Donnelly Now Has A Chance in the 10K Because of Meb!

bravo Ryan Shay

amazing that "...?..." can write this garbage but I take an opinion on athletes talking about God in post-race interviews and get banned!

pathetic.

At this point we wan't representing the US. He was representing Nike, trying to earn his spot to represent the US.

If he was representing Nike then he can wave a Nike flag.

As usual, a positive thread about Donnelly had been turned into a negative thread about Meb by some gutless anonymous message board knuckleheads. Meb is probably the least selfish guy you will ever meet among our elite distance runners, but by his performance, he has earned the right to pick and choose the events that he will run within the structure that the USATF has set up. Bitch at the USATF if you don't like the options they give to qualified runners. Meb did not criticize Kennedy's performance, although if you had a chip on your shoulder about Meb you could twist his comments into that. Meb legitimately criticized the media coverage that substantially focused on Kennedy when Meb had just run a new OT record on a largely solo effort for the last part of the race. One legitimately can wonder whether Meb's race, versus the great white hope, affected the media coverage. Finally, why doesn't Meb have a right to be proud of his heritage as well as his current citizenship. Meb is a national hero in Eritrea and has many family members still there, including his grandfather. He is an inspiration to many people there and he is justifiably proud of both his success as an American citizen and the struggle he went through as a refugee from Eritrea to become what he is now. Also, if you really want to know what Meb or Ryan Shay or Deena or any of the Team USA California athletes are really like, then just go to Mammoth Lakes California when they are up there training and introduce yourself after a workout (not before). They will talk to anyone about running and their lives as runners. I have talked to Meb and Deena and their coaches several times and have seen them talking to innumerable high school and college kids who were staying there for their school running camps.

I hope that Donnelly and all of our other athletes who need to hit a standard to make the team do so... even flaky SFH.

....?...,

I think you need to reconsider your statements on here. Maybe Meb chose to drop from the 10k because he figured he cant run the 26 whatever that Bekele and Geb, and the crew can, and feels he is more competitive in the marathon. By dropping from the 10k it will allow him to fully focus on the 'thon and give the US some better chances of a medal in the distance events. Personally i dont know why anyone from the Us would double 5 and 10 or 5 and marathon or 10 and marathon. it seems right now we are having trouble competing in a single event, let alone having to try to compete in 2. No matter which event came first he would be tired for the second event, considering he would give his all in the first event. Meb always gives his all. I am proud to have Meb racing for the US. I am also proud to have him hold up the US flag after his race. The fact that he would consider the United States as much a part of his home as his original country Eritrea, is great.

Ryan Shay,

I think it is great that you come on here and defend your teamate and your country as well as your sport. That fact that you do so under your name is even better. for you, signing your name to a post could have consequnces as you are in a position and hvae things to lose. Most, including I, are mere nothings that are mediocre runners who just love the sport. We dont have the gifts that you Pro's do, and some (....?... guy) probably think it is a waste of talent to drop from a race. He doesnt realize that Meb probably would not be able to race the way he wants to in both races. Thus the reason he chose one.

Letsrun posters,

THERE ARE REASONS THE GUYS REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES ARE PRO'S.....LET THEM MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND DONT CRITICIZE THEM AFTER THEY DO SO!

Note: I am a mediocre nothing runner that loves the sport, i am in no position of power, and i make no harsh judgements on others decisions. Thus, I post this under a stupid random user name.

Consider this! wrote:

Note: I am a mediocre nothing runner that loves the sport, i am in no position of power, and i make no harsh judgements on others decisions. Thus, I post this under a stupid random user name.

....an attitude that a slew of posters on this and other boards should undertake.

Can someone explain why we are supposed to be bashing Meb. I would have been upset if Meb waited past the deadline to decide on the 10k/5k double because it would have bumped Donnelly off from chasing the standard.

But Meb made up his mind and did the honorable thing and gave up his spot. I think he should be commended. So why are people bashing him?

There's a difference between representing the USA in an international competition and waiving the flag of one's country of origin at a US-only event. I fail to see the point of having everybody in a US-only event parade around with an American flag and chant "USA! USA! USA!"

