Bob Kennedy Says He Respects Teg & Solinsky (No Mention of Rupp)

People can take Kennedy's oversight of Rupp for what it's worth. It might indicate something, might not. What I can say--and I won't name names--is that from my experience in the recent past reading the online comments on Facebook from some of the old-timers regarding Rupp, they consistently speak of him derisively when his name comes up; primarily because of the way he is coddled by Salazar. I have never heard any of these guys, who are far from shy, accuse Rupp of being dirty or cheating in any way; it's more about them considering him to be a being a sissy or a spoiled man-child.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

Bob Kennedy says:

I admire their passion and fearless approach to the sport.

OBVIOUSLY Rupp isn't going to get included in any sentence that includes the word "fearless."

Seriously? Over the last few years Rupp has proven himself willing to race anyone in the world at any distance from 1500 to the half, on the road, on the track and XC. If you look objectively at the races he has chosen to run as well as his performance in those races I think you will find that Rupp appears to be as fearless as any American.

Rupp is a huge tool who is extremely overhyPed. Kinda hard to respect that.

Better Certifier wrote:

Seriously? Over the last few years Rupp has proven himself willing to race anyone in the world at any distance from 1500 to the half, on the road, on the track and XC. If you look objectively at the races he has chosen to run as well as his performance in those races I think you will find that Rupp appears to be as fearless as any American.

I agree.

"Chris"?

What's with the first-name basis? Obviously he knows the guy, and feels well enough about their relationship to use his first name. His opinion of him can hardly be considered objective.

Want objectivity? Let's have some facts.

FACT: Gay is scheduled to run in NYC this weekend and Solinskrap is not, even though by Gay's own admission he is not 100%, will run in only the "B" race, and has no guarantee whatsoever of either making the team this year, or of not re-injuring himself in NYC.

That sounds a lot more like passion and fearlessness to me.

Well, I wouldn't go that far. I don't think Solinsky's tough-guy persona is really all that deserved, but I acknowledge that his situation is different from Gay's.

Solinsky's hamstring was damaged very badly, pretty recently. He basically has no shot of making the Olympic team, and a very good chance of injuring himself further if he tried.

Gay, on the other hand, has been recovering from injury for a while now and is back to the point that he is probably in sub-10 shape (according to his agent). He isn't 100%, but he has a very real shot of making it to London. Totally different situation.

orbitboy wrote:

...some of the old-timers regarding Rupp, they consistently speak of him derisively when his name comes up...

The old-timers can piss and moan about him being a sissy all they want, but by the time his career is through Rupp is probably going to hold every American record from the 5,000m to the marathon.

fuel to the fire wrote:

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/06/04/olympian-then-and-now-bob-kennedy/

Bob Kennedy says:

Will you watch the Trials?

BK: I will definitely pay attention to it. I am a big fan of Meb [Keflezighi], even though he has already qualified in the marathon, and hopefully he can win another medal. I really admire [Matt] Tegenkamp and [Chris] Solinksky. I know Chris is hurt, but I admire their passion and fearless approach to the sport.

This to me is clearly a dig at Rupp. My question is where do you think it comes from?

Several options.

1. He doesn't relate to rupp as well because he's more of a 10k/marathon guy whereas teg/solinksy are more like Kennedy was.

2. Kennedy hates Al sal for some reason/possibly thinks they are dirty.

3. Kennedy views himself as a blue-collar runner and rupp as yuppie.

Your thoughts?

He said he admires their fearless approach to the sport. How the fsck does someone that monitors the pollen count, wears a ski mask and generally looks like a limp-wristed nancy boy represent fearlessness?

Better Certifier wrote:

Seriously? Over the last few years Rupp has proven himself willing to race anyone in the world at any distance from 1500 to the half, on the road, on the track and XC. If you look objectively at the races he has chosen to run as well as his performance in those races I think you will find that Rupp appears to be as fearless as any American.

I AGREE! Rupp will prove all the haters wrong when he wins DOUBLE GOLD IN LONDON!

