How Best to Disrupt American Distance Running Progress: By Mr. Salazar

You're calling a man who's trying to give back to his sport in hopes of making it better in his country a "glory grabber?" You're an asshole. This guy could be doing what ever he wants, where ever he wants, but he chooses to spend his time with promising runners in hopes of making the US a respectable running nation once again.

Let's look at a few facts.

1. Salazar was suspected of using performance enhancement drugs. He had a very short career.

2. Ran for Athletics West, where athletes have publically admitted to using performance enhancing drugs.

3. Coached Mary Slaney when she failed a drug test.

4. Admitted to using Prozac to salvage career.

5. Put athletes on perscription medications for no medical basis, but for performance gains.

6. Balco. Linked to Dr. Conte. He was on the website the night before the authorities raided his place.

7. Have you ever spoken to the guy? A little loopy.

8. Willing to sacrifice athletes, not for the sport, but for his own personal gain.

9. Recruits young anorexic girls.

10. The head of Athletics West, Bob Sevene, flies in a rage when the subject of Salazar is broached.

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Why the bashing? It's simple. If Salazar succeeds (or Dick Brown, or other groups decide to go younger and have success) then it calls the legitimacy of collegiate track into question. If a handful of kids break through without the constraints of the NCAA, others will follow and before long, college track and XC will be considered bush and rate just a hair above Ultimate Frisbee intramural leagues.

Lots of college guys on this site feel threatened.

If Salazar and Nike are to be succesful, they must first crunch the numbers. Stanford, Wisco, Colorado, Ark,Michigan etc. have grabbed much talent year in, year out.

If Salazar is able to get as many as 4-5 Footlocker finalists boys and girls each gender (like a Stanford per year), and is able to retain them for four to five years post age 22-23,will he have the possibility for succes? Do you think he might try and develope them for the long haul? If these atheletes have proper training,

medical care, technology, altitude tents,underwater treadmills etc.,college education etc.With this in place, and training in a proper environment do we as Americans can have a shot at being better than what we have been?

je

Please stop the bashing. Alberto,Hansons,Running USA,Hudson,Wetmore, stop the crap and make progress.

If it's only about salvaging (or just starting from zero) the US distance fame, why don't we start the camps like in Mao's group. We could send talented girls and boys at age 8 from home and totally wash their brains, only to make them running machines. And throw the quitters off the rock as they do it in China with unwanted girls...

No, seriously- I think this is better alternative to college xc and track programms, especially if the kids would have the opportunity to study during their running careers. I am just not sure if I would trust Salazar enough to let my kid stay under his influence from such a young age. He obviously has issues with his ego and had a very, very short career- he literally destroyed himself. But the idea of new system is appealing. Running's just ain't football or basketball, and NCAA (or NAIA) would like to make it the team sport.

I think he was sort of joking about the "get em while their young" statment. To him young is 18, this is the age I think he is mostely refering to. Last time I checked 18yo are adults. To throw around comments like taking 8yo kids form their homes is doing a disservice. I seriously doubt Al has any wish to raise a bunch of kids that arent his own.

I see nothing wrong with going as low as 16. He just wants young athletes, not 24yo pros that have been through the NCAA meat grinder.

I was being ironic, if you don't mind... but, after all, isn't it true that it worked in China at the beginning of 90s? (drugs not considered)

The question is, whether those youngsters (being careful not to use word KIDS) would be willing to commit themselves totally to this sport (college partying is very tempting, and how they are going to find bf and gf?- the main concern of most of the teenagers, sadly). The value system of US high schoolers is totally screwed, so I don't think that ANY programm is going to have a big immediate impact (and NIKE will be very upset about it)...

I remember responding to a post on a another website suggesting this very approach to making successful distance runners. I compared the relative rates of success for the American gymnasts and skaters and suggested that if we employed their methods we could be successful in distance running again. I was shouted down because of the inherent problems with affecting someones life in this way. Making one goal the most important thing in one's life and being successful in that goal, seems to create too much pressure on that individual and you get a lot of negative consequences, or so I was told. Let's hope Mr. Salazar's solution to our lack of success in distance running is the answer, even if it is a little on the extreme side.

no offense, man, but using bob sevene, who is something of a cross between tom waits and... well, himself, as a rational point pretty much negates your credibility. no offense to you or sevene, of course, just your argument.

Sevene speaks the truth and some people can't handle the truth.

11. In 2004, Salazar and the Oregon Project are linked to yet another dirty doctor from Canada.

http://www.metabolicdiet.com/maurodipasquale.htm

Is this true?

I'm sorry buy why is he always linked to the dirty? Nike is a disgrace.

Don't the athletes think there performances are suspect. Makes me wonder?There is rumors of them giving weird vitamin drinks. The Gouchers are crazy. I'm dissapointed in Nike.

Listen, It's been the same old story for decades now Americans, just do not have the ability to compete on the world level. It doesn't matter who coahes them--we'll still be having the same debate 30 years from now. You take a Kenyan tier B, or C athlete and they'll blow awy our best American any day of the week.

I don't know everyone keeps bashing on nike...they're just a shoe company trying to help out america's distance running. How are they going to benefit from all the MILLIONS they put in.

Jealousy of athletes and coaches

killt wrote:

Jealousy of athletes and coaches

Alberto's newest scumbag