had a tough time. How about those that HAVE done well?

I'm giving the "Week That Was" commentary on the National Championships a "Thumbs Down"

I agree. I think Teg is the biggest sleeper the USA has at Worlds.

4th at Osaka World Champs 2007.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him pull the shocker.

I'd need to see more game than a 13:20 to concur with the assessment

I'd say there's alot more in the tank considering he finished a 13:20 in :53. Definitely didn't look that beat afterwards, either.

Most that PR or run their best times of the year feel/look like they could have done more.

Lickety Split wrote:

Most that PR or run their best times of the year feel/look like they could have done more.

Every single one of your posts leave me feeling like you could have done more.

You are acting the fool, your mindless criticism of other perspectives takes away from what otherwise was interesting insight.

Stop being so damn insecure assuming that the only way people will listen to you is if you stoop to insulting others.

* Insecure. Interesting, I'm being counseled about being insecure by someone who develops a one-time log-in Name of SPLICKETY LICK to mock me.

* Insults. I've insulted no one....these are the same type comments I'd make if I was Smith, Fam, Willard, or Flanagan's coach. Accountability is a difficult issue to face. You can the BROJO's struggle with their "hands-off" comments in their recent posts. Ex. Focusing on championship venue versus the championships.

* Mindless Criticisms. Put aside any OU/Salazar/Eugene/Rupp/Nike Man-Crush you may have and reread my comments. I'd say their "Spot-On": Imagine American Milers putting themselves out there Pre/Fernandez Style, Webb in a event that's been described as 35 x 85meter sprints, top American women racing each other instead of playing Coe-Ovett, etc.

Lickety Split wrote:

*I'm telling you...the further you keep our marathoners from coming back to the track & World Cross Country the farther behind they'll fall. Both Hall & Kastor ran best when still running track versus these road races and Mammoth tempo runs.

Good call. I'm wondering what's going on with American coaching in this regard. It's like track must be sacrificed for volume. In the end, if you don't have speed, I am a true believer that volume kills.

Split, how come in the 5K you made no mention of the Shumacher crews sweep and the 20 year old being part of it. That was the real story there. Fams stupidity was something, German did get the AJR which is certainly something to note but the race couldn't have been a more perfect setting for that and I think most people felt like he should peak for about 13:25 this year. A team sweep of an event in distances is rarely, rarely done especially when it includes a 20 year old in his 2nd 5k.

Overall good stuff.

Also split, Flanagan can hardly be judged in her training with Shumacher yet. She just got there. Even her Berlin performance won't be a fair indicator, though it will be better.

Good stuff all around, Lickety.

Good job Split. Keep it up.

The Brojos do a good job but they tend toward self-agrandiosity, i.e. patting themselves on the back each week. Sports writers and columnists don't do that. Comments should stand on their own.

Right now Rupp would have zero kick if he had to run two and a half seconds a lap faster for 10k. He has a long road in front of him to medal. I do wish him the best in his efforts this summer but he will find out that Europe is not Eugene. Nike will need to make some mighty light shoes for Rupp.

Lickety Split wrote:

* 800m: Bold Call that Symmonds does not make finals.

Why? He's never made an outdoors final before. He was 6th in his semi-final heat last year. He's 26th on the yearly list right now. There are already 6 guys who have run at or faster than his PR. And that's not even including proven veterans like Gary Reed or Borza, who haven't really opened up yet.

I like your Week-in-Review, Likety, but your prognostic skills leave something to be desired. You predict 6 medals for the U.S. in distance races! If we get TWO, it will be a miracle.

Dotato: I'm not harping on "volume", but am putting a shot across the bow at distance runners who become "One Trick Ponies." That's why they go stale....not too mention any names - Brian Sell, Ryan Hall. Kudos to Meb, Dathan, and Kara and other Spring Marathoners for coming back to the track and mixing it up Old School.

Train, Train: I'm with you on the Shumacher Sweep, but was burnt out from the BROJO's salivation over all things Nike and as indicated earlier....focused on the negative. W/respect to Shumacher and Flanagan, Dude I'm not with you ... any coach that takes on a talent is now accountable. Ergo my remark about Coach Smith and German Fernandez.... bet the Coach was feeling the big pressure about screwing this guy up. I tell you another thing, if I'm the USATF President -- aka Phil Knight, I'd have Flanagan, Willard, and Goucher's ass in my office on Monday. Flanagan counseled on this BS "You take a Lap, I take a Lap, I'm OK, your OK" approach toward the 10k; Goucher gets it for dodging Flanagan; and Willard gets it for settling on something other than victory against Barringer on my home track (aka Hayward) and in front of a national TV audience that my advertisements funded. You could have had another "Dan and Dave" commercial series going into Worlds. This time its "Hotty and Homely." I'd then have a conference call w/all my Coaches/Surrogates -- Salazar, Mahon, Shumacher, BROJOs, Wetmore, Micahel Johnson et al -- I'd be telling them that from now on Nike athletes at the Championships will be in the contracts just like Pre.

Wowzer: I'm w/you on the BROJO's to a certain degree....for example, they're asking LETSRUN posters who were the MIAs at the nationals when they were the ones doing the color commentating. Shouldn't they have known basics like...where are the guys from last years team, the World XCs. Color commenting is more than calling out splits and reading your Nike Talking Points.

JustaJogger: I don't know brother.... Rupp's got game.

Typical:

Check it out....I'm with you on the two medals. Good points on Symmonds; however, in my mind he showed up for the game at Pre against the likes of the Russian (Borzov msp?). See my earlier post/predictions below....in other points I'm endorsing good points versus buckling to reality.

QUOTE

- 800M: Symmonds will medal...no one else makes finals.

- 1500M: None make the finals....even Lagat. You heard it here first.

- Steeple: None make the final

- 5K: Lagat Medals, Teg gets a top 5...no one else makes finals.

- 10K: Rupp & Ritz. Rupp will hit the Top 5. Nelson does not make finals.*

ENDQUOTE

* I stand corrected...there is no 10K on prelim. Ritz will be close to Rupp and agree w/other poster that he could potentially beat him.

I like the way your mind works!