why does everyone hate Rupp?

Frankly, I have a lot of respect for what you're saying. Rupp is way talented, but he hasn't paid any dues, he's actually *getting* dues paid to him, not just Nike. The pass he gets from U of O and the NCAA just about stinks.

I know some of the OTC elite guys who did what you're doing, now they're pro-lite, they don't get a fraction of what Rupp the so called college am gets. Funny thing is many of the OTC guys are Rupps age, and while they haven't run 27:33, have run very impressive times in their respective events. Who knows who is actually going to really peak hard in four or five years. Putting all your eggs in the Rupp basket makes about zero sense.

Again, Rupp is way talented, but he's also Nike's "Lebron James in a singlet", he's marketing fodder. Rupp hasn't won sh!t and yet he's being shoved down everyones throats, not to mention irrationally defended to the worlds end by his goo-goo-eyed fanboy cult.

If Rupp were actually just another NCAA competitor, he might really be the sh!t. Not just some BS Nike fabrication.

cold here wrote:

norphxc - the funny part is, those guys are probably traveling on some crappy bus home and eating at some pit stop on the way home. Rupp's in the Nike leer jet flying back, getting a rub down.

Exactly, and he ran a 402. He would have been beat by the guys riding the bus. This is where the dislike of rupp comes from. Those guy in that race and others across the country, have trained hard, stuck with their team and out perfomed Galen. They are better milers then galen is, but for some reason, rupp is the one that gets to fly across the country to the telivised meet in NYC and hang out with international stars. His performaces don't warant the special treatment he gets. If he was a 3:50 miler, then he would deserve to run with Lagat and Montram, but he's not, and there are other NCAA guys that are more deserving of such an oportunity because they're faster.

If ANYONE OF US had his opprotunities - would you turn them down???

I wouldn't. He's living the letsrun.com dream, if anyone here on this thread was given that chance, could you honestly say you would turn it down?

It's immature to hate someone simply based on the fact that they are privledged. Do you hate every person driving down the road in a Jaguar? Or how about the families with the big houses? We could get even more in depth and say "White Men" (more privledged then other races).

I run 100+ mile weeks, alone, in crappy places around the country. I have no team, and no coach. I would LOVE to be in his shoes. Despite all that, I root FOR HIM. He's got the best chances out of any american on the world stage. Why not root for him? Jealousy? This is exactly why Americans are DRAGGING on the world stage.

He is utilizing every opprotunity given to him - I would too. Somebody offers me a pair of shoes, I take them. Somebody offers a comp entry, I take it. Somebody offers to buy me a uniform with their name on it and pay for my gear, I'd run my heart out for them simply for having believing in me, YOU WOULD TOO.

You're missing the point. He's better than I am, and I'm ok with that. The thing is, there are at least 13 collegians who ran faster miles than his pr last spring. And at least 23 collegians who ran faster than his 1500 pr. But Rupp gets to fly to NY and race Montram and Lagat. I would have no problem with this if rupp was a 3:50 guy. There are guys running sub 4 miles indoors who are taking busses to their meets. Rupp runs SLOWER, but gets special treatment. He hasnt proved that he deserves it.

To put it in your terms, I have no problem with people driving jaguars. But if I were upper management and my company gave the intern a new Jag to drive around, while I got a used Kia, I'd be pretty pissed, and so would you.

GetUpAndGo - you are missing the point here. He's supposed to be an amauter athlete in the NCAA system, which limits the opportunities to promote fair competition. There are tons of guys faster than him, who adhere to the rules, train with without the support and backing of the biggest athletic corporation. He gets beat by those individuals.

You sound like you are a runner out of college. Professionals should take every chance to get funded. Can you people not grasp that he is an amauter athlete and not a professional? The rest of the NCAA runners are eating at dining halls, training at their college tracks with their teams and taking the bus to meets. Rupp is training at Nike HQ with the best specialists, trainers and equipment. Rupp is flown around the country to meets - and flys across the country to WORKOUT on an indoor track.

The special treatment he receives is unfair and that is why people dislike him.

you also need to take into consideration that yes, despite the fact that he has teammates who can run sub 4:04, can any of them run crack a 28 minute 10k? or were any of them runners ups at NCAAs?

he's given special treatment NOT because of his ability as a miler, but as a DISTANCE runner. The kid was 2nd at NCAAs, does that not warrant special treatment?

If you grade him simply as a miler, then yes, that is unfair. Though he is not a miler - obviously. you have to consider the idea that he went race PROFESSIONALS rather then collegians. the whole race set up is entirely different, the atmosphere, the BIG NAME individuals that are involved.

to compare rupp to a 4:02 miler running the mile is laughable. not many intellectuals give BEKELE crap for losing a 3k - considering it's not his specialty.

cold here -

not sure you got the memo, but the NCAA is sad excuse for an organization. MANY MANY loopholes. Strange rules etc etc.

