... I dont know if you were watching the same race I was but it was maybe 10m. You should do your research on him. He's nothing like you guys are claiming he is. I don't think you have the right to claim how someone is acting or who someone is if you don't even know them. The word I am looking for is ignorant. Don't be ignorant. Before you try to make claims about someone, do your research.
I got mad love for him and the NAIA.
DJFlores wrote:
... I dont know if you were watching the same race I was but it was maybe 10m. You should do your research on him. He's nothing like you guys are claiming he is. I don't think you have the right to claim how someone is acting or who someone is if you don't even know them. The word I am looking for is ignorant. Don't be ignorant. Before you try to make claims about someone, do your research.
I got mad love for him and the NAIA.
I don't know Eric at all, and until I watched the video, I was ready to see his result as a feel good story. But when I did watch the video - several times - I was disgusted. He started celebrating well short of the line and pretty clearly impeded the guy behind him [who happens to be a more accomplished athlete, but I don't actually think that's the point.]
And then, yes, I did do some research. And what I found was that Eric was a pretty big star in HS who went to NAU, behaved poorly, flunked out and is now rebuilding his life. And that could be great, but not if he's more focused on showing off while winning a mile in a time that isn't quite a USATF nationals qualfi than he is on maxing out his talent.
Letsrun's motto is "where your dreams come true". Rupp's dreams as a runner have already come true, whether he broke that AR or not. Eric Avila's dreams are now just coming true. That's why he deserves a splash page.
I've raced against Eric the last 3 years. He has been nothing but a gracious winner in that time, and he has won a lot. He was emotional. Sub 4 is a huge barrier. Him celebrating when he is clearly way under it is completely natural, and I'm sure that a USATF mark was the last thing on his mind. Eric is going to be around for a long time, and before we make a rushed judgment on what kind of person he is from a short video clip, I would suggest that you take your time to watch the body of work and how he conducts himself. The seconds immediately before the finish line are a perfect example of a dream coming true.
Everyone that has something negative to say about it is pounding their chest right now, and it's like an echo chamber. All you are hearing is the negative. DKNY- you are a total douchebag. Get over yourself. I'm sure you've never really put yourself out there before, so you wouldn't know what it is like to do what Eric just did.
I'm not sure why people bash others for their accomplishments.
To come on back and run a sub-four? Come on people...the guy did his best 'relaxed, centered, and focused' on his goal. I think that leap at the line was a subconscious reaction knowing that he literally jumped into a new life!
Cool in a way.
The article below was published in the San Diego Tribune
and it (imho) redeems Eric, publicly.
"State champ was ‘cocky’ and it cost him
Grateful for a second chance, Bonita Vista alum tells seniors not to waste their opportunity."
Congrats to all that participated and came out to apart of
history. And remember everybody --- run for God!
The "celebration" before the fact is fine. Acosta was finished. No way was Avila impeding. Watch it again. He got caught in the excitement.
How often do the negative tom's on this board break 4:00?
Oh no the celebration police are in full force.
How about you guys go punch yourselves in the dick.
Let us know how it worked out. Thanks.
Raced this guy in high school (lost obviously).
He is an okay dude. He can come off as a douche, but his arrogance comes when fully backed with reality and is not mean spirited. He is very nice. Whenever I see him in person, he acknowledges me by name even though we are just acquaintances and gives me the time of day, even though he has no reason to.
I have a lot of mutual friends with him (including a Souther Oregon teammate) and hear mixed reviews. He is arrogant. That is true. But he is a freaking human being, and often very kind (even after his terrible performance at Payton Jordan).
The idea of calling it poor sportsmanship when he goes 3:56 after all the crap that has gone on for the last 7 years, I think is harsh judgment on someone you really don't know.
Stop dehumanizing him and let him be excited.
Wow, I had no idea we had so many people on this forum who dug ditches after flunking out of college and then went on to be sub 4:00 milers. Because that is the only way in which you can judge his emotions at the end of this race.
Had the privilege of training with him during the summer. Very friendly and very passionate about running. There is something to say about someone who knows they're special but still acts as though the person he's talking to is the most important person at the time. Put yourself in his shoes. It's almost unhuman to NOT to be emotional when finishing a race under his circumstances.
Haters gon hate, potatoes gon potate.
Wow you people are idiots. How long does it take to get into your thick skulls that the argument "Oh you didn't do x, therefore you can't criticize" is a stupid one? By that logic, we can't critique bands, actors/actresses, etc. because "we can't do any better."
Chippy long stockings wrote:
Wow, I had no idea we had so many people on this forum who dug ditches after flunking out of college and then went on to be sub 4:00 milers. Because that is the only way in which you can judge his emotions at the end of this race.
Had the privilege of training with him during the summer. Very friendly and very passionate about running. There is something to say about someone who knows they're special but still acts as though the person he's talking to is the most important person at the time. Put yourself in his shoes. It's almost unhuman to NOT to be emotional when finishing a race under his circumstances.
Haters gon hate, potatoes gon potate.
"oh noes" the You have live exactly this guys life to judge him. PLU-LEEZE!
I would grant that 90% had a race that was a comeback of some sorts that was a huge emotional event. I would wager 99% of us didn't act like a spaz BEFORE the race was even over. Spell it with me B..E..F..O..R...E
Look, I realize you have a crush on the dude but he is a 3:42 1500m runner. He should break 4.
