NY Giants and NY Knicks games NOT cancelled today

GenericID wrote:

And that is my point - where were the runners, who should have been offering a counterpoint to this "mob mentality"?

If a politician sees one very vocal group opposing his//her decision, and nobody offering support, then they will "cave in" - that's what a politician has to do.

Well, the runners who ended up in NYC met at the SI Ferry and disseminated supplies to displaced victims trying to clean up their ravages homes. Of course the NY Post only mentioned this as a side bar to a much larger story about runners hoarding water at the NYCM finish line!

On a more sober note, it can be quite dangerous in this day and age to go up against a mob. You're likely to have your identity thrown on the internet and vilified to no end, even if you mean well (and even if others know you mean well). It becomes sport for the mob. It is sad.

you could have ranted all you want about wanting the marathon to be held but the media wasn't going to show or write about it.

Oldmanbythesea:

call me naive if you want, but the NY Post just wants to sell papers, and outrage sells. The people who buy the Post are blue collar and poorer, and that demographic is always eager to mock yuppies.

No one subscribes to the Post - they pick it up when the headline in interesting enough to spend 50 cents.

If the Post really wanted to skewer Bloomberg, they, um, could have mentioned the name "Bloomberg" on the front page.

asdfadsf wrote:

nope. There is a gas shortage and there is limited public transport. Police are needed too. 80000 driving to transiting to a game burn much needed gas, and tie up the streets so that relief trucks, etc. can't get through. The police are working paid overtime, cozy and warm at the game instead of being in SI.

there are tons of bottles of water at the game that are not being donated to the cause - lots or warm team merch as well. The marathon is supposed to donate all its food and water and blankets to the effort, why not these teams - oh yah bc the media needs pro sport to make money.

Would the gas of all the spectators magically leave their tanks and go to people on lines? NO

Most security in a stadium is private. The rest (on the outside of the stadium) are local and state cops. Would any of them have been assigned to another state if the Giants game had been cancelled? NO

Should all supermarkets close up because there are tons of water bottles sitting inside that should be donated? NO

Are you intelligent? NO

geico wrote:

you could have ranted all you want about wanting the marathon to be held but the media wasn't going to show or write about it.

You can't know that, did you even try?

GenericID wrote:

geico wrote:

you could have ranted all you want about wanting the marathon to be held but the media wasn't going to show or write about it.

You can't know that, did you even try?

i didn't but i know other people who did and, guess what? nothing was shown. the mob wanted the race canceled and that's what the media grabbed onto. the fact that bloomberg endorsed obama on thursday (what on earth was he thinking endorsing anyone at that point?) just made the post that much madder and that much more determined to undermine him. the post got the last laugh.

oldmanbythesea, this is not a response to my point, your post is just a rambling complaint about miscellaneous perceived injustices.

No wonder the anti-marathon campaign had it so easy if you can't even put together a reasonable argument a WEEK after it would have been useful!

They did put Bloomberg on the front page

Well, the runners who ended up in NYC met at the SI Ferry and disseminated supplies to displaced victims trying to clean up their ravages homes.

All very laudable, but how did that attempt to persuade the Mayor to run the race?

On a more sober note, it can be quite dangerous in this day and age to go up against a mob.

This is just fantasy.

well later they did, after Bberg cancelled the race, but not the original one that created the madness:

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=vh5&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=895&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=K2OubvBu78qbqM:&imgrefurl=http://nypost.tumblr.com/post/34828774923/power-for-the-nyc-marathon-while-new-yorkers-are&docid=BdC94AQE93RKQM&imgurl=http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcv5o6LwjU1rv4aqro1_1280.jpg&w=1280&h=1432&ei=LuKXUOCIGaPFyAGvwYH4Dw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=3&sig=113686158749803474255&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=133&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:73&tx=84&ty=70

by the way, my freaking barber, who speaks 5 words of English, so he sure doesn't read the NY Post, showed me the cover. And he doesn't know I am a runner. I should have known then that it would be cancelled.

T-Man, one day I hope you will understand. Until then I will pray for you.

the mob wanted the race canceled and that's what the media grabbed onto.