Super Spartan wrote:

He said he admires their fearless approach to the sport. How the fsck does someone that monitors the pollen count, wears a ski mask and generally looks like a limp-wristed nancy boy represent fearlessness?

Quite frankly, "fearless" should not be used to describe Solinsky either...

At the Pre Invite in 2011, he DNFed the race once he realized Rupp didn't start and started calling it a "Ploy"

In Europe, Solinsky quite literally stopped a race after barely making contact with a guy who's probably 40 pounds lighter than him, and then started complaining.

(And I mean it when I say "barely making contact". If you watch the video, Merga's so-called "shove" can barely be registered, and it appears that Solinsky simply stepped off the track)

Super Spartan wrote:

He said he admires their fearless approach to the sport. How the fsck does someone that monitors the pollen count, wears a ski mask and generally looks like a limp-wristed nancy boy represent fearlessness?

No offense but your post shows nothing but ignorance.

Allergies are real, believe it or not. And no amount of fearlessness or manliness will make them go away. For someone who experiences breathing problems with high levels of pollen "toughing it out" is not an option, regardless of what the ignorant may believe.

And as far as your "limp-wristed nancy boy" comment, this shows nothing more and nothing less than your ignorance and insecurity. If you are a homosexual and do not find that Rupp's appearance satisfies your fantasies there is no shame in that. But really there is no need to advertise this fact to all of us. And if you are not a homosexual then Rupp's appearances should be of no concern to you.

This whole thing is blown out of proportion.

Chris and Teg have been in the pro scene for a while now and that's why Bob mentioned them. Plus I think he's met them. There is a good chance he's not aware of Rupp's recent performances.

He didn't mention Chris Derrick either. Or Ritz. Or German Fernandez. Or Lopez Lomong. Or ....

Somebody get him a complementary season pass to universalsports.com so he can catch up on who's who now!

kinda--

Spare me.

The damage wasn't any more recent.

You cannot say with any certainty that he has no shot of making the team--and in any case, that is not relevant.

You cannot say with any certainty that he would have a very good chance of injuring himself further if he tried--and even if you could, exactly the same could be said about Gay.

Gay has been recovering only as long as Solinskrap, and claims that he still has pain in his hip area. He allegedly only began sprint training 3 weeks ago, in May (something I find very difficult to believe).

His agent didn't say that he COULD run sub-10, he said that he HOPED he could run 9.9 There is a big difference, and is not currently a basis for your belief that he is "probably in sub-10 shape".

As far as "a very real shot" of making it to London, all that requires is competition at trials--and all that requires, if I am not mistaken, for both Gay and Soliskrap is that they show up--which Solinskrap WILL not. If Gay has a shot and Solinskrap doesn't, that reflects simply the decisions they have made.

Consider the 100m. A month ago, people were counting Gay out almost completely, with Gatlin and Dix running 9.8's, Salaam sub-10, Rodgers back to his old self and already at 10-flat, and a bunch of promising college guys including Demps, Newman, etc. looking to put up serious times.

What has happened in the interim? Dix is injured, Salaam tore his hamstring, Demps is injured, etc, while at the same time Gay has been training and making improvement, while starting from a crappy point, which initially didn't give him any shot at all. By TRYING, and with a bit of luck, all of a sudden his chances of making the team are greatly improved. He has been doing what HE can, what HE is in control of, to make it happen--which is all he can do. The rest is up to fate, but he has the courage to try.

And if he does somehow make the team, now that his chances are improved, he will have earned himself a couple more months to improve himself by training.

THESE ARE ALL POSSIBILITIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO SOLINSKRAP. ALL.

Weren't you guys just complaining that the only male distance medal threat for the US is now Rupp, and that the US times this year have sucked, especially at Pre? That sounds like an opportunity to me.

Nice to see Webb also running in NYC.

Go Gay. Go Webb.