DJFlores wrote:
Football player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!
Last year a guy on the Denver Broncos celebrated before getting to the endzone and fumbled the ball. He would criticized for weeks after. Even though he finished with the most tackles on the team.. People still bring it up almost a year later.
In other words... your analogy sucks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASe0lencljAI heard this doode eats oatmeal for breakfast with blueberries, maybe a doping front? @Dkny64 if you paid attention closely he actually staged a traditional south American fire work show 8.333 repeating meters before the finish, I was disgusted too...he completely forgot to do the traditional dance as well!! I was like come on doooode you gotta go all the wayyyyyyyy.
This Eric fellow you are all mad about is actually the high priest for Ali Baba and the 40 thieves....heard they cut doodes tongues out.
You hate on Mac Fleet for the same thing.
"He may be a class act in person, but that business of celebrating before he hit the line really rubbed me the wrong way. At the moment, I'm not a fan."
"Hey, look, Mr Fleet can celebrate any way he wants and different people will react differently. I happen to think it's classless to start celebrating before you hit the line .14 ahead of the guy in 2nd place."
TR0LL
Whachu got against San Diego
Can someone please clarify what it means to "dig ditches?" Is that a job? Was he working for a utility company or was in prison? Driving a bobcat or working a short shovel?
The article makes it sound like he was doing time.
As for the celebration, it seems clear that he was acknowledging a huge number of close friends who came to support him. Hardly bad behavior.
"Racuous"?
That's not a particularly difficult word to spell.
King Killercrew wrote:
You hate on Mac Fleet for the same thing.
"He may be a class act in person, but that business of celebrating before he hit the line really rubbed me the wrong way. At the moment, I'm not a fan."
"Hey, look, Mr Fleet can celebrate any way he wants and different people will react differently. I happen to think it's classless to start celebrating before you hit the line .14 ahead of the guy in 2nd place."
TR0LL
Whachu got against San Diego
Correct - I did "hate on" Mac Fleet for the same thing. I'm impressed you took the time to dig that up.
Troll - wow - not how I think of myself, but in the context of this message board, that seems like a badge of honor.
Wasn't catching the San Diego reference at first because I didn't know [until looking it up just now] that Mac Fleet was from San Diego. Very funny. Anyway, nothing against San Diego, just against celebrating before crossing the line, particularly in a close race. To paraphrase Barry Goldwater, "Let me remind you that extremism in the defense of sportsmanship is no vice, and moderation in the opposition to premature celebration is no virtue." And if that makes me a TROLL, Mr Killercrew, so be it.
p.s. I like your screen name. Is it a reference to the late, great Harmon Killebrew or to something else entirely?
dkny64 wrote:
King Killercrew wrote:You hate on Mac Fleet for the same thing.
"He may be a class act in person, but that business of celebrating before he hit the line really rubbed me the wrong way. At the moment, I'm not a fan."
"Hey, look, Mr Fleet can celebrate any way he wants and different people will react differently. I happen to think it's classless to start celebrating before you hit the line .14 ahead of the guy in 2nd place."
TR0LL
Whachu got against San Diego
Correct - I did "hate on" Mac Fleet for the same thing. I'm impressed you took the time to dig that up.
Troll - wow - not how I think of myself, but in the context of this message board, that seems like a badge of honor.
Wasn't catching the San Diego reference at first because I didn't know [until looking it up just now] that Mac Fleet was from San Diego. Very funny. Anyway, nothing against San Diego, just against celebrating before crossing the line, particularly in a close race. To paraphrase Barry Goldwater, "Let me remind you that extremism in the defense of sportsmanship is no vice, and moderation in the opposition to premature celebration is no virtue." And if that makes me a TROLL, Mr Killercrew, so be it.
p.s. I like your screen name. Is it a reference to the late, great Harmon Killebrew or to something else entirely?
The Killercrew members are just 20 somethings protruding from a whale's vagina.
doo doo wrote:
The Killercrew members are just 20 somethings protruding from a whale's vagina.
Yea you got that right! Sometimes it gets too stinky for us to handle. We made this fan system to dry it out when we chill but man it is tough. Sometimes we don't have enough room for beer and chips and stuff so we put those outside the vagina and use like a trash picking claw to dip the tortilla chip. It's a struggle but hey the vagina is home.
dkny64 wrote:
I don't know Eric at all, and until I watched the video, I was ready to see his result as a feel good story. But when I did watch the video - several times - I was disgusted. He started celebrating well short of the line and pretty clearly impeded the guy behind him [who happens to be a more accomplished athlete, but I don't actually think that's the point.]
I don't know dkny64 at all, but after reading this post - several times - I'm concerned for him. Why get bent out of shape over something like this?
I had a time in college where I smashed my 1500 PR by five seconds in front of many friends and family and qualified for some big meets as a result and I'll tell you what- it felt amazing.
I can't imagine the euphoria of smashing a PR, breaking a monumental barrier, beating an accomplished field, winning money (probably for the first time) and all in front of hundreds of people screaming my name (plus Jim Ryun and Alan Webb). I'm sure nobody commenting on this thread can imagine it either because they've never done anything even similar.
Is this any different than Solinsky's 10,000m celebration? And please don't start with the cutting off of AJ, I won't accept that.