Baby Nationals

Wejo;

After reading your initial post and the subsequent posts to select responders, it seems clear to me that you really don't care what other people think. There are D3 athletes revealing their discomfort with the issue, and you respond with childish inane comments. Grow up.

You have to realize something, Wejo - in a position of authority (in this case, your jurisdiction over this site), you have to ask yourself "what do you value?" When you are clear about your values, the process of making decisions like "how to I say this" or "what should be added to the site" can be simplified. You need to consistently demonstrate your values through your behaviors, or people are going to perceive you as a self-interested, unprincipled prick.

This isn't difficult. It leads to greater self-awareness, something you are most definitely lacking. Seeking out those who are offended by "baby nationals" is irrelevant - the way YOU act is the issue.

Class dismissed.

Look around at all of the threads on this board. Half of the suddenly ultra-sensitive posters here have probably posted something ten times as offensive at some point. If you want to complain about something on this site being offensive, there are probably several thousand postings that should be brought up before "baby nationals" even enters the discussion.

dumb

your dumb

this is dumb

divisions are dumb

wejo is dumb

im dumb

dumb

I just run, and i attend a d3 school, im a baby runner

at all my meets i race infants

ya caught us d3 guys racing babies

Harry Kooter wrote:

Look around at all of the threads on this board. Half of the suddenly ultra-sensitive posters here have probably posted something ten times as offensive at some point. If you want to complain about something on this site being offensive, there are probably several thousand postings that should be brought up before "baby nationals" even enters the discussion.

This is true. I know I've posted things to piss people off. But Wejo's claim that he was only trying to differentiate between divisions is laughable. I'd be fine with it if he said he was just trying to poke a little fun, or whatever. But at least own up to your own motivations, even if they were only to mildly poke fun...

So let me ask you Wejo, what if we labeled you "Trust Fund Baby", which I believe is a fairly accurate description of your current situation. Your daddy makes (made?) a lot of money, and you get to live off of that wealth rather well, pursuing a rather esoteric passion ...

Oh yeah, maybe those DII and DIII babies are doing the same thing ....

Sans drugs no less, a somewhat noble mission pushed by this very same website.

Do some thinking brother .....

nice try

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

You guys are acting like a bunch of...babies. Wejo is referring to the smaller divisions/programs, not the athletes themselves.

This shows a lack of knowledge about D-III. What does "smaller divisions/programs" mean? There are tons of very small Division I programs out there that would pale in comparison to the large Division III programs. Go look at the history of a D-III program like North Central and compare it to a small mid-major D-I program. What does a "small division" mean? That doesn't even make sense.

I don't think you want me to get into a big history of the Division I, II, and III split, so here is a quick summary. In reality, it has nothing to do with having "smaller divisions/programs." Some schools decided that they no longer wanted to give athletic scholarships in order to focus on academics (thus, D-III). Some of the biggest, most respected research institutions in the world are in D-III (look no further than the UAA...U Chicago, Wash U, NYU, Emory, etc.). There are many Division III programs that are much better than many Division I programs. Obviously, Division I is much deeper and has more talent up top. But I'm still not sure what a "small division" is. The key here is FOCUS: D-I has a focus on athletics via athletic scholarships ... D-III has a focus on academics while still offering highly competitive sports without giving out athletic scholarships.

Look, I'm not offended by Wejo's comments, but I do think they were in poor taste and I don't think he fully understands that a very, very large portion of his readership consists of Division III athletes.

its a long season wrote:

Obviously, Division I is much deeper and has more talent up top. But I'm still not sure what a "small division" is.

That's exactly it.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

its a long season wrote:

Obviously, Division I is much deeper and has more talent up top. But I'm still not sure what a "small division" is.

That's exactly it.

Definition of Small: of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little.

So, no that's not it. There are more D-III runners than there are D-I runners. Your statement still makes no sense.

Isn't Baby Nationals what the Africans call our Olympic Trials?

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

You guys are acting like a bunch of...babies. Wejo is referring to the smaller divisions/programs, not the athletes themselves.