In international competition, I agree, its a different story, because in international competition, he is sent tby the United States to represent the United States. It doesn't make a darn bit of sense, on the other hand, to talk about what country anybody is representing at the US Championships or US Olympic Trials. At risk of sounding like the pessimist that I am, I don't think we need to worry about what flag Meb is going to be waiving during his victory lap at the Olympics.

awesome Ryan!!!

there are many idiots who post on this forum about things they have no idea/clue about what they are talking about.

notice all of the ex-Webb bashers on here of late. they are now on the bandwagon again.

I would have to say Ryan just owned ...?... like a 6 year old chews gum then spits it out 'cause it gots no flavor

Do you know how ridiculous a statement like this one of yours is:

"It doesn't make a darn bit of sense, on the other hand, to talk about what country anybody is representing at the US Championships or US Olympic Trials".

You're right: at the US championships, we shouldn't care about the fact that US should be represented.

It would be laughable if it weren't so ludicrous.

Ryan,

I don't know who sounds worse you or the Meb bashers. I wasn't even aware that you lost your head after miscounting your own laps. That is certainly amajor mental lapse for someone of your stature. Best of luck in the future. I hope you learn to do a better job of handeling your temper both on the track and the message boards. Godspeed

All i have to say is Ryan Shay is badass, and if I were ....?.... id watch his back walking down the street, there are some people in this world you just dont piss off and Mr. Shay appears to be one of them.

Meb's a double Olympic trials winner, and an Olympian. being at that level gives him a certain amount of privledege I think. I dont believe the guy that got bumped from the 5K and couldnt compete is pissed, hell, maybe he'll train harder for the next 4 years so he doesnt have to worry about being let into the trials at the last minute.

As for Meb carrying the Eritrean flag, I say good for him. Hes proud of his roots, and we should respect that. Remember, when he was running around the track he had another flag in his hand, that was The American Flag. Meb espcaped a brutal civil war as a kid, im sure he thanks god every day that he lives in the USA.

Andrew Lixey wrote:

Ryan,

I don't know who sounds worse you or the Meb bashers. I wasn't even aware that you lost your head after miscounting your own laps. That is certainly amajor mental lapse for someone of your stature. Best of luck in the future. I hope you learn to do a better job of handeling your temper both on the track and the message boards. Godspeed

yet another clueless idiot files in.

Andrew Lixey wrote:

Ryan,

I don't know who sounds worse you or the Meb bashers. I wasn't even aware that you lost your head after miscounting your own laps. That is certainly amajor mental lapse for someone of your stature. Best of luck in the future. I hope you learn to do a better job of handeling your temper both on the track and the message boards. Godspeed

do people actually count to 25 while running a 10K? i only ran it a few times and i sure as hell wasn't going to waste my time on that. i had a few better things on my mind. but i'm not a professional (or particularly good) 10K runner so perhaps that's just me.

Being proud of your heritage/background/upbringing is fine. Visibly demonstrating loyalty and affiliation on the same level with another nationality as your current one denigrates your commitment as an American citizen, which should be held paramount and exclusive to all other nationalistic affiliations. And to do so at an AMERICAN championship is classless and disgraceful. Someone who really thought of themself as an American citizen would never have done that.

When Meb pledges allegiance to the flag, it is insincere, seeing how as he is making a point of identifying with more than one.

Ryan R. Shay wrote:believe me, you dont want to know me when I'm pissed off. Hell, my guess is you wouldn't want to know me in any circumstance

Ryan is a hothead but an incredible talent. When he was a freshman he exploded at coach during a home meet in cross. I never thought that he would last after his freshman year but he proved many of us wrong. I cheer for Ryan because he is a Notre Dame Alum, but watching the 10k was embarrassing. A group of us came around the back of the track to console Ryan and tell him that he still ran a good race. When we got around to where the athletes were Ryan was swearing at officials and throwing water bottles and acting like a jerk. We quietly left without acknowledging that we knew him. Ryan's temper has gotten him in trouble before. He is not afraid to get his ass kicked which was a good thing in college.