Diego Estrada, takes advantage of USA support, and runs for...Mexico?

OK. wrote:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/cross-country-men/article/2011-11-18/estrada-become-us-citizen

And his citizenship has yet to be granted to him. So his choice is to run for Mexico or not run. What would YOU pick?

Rather not win a medal for Mexico than not win a medal for US and get booed by a nation full of failed runners.

M.C. Confusing wrote:

OK. wrote:http://www.ncaa.com/news/cross-country-men/article/2011-11-18/estrada-become-us-citizen

And his citizenship has yet to be granted to him. So his choice is to run for Mexico or not run. What would YOU pick?

Err. I guess he has his citizenship but not eligibility. Not quite the same thing but basically.

Zoro999 wrote:

For those of you that have never been to Salinas, it might as well be Mexico

It was Mexico until 1848.

¡El Hombre es muy loco!

Diego's a good egg. Happy for him.

AmeriKKKa wrote:

Here is the only answer wrote:

OK. So he did not become a US citizen early enough, like Chris Derrick

Go Diego!

Amen.

Who?

Why does Mexico's Olympic team suck so much?

Because every Mexican that can run, jump, or swim is already in the US.

Charles Manson's son wrote:

Why does Mexico's Olympic team suck so much?

Because every Mexican that can run, jump, or swim is already in the US.

oh lord please spare me. That joke has been told for at least 20 to 30 years. Please stay current on the racist jokes...you fail

Here is the only answer wrote:

What a complete load of sh!t. Estrada has the opportunity to compete in the Olympics for Mexico. He could not compete for the US. 99.9% of us would choose to compete in the Olympics if given the chance. Estrada is one of the 99.9%.

Go, Diego - make Salinas (and Mexico and NAU and...) proud!

I agree with you that lots of people want to go to the Olympics but I sure hope he doesn't try to play it both ways.

I have no problem with him competing for Mexico but do have a problem with him if he competes for Mexico this time and then say the US in 4 years.

If his dream is to represent the US in the Olympics, then he shouldnt' run for Mexico this time.

It would sort of be like a HS recruit saying, "Yes. I really love you you Mr. third-tier d1 coach and I can't wait to run for you but I'm going to transfer out to oregon the moment they'll take me."

Now that the Olympics is big, big money, I know this is very hard on the Olympians but people need to stand up for something. If you are going to switch, be willing to sit out.

Wilson Kipketer changed and sat an Olympics.

Bernard Lagat competed for Kenya while a citizen of the US which to me is completely ludicrous.

So Rojo, you are condoning the title of the thread? Because that is what is truly ludicrous, and completly distorted. It is true that representing a country should stand for something on principle, and I can understand your opinion that an individual shouldn't take advantage of circumstances like this case to reach a stage like the Olympics. But the fact is that the system is what is excluding Estrada from being eligible to compete for the US - I think that's what he himself said in that interview. Kipketer made a difficult and laudable choice to sit out, but what right does anyone have to criticize Lagat for wanting the Olympics so badly? I would be interested to know if you would hold yourself or your brother to that same standard, if the regulations left you in the same position. I was also left wondering what the purpose of adding a kind of "holding period" was - is it a kind of loyalty test? Is it to prevent someone from switching citizenships solely to gain a spot on an American team? I know Rojo you are holding to a principle, but in a free world people who have earned the right to switch or add citizenships also have the right to earn all rights that their citizenships offer them. Also, I feel that what you said leaves room for bigots to spout rubbish about how spots on teams are taken away from more worthy "real" Americans.

rojo wrote:

I have no problem with him competing for Mexico but do have a problem with him if he competes for Mexico this time and then say the US in 4 years.

Bernard Lagat competed for Kenya while a citizen of the US which to me is completely ludicrous.

What problem will you have, exactly? You'll have a problem with the fact that he could earn his spot on the US Olympic team by finishing in the Top 3 four years from now? If he's a US citizen and eligible to compete for the US and finishes in the Top 3, you earn the right to go.

Do you also have a problem with Kip representing the US in the World Championships and Olympics after being a previous medalist for Kenya?

I don't like the tone of this at all.

why not abandon the whole nation thingy at the Olympycs.

Just let the top 12 (based on season's best) compete in each event? Then we avoid the injured athletes who were good last year but are slow this year. Should be exciting in the

stiple chase.

Here is the only answer wrote:

Here is the only answer wrote:

Because he is not a US citizen.

OK. So he did not become a US citizen early enough.

Go Diego!

Yep, there has to be a better way. If he is a US citizen, then he should get to compete, no waiting period.

It doesn't make sense, he's lived his whole life here, he's a citizen, let him into the USA Trials!

I'm shocked that one of the brojos has a problem with this.

Unpatriotic wrote:

"Salinas, California native."

Yeah, I know it is hard to make it to the Olympics, but what are the odds he ever moves to Mexico and lives there?

There are numerous athletes of Mexican descent that choose to try and make the USA team.

There has to be a better way.

How about American citizens, born and raised here, who go off to serve in the military of a foreign nation?

As an aside, it is interesting to me that there are not more world class Mexican distance runners. The great central highland plain that stretches from Guadalajara to Mexico City, where most Mexicans live, averages over a mile in altitude, with cities like Guanajuato at about 6400 ft. There is not a culture of running as in east Africa.

Mexico City is not a good place to train, but millions of people live in other areas at altitude that are really nice places.

I think the talent is there.

I live at 5000+ in Oaxaca. In my age group, 50+, there are regularly guys running low 16:00 in the 5K local races. OK maybe the courses are short, or they lie about their age, but check it, that is fast for a geezer on an uneven course at a mile altitude!

I'll keep an eye on Diego. Best wishes for a good Olympics.

But when push comes to shove, I'm pulling for Rupp. And Mo!

rojo wrote:

Wilson Kipketer changed and sat an Olympics.

Bernard Lagat competed for Kenya while a citizen of the US which to me is completely ludicrous.

Wilson Kipketer represented Denmark in the 1995 World Championships.

He only sat out the 1996 Olympics because he was not allowed to compete by rule not becasue he chose to sit it out. He was left with no options in 1996.

Lagat was not going to let that happen to him in 2004.

He was at his prime and the rules would not allow him to compete for the US. We got to see one of the greatest duels ever between him in El G that year. Sitting out would not have been good for anyone.

Four men ran 1:42 in the 1996 800 without Kipketer who ran 1:41 that year. Look at what we missed out on.

People change nationality for person reasons. Just like people move form state to state.

Unfortunately, this interferes with their running Olympic eligibility.

It's real easy to talk about all the principled moves you'd make when it's not your own livelihood on the line, isn't it?