WTH are you talking about? That is obviously not it...Im pretty sure there are more D2 and D3 athletes than DI and even if there are not do you really think it is completely necessary that everyone knows the divisions are smaller? Really, what does that matter at all?

you know at first I was offended by it but now after thinking about it, its just kind of stupid. I don't care what wejo thinks, he has issues of his own. Its just seems kind of pointless to do something like this that OBVIOUSLY is meant to get a rise out of people who work their butts off and WEJO as much as anyone should realize that its the hard work in this sport that matters and instead of attacking those that work hard and have made it to national meets (whether the attack be blatant or subtle, as you are trying desperately to suggest) maybe support them by just posting a link on the front page with out having to be asked every year and with out having to throw a fit about it by calling the meets "baby" like some insecure middle school boy...

defend him all you want but its obvious that you are really having to stretch it to do so...maybe you should take your keyboard off auto pilot here and think on your own instead of just sporting the typical Texas Runner Girl, I love WEJO, line.

you people are WAY to sensitive. are you so insecure that wejos comment bothers you so much as to get your pink panties in a big twist? come one now.

speaking as yet another d3 runner i take no offense and see the reaction as hilarious.

oldtimer... wrote:

maybe you should take your keyboard off auto pilot here and think on your own instead of just sporting the typical Texas Runner Girl, I love WEJO, line.

Right, and now it looks like I have to share him with Julia Rudd. Wow. This reminds me of kids fighting at school and everyone else standing around watching...speaking of insecure middle school boys. How dare I defend him on this? I don't always agree with wejo, I just don't bother telling him to f*** off when I don't. I never even said *I* agree with calling it "Baby Nationals," just that it's obvious that it's being misinterpreted. I think some of you argue for the sake of arguing, which is why the "dictionary" is usually the final authority around here.

DII Runner wrote:

It's pretty offensive, even though it's not DI it's not like we train any less than those runners...

Actually, you probably do.

Harry Kooter wrote:

Look around at all of the threads on this board. Half of the suddenly ultra-sensitive posters here have probably posted something ten times as offensive at some point.

Well said, Harry. With all of the profanity-laden personal attacks along with the various other varieties of trolls that you can find on these boards, why are people suddenly mortified by Wejo's headline?

I was a D3 distance runner in college, and it would never occur to me to be offended by that comment. It sounds like there are some blatant double-standards in effect.

I can say this... the runners who transfer from NJCAA and NAIA who make an impact in the NCAA are only recognized once they fly under a DI school banner.

Elitism? Of course.

Look, just name the guys ignored when at a "lesser" school but recognized, credited and who's pronunciation of name are given attention when at Arkansas, NAU, L'ville, Iona etc.

Simple insecure elitism.

Scotty Bauhs is the best distance runner in the state of Cali. Do you know how to pronounce his last name? No? He ran 27:48 for 10k. The current US 10k leader for '08. Better get a German dictionary and work on that. He ain't no "baby."

My goodness - how can you have read through this thread and still have "Baby Nationals" on your front page? Is it a big deal? No. Is it offensive to a large segment of people who read this site? Sure seems like it. Grow up!

Question: Who is that fast fu** from Redn Lake Community College(or some other baby school like that, that Weldon has been creaming his pants over?

Computer Guru wrote:

Harry Kooter wrote:

Look around at all of the threads on this board. Half of the suddenly ultra-sensitive posters here have probably posted something ten times as offensive at some point.

Well said, Harry. With all of the profanity-laden personal attacks along with the various other varieties of trolls that you can find on these boards, why are people suddenly mortified by Wejo's headline?

I was a D3 distance runner in college, and it would never occur to me to be offended by that comment. It sounds like there are some blatant double-standards in effect.

you 2 and a few others get it right. i once coached at a D 1 school with a D 1 and D 3 schedule and an NAIA budget or worse. the important thing was the kids got to compete. sure they felt short changed but not by their peers but by the school.

baby nationals isn't and insult, i thought it was an original term of endearment for the championships. maybe it should read "the not quite the D 1 nationals".