If Lagat breaks Scott's American record should it be marked with an asterisk?

BTW, an astersik don't mean shit. He still gets to compete. He still gets the record. An asterisk would actually be a pr coup for the self aggrandizing Ex Kenyan.

Kerron Clement has already taken out an American record (Michael Johnson's 400m indoor). I haven't heard anyone complaining about this. Most on the sprint side I think are happy that he chose to compete on OUR team instead of against us (Trinidad)! We look forward to Kerron taking away the gold presently held by Felix Sanchez.

The kind of situation that bothers me is Sanchez. He grew up in New York, holds the school record for the 400H at my school (USC), and has benefitted from everything that being a US citizen means. But he has dual citizenchip (I think his mother is from the Dominican Republic), and he chose to compete for the Dominican Republic.

It seems to me that the problem here is more about US distance runners and the emphasis on American records--and not competing against the rest of the world--rather than the record system.

I say throw that black boy out of the country. We need less blackie's and more of our own kind.

chuck d, I generally like what you offer here on the boards, but USTAF could institute a one, two or three year ban with NO Constitutional difficulty whatsoever. Same way the NCAA incurs no Constitutional maleficence when prohibiting transfers from competing for a year. As long as the application of the rule is consistent with the 14 Amendment's DUE PROCESS (AN EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW, UNEDER THE LAW) clause, which a temporary ban would be, there's nothing illegal in thE least here.

i'm not so sure. first, ncaa is not a state actor like usatf is thus they don't really have to worry about 14th/5th. now, the fact that state universities are party to it might cause some issues but the distinction the ncaa makes is not based on nationality or any other of what are considered "suspect classes" under the constitution. it's just where you went to school and would get very light scrutiny (known as rational relationship) from the courts. second, the issue usatf would have to work around is the fact that the distinction they are making is based basically on national origin or not being a citizen in the past. this is a suspect class, receiving very strict scrutiny from courts (i won't bore you with the details but the feds would have to show a very, very, very, very good reason for doing this). i don't think this would even come close to passing muster. they could argue the distinction is not based on national origin or whatnot but i don't think that's a valid argument.

bottom line, you can't treat people differently on the basis of national origin without running into serious constitutional concerns. perhaps if usatf had always imposed such a waiting period they would have a more compelling case (i still don't think it would pass muster) but changing the rules now would make things look really bad. if you're a naturalized citizen, you must be given all the same rights and privileges other citizens have (except for the other constitutional bars to non-native borns like running for prez).

If USTAF grows a set of nads and places reasonable restrictions on carpetbagging athletes, in the post 9-11 world, I doubt any court short of the 9th Circus would give a hoot.

no. this opinion would be 9-0 with scalia writing the opinion. this has more to do with jim crow than 9/11 and it's laughable that you would suggest otherwise.

REDSTAR wrote:

If USTAF grows a set of nads and places reasonable restrictions on carpetbagging athletes,

Please explain to this poor Canuck how someone who has spent the last 10 years of his life living and training in the US, developing from a solid university runner to the second best all time, meets any accepted definition of 'carpetbagging'.

What further restrictions do you think USATF should enact that are in addition to the lengthy residency and other requirements of your immigration service?

More perspective on the subject:

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/tfn/discussion/viewThread.jsp?forum=1&thread=12763

Speed Kills wrote:

The kind of situation that bothers me is Sanchez. He grew up in New York, holds the school record for the 400H at my school (USC), and has benefitted from everything that being a US citizen means. But he has dual citizenchip (I think his mother is from the Dominican Republic), and he chose to compete for the Dominican Republic.

Yeah Sanchez kind of bothers me too. Maybe I am a hipocrite, but he hadn't even been to the Dominican Republic before he started competing for them Internationally. I am going to have to research my family history and see what choices I have as far as countries I can run for.

. wrote:

If Bernard goes around labeling himself as a hyphenated American--Kenyan American--then the asterisk could read, "record set by a Kenyan American".

Not sure about that one. But I know he lost his Kenyan citizenship as soon as they found out he is an American.

Don't expect an answer, Ast. You're not the first Canadian to point out this point...

REDSTAR wrote:

If USTAF grows a set of nads and places reasonable restrictions on carpetbagging athletes, in the post 9-11 world...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, "in the post 9-11 world," we need to be very worried about who holds the national track and field records.

You. Dumb. Fuck.

Turn off FoxNews.

We should have different levels and symbols denoting records:

* Born in another country but lived in US 10 years and gained citizenship

& Born in US, but never ate at McDonald's

** Born in US, but later moved to Scotland and trained there for 3-7 years before returning

# See above rule, but lived in Scotland for 8 years or more

@ Born in Kenya, lived on a raft in the Indian Ocean for more than 8 years, returned to US.

That should take care of everything and make it a level playing field.

* could have run faster if brettman10k took his head of Lagat's ass.

***Would have maybe eventually broken the AR, but was beaten to it by another American (Lagat), and sputtered below his potential for years before retiring with an Olympic prelim as his crowning moment.

That one's for Webb.

****Record broken many times, but faster performances were ignored due to the jealous rules of letsrun posters.

That one's for Scott.

I agree with you about Redstar. What an idiot! In his white rich world all the rules -and the constitution- have been abolished and he thinks he can decide everything his own way. The only thing that bothers me is I'm afraid he's not alone.

Blow it out your liberal ass.

me and my watch wrote:

I agree with you about Redstar. What an idiot! In his white rich world all the rules -and the constitution- have been abolished and he thinks he can decide everything his own way. The only thing that bothers me is I'm afraid he's not alone.

Typical brainwashed PC white punk trying to curry favor by showing what a self hater he is, ranting about whitey being the bad guy everywhere. Get real moron. Go hang in the non-white hoods on your own where people are handed everything and still can't dig themselves out. They only they'll dig is stompin' your ignorant ass.