This is the most pointless thread ever. A dig by omission? Seriously?? You all sound like a bunch of gossiping women reading into everything WAAAAY too much. Pick up your skirts and talk about something of substance.

Sprintgeezer wrote:

...

Gay has been recovering only as long as Solinskrap, and claims that he still has pain in his hip area. He allegedly only began sprint training 3 weeks ago, in May (something I find very difficult to believe).

...

As far as "a very real shot" of making it to London, all that requires is competition at trials--and all that requires, if I am not mistaken, for both Gay and Soliskrap is that they show up--which Solinskrap WILL not. If Gay has a shot and Solinskrap doesn't, that reflects simply the decisions they have made.

...

And if he does somehow make the team, now that his chances are improved, he will have earned himself a couple more months to improve himself by training.

THESE ARE ALL POSSIBILITIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO SOLINSKRAP. ALL.

...

You keep making reference to Tyson Gay and someone else who one may infer is also a runner, possibly an injured one. The name, however, is not one that I am familiar with. As I do follow the sport rather closely this is a bit surprising to me that there is an athlete who you obviously consider noteworthy who I have never heard of. Who is this person? Can you point to some links out there that detail his achievements so that others may learn of him?

Wow, hard to believe this made two pages (and will probably make three)!

And all of you who make fun of Rupp for having allergies and not looking like you imagine a real tough guy ought to look - what are you, 12? Do you steal lunch money from children? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!

Sprintgeezer wrote:

kinda--...

Calm down.

If he doesn't think he has a chance at making the team, and has a chance of making his issue worse, I see no reason to compete. This in no way makes him a wimp or a loser as you seem to think. He is being smart about his problem an has made up his mind about how to solve it. You should respect his opinion, and stop being so god damn critical for no reason. I'm not saying you cannot have an opinion or any of that crap, but for all of us, please, shut the hell up.

(roll eyes) C'mon, REALLY? Do we have to address this issue,Puh-leeze - why are you looking for something that isn't there...

He said he's a fan of Meb's (even though he's already on the team)... And he said he admires the passion of tegenkamp and solinsky. That's like cheering for the Celtics & KG/PIERCE/ALLEN or San Antonio & Parker/Ginobli/Duncan - old wiley veterans still trying to hang on for another moment of glory...

I mean this with all due RESPECT, but does anyone think RUPP isn't on the team? REALLY? Pencil him in like Kentucky with Calipari in your Final Four... Rupp is like Durantula, Westbrook, and LeBron rolled up into one. The Running media will give us our daily dose of AlSal & Lagat. The real story is who's gonna take those last spots, and can the old guys pull through?

Don't put words in Mr. Kennedy's mouth, he just stated whom he'd be watching and admired. There's no disrespect there!

Anyone who runs 3:34/12:58/26:48 is no way a sissy. Lets be honest... I'm sure Rupp hurt in all those races more then any of us are realistically willing to hurt.

He mixes it up with the best in the world over any distance... never ducking competition even in events he is unfamiliar with.

I could care less what he wears or how he looks. I could care less of how much he or his coach or his sponsor pays to afford him the technology that will make him better. I could care less about nearly all the things people say when accusing him of being a sissy, because, quite frankly, results speak more then looks.

And the results clearly show that the man is fearless. More so then any other runner we have.

There are others. Webb at times, Solinsky and Teg at times. But Rupp is EVERY time. Only other runner who is fearless every time he races is Ritz. No one else.

Its sad Rupp and Ritz haven't been battling on the track the last few years. Can you imagine Ritz with Rupp's speed? AlSal could have developed Ritz to be a 3:35 guy.

He could have been simply amazing.

On the plus side... at least Ritz isn't giving up like Teg is. To say the stars need to align to be sub 13:00 is such a defeatist attitude. Maybe if he bought into the technology that AlSal has, he would have a chance to continue to recover well into his 30s. But alas, he probably doesn't want to be called a sissy so just uses ice baths... thereby earning all your respect (this is clearly tongue in cheek).