There are numerous elite runners in the country who can crack sub 28 and don't get the support Galen does.

He was 2nd at -NCAA's- COLLEGE TRACK. HE SHOULD NOT GET SPECIAL TREATMENT THAT NO OTHER COLLEGE RUNNER RECEIVES! NO other college athlete gets the treatment. That is why people don't like him. Is Mcdougal training at Nike HQ with his personal coach flying all over on Nike's Leer Jet? NO!

Most professional runners don't have it as good as he does.

I understand the NCAA is strange, I'm in my 5th year as an NCAA athlete. What other college runner found the loop hole to get the backing and support of Nike?

My friend who placed in the top 15 this year in cross is sitting on my couch right now eating ramen noodles. He wants to know what loophole will allow him to train at Nike HQ and get flown around the country in the Nike jet.

GetUpAndGo wrote:

He's got the best chances out of any american on the world stage.

Are you kidding? Golden boy Rupp can't even pull off NCAA's.

There are probably any number of Americans who have a better shot on the world stage. Last time I checked international events were real races where strength, guts, and strategy, all figured into the out come. Outside of a race where Rupp far out classes the field, or the usual carefully staged TT, he really has no chance.

So when rupp starts racing 10ks then he can go race against pros. Rupp is a 10km guy. If he were flown around the country so he could race pros in the 10km I'd be more understanding. There are few collegians who can challenge him in that event. But there are tons of collegians that can challenge him in the mile.

some people think he's a dumbass

Bitch, bitch, bitch, why does everyone bitch about Rupp?

Because Rupp's a little bitch, he brings it on himself.

GetUpAndGo wrote:

He's got the best chances out of any american on the world stage.

...and you lose all credibility

I dont dislike Rupp but I dont root for him. I really think that some NCAA rules must have be broken through out his running career. I also dont think that he should be running the wannamaker mile with 3 guys who are clearly way out of his league. I think that he is a good kid though and he is a very talented runner. If he was a pro I think I would root for him. I dont know why he is still in the NCAA though...

leaping lanny wrote:

Because he is a pretty boy nike-sponsored professional running as an amatuer.

BINGO!

Small minded hypocrites.

Small minded in that they blame Rupp for the things he receives instead of being mad at the system that allows him to get these advantages. In other words, don't hate the player, hate the game.

Anyone that says they wouldn't take advantage of the advantages Rupp has is an idiot, plain and simple.

So it's not complicated, people that hate Rupp hate him because they're jealous he has advantages they don't, they have misplaced anger that they place on Rupp instead of the NCAA or Nike or whoever else, and finally they're hypocrites for pretending they wouldn't do the EXACT same thing if given the opportunity. He's not doing anything wrong himself, he's just taking advantage of the situation that faces him. Be upset at THAT, not him. But he's a lot easier to hate since he's much more visible than the individuals involved in him receiving the advantages.

So stop the Rupp hatred, it's stupid.

I doubt Rupp cares much, why do you?

Sounds like the same old fanboy apologist BS.

I wouldn't presume everyone hypocritical on this issue. First many posters do blame the NCAA, Nike and UofO for letting this happen. Second, I wouldn't have put myself in the situation Rupp did. I think many other athletes have a little more respect for their team experience. And quit passing off this BS that Rupp is just so exceptional. Rupp has run a couple of great times, but he's never overcome real competition to win anything, and he damn well isn't consistent.

I don't think anyone actually hates Rupp. The BS that goes on between Nike and the NCAA certainly isn't Rupps fault, but I also don't think he's that stupid that he couldn't see how he'd be percieved going in.

Rupp has made himself into an easy target, and doesn't deserve everybody's unwavering support anymore than anyone else. Additionally, all this apologetic fanboys whining makes you sound like some pre teen defending Britney.

BTW, How do you know if he's done anything wrong or not? Has the NCAA audited the pertinent financials? How frequently is he tested for PED use?

Dear everybody that posts on these message boards,

GET OVER YOURSELVES.

You run because you like to run, or because you like to get better, or maybe because you want to make the Olympics... maybe you want to win your local 5k in 19 minutes. I don't know, and quite frankly, I don't really care.

When it comes down to it, 99% of you schmucks will never race against Rupp for reasons other than "he sleeps at altitude" or "he gets to train under Salazar"... You won't race against him because he's naturally better than you. A lot better than you. In fact, he's one of the best/most promising runners that America has ever produced. Something which you will probably never be, even if you train injury-free 24 hours a day for the rest of your life.

So why hate? We SHOULD be taking the best runners we have and doing everything we can to make them better. I'm sorry if genetically that isn't you. Maybe in another life...

Run for whatever reason you run and get off your high horses. You're all just a bunch of crying, nancy wannabes.

To quote Natalie Merchant: "Oooooh, jealousy."