You are surprised by the fact that a group of committed activists (who were savvy enough to get the media on their side) defeated a passive bunch who can't put a coherent argument together to support their side even after a WEEK of thinking about it?

And this bullshit about Bloomberg is just that - bullshit.

MediaHatingOnRunnersOnly wrote:

I see the Knicks and Giants are still playing their home games today while millions of runners who lost their marathon are downtown volunteering their time to help with cleanup efforts. I think we know who has class and who doesn't in this whole argument.

____________________________

Apples to oranges.

The games are not taking away 3,000+ police from the rescue and patrol efforts of the disaster.

The games are in one place, and do not seal off the entire city. The people of NYC embraced the games and were threatenting to riot and/or make road blocks if the marathon went on

asdfadsf wrote:

ataglance wrote:

somebody should point out that the runners would generate revenue for the city *sigh*

sorry folks but the games are not an good comparison.

Its time for runners to stop whining about this and move on.

The race was cancelled due to a terrible hurricane that hit the city only 4 days earlier.

(Just read that sentence out loud.See it doesnt sound unreasonable at all does it?)

Fail to you. It is a totally good comparison. Stop supporting the media hype of pro sport and use your brain.

That last sentence sounds even stupider when people argue that a pro sport should be played just 4 days after a terrible hurricane.

The NYC marathon is only a 'pro sport' for about 20 or 30 people (maybe a few more). A good compromise would have been to let the pros run the marathon even if it was all held in Central Park. That would not have required anywhere near the resources needed to host 40,000 hobbyjoggers parading through all 5 boroughs.

If an NFL game required the streets to be shut down so 40,000 flag football players could play catch in the street, then it would be a valid comparison to the NYC Marathon

GenericID wrote:

the mob wanted the race canceled and that's what the media grabbed onto.

You are surprised by the fact that a group of committed activists (who were savvy enough to get the media on their side) defeated a passive bunch who can't put a coherent argument together to support their side even after a WEEK of thinking about it?

And this bullshit about Bloomberg is just that - bullshit.

where did i say that i was surprised? i merely was stating what transpired. the completely dysfunctional group called OWS nearly was able to accomplish something. this unruly mob actually accomplish its goal of canceling the marathon despite the fact that most of NYC was back-to-normal on sunday, would not speed up any of the relief efforts and greatly reduced the amount of money donated towards it.

i'm not sure what the bullshit is you are referring to about bloomberg since you are using the same word to describe it. it was beyond ridiculous to be endorsing anyone 3 days removed from sandy with the city in chaos. you might think that that is indicative of leadership but you would be in a very microscopic minority.

As in Roman times, public spectacles always exist at the whim of the (m)asses. Best to invest your self-esteem elsewhere.

NYC marathon requires streets and bridges to be shut down throughout all five boroughs.

The NFL and NBA games do not.

This is a significant difference in terms of the logistical impact and, especially, the type and kind of permits the event needs from the city government. It will always be easier for the city to cancel a citywide marathon (or parade for that matter) than it is for them to cancel an event held in the confines of a stadium or arena.

If they cancel the Millrose Games because of some natural disaster but still play basketball or football the same weekend, then you'll have a gripe.

I really don't get why people insist on whining about the NBA/NFL here. You can still argue that they should have held the marathon, and/or that the marathon would not have been a significant drain on resources. But to equate a citywide marathon with stadium-based sporting events is just wrong.

You don't have to SAY you're surprised - you are acting surprised (it's called subtext).

No, you weren't. When you use words like "the mob" you are prejudicing your report, not "merely stating" - where is your proof that there was "a mob"?

Use of the phrase "a mob" to indicate a group of people who achieved a goal which directly conflicted with your own desires reveals your feelings of powerlessness. You are angry that nobody took account of your opinion (even though you failed to express that opinion) and are attempting to demean the participants in the political process which led to the frustration of your desires.

I'm sorry you didn't get what you want, but you're not three years old any more, if you want something to happen then you have to ask for it plainly and clearly (as "the mob" did) - nobody is going to spend time guessing what you want.

These two statements are mutually exclusive: if the city were capable of hosting a major marathon 5 days after a hurricane, then the city was sufficiently recovered for Bloomberg to be re-engaging in national politics.

One or the other, but not both.