Why are the founders so clueless about the history of track and field?

Drew Eckmann wrote:

Another genius heard from.

Why, thank you, sir. Always nice to have the high IQ appreciated by the nameless, faceless masses that comprise the middle of the bell curve.

Drew Eckmann wrote:

First see the post by 'more relevant.

So Drew, since you've started and spent most of the day on this thread, why don't you tell us what your real motive is?

What was it about wejo that put the hair in your snotty ass?

Penelope Pitstop wrote:

nameless, blah blah blah.

Nameless? Drew is one of the few who posts under his real name.

Dusty Bones wrote:

Not knowing who David Mack is is not "not knowing much" about the sport.

Sure it is, especially considering the number of David Mack threads on this Website alone, and his connection to the Biggie Smalls murder, and to his bank heist conviction.

If you don't believe me, like I always with running advice, seeing for yourself is believing.

Interested observer wrote:

So Drew, since you've started and spent most of the day on this thread, why don't you tell us what your real motive is?

What was it about wejo that put the hair in your snotty ass?

I asked a question that I thought needed to be asked. 'Real' motive? No motive at all. Why would there have to be one?

I got a kick out of that 'nameless' post too. No use in being stupid if you're just going to stay quiet and not let everyone know.

Penelope Pitstop wrote:

How can Steven Spielberg be qualified to direct the movie "Jurassic Park" when he's neither a paleontologist nor a bio-engineer? The audacity! That movie should never have been made.

How is that a valid comparison? The film consulted paleontologists, right? And even more important, they were working from a work of fiction. We're talking about more than an average fan not knowing something that might be expected from someone who used to compete on a similar level. Like an ex-minor league baseball player not knowing something of similar standing. Where the comparison breaks down, is that baseball gets so much more coverage, that ten years from now, 30something ex-minor leaguers and non-players alike will probably know about something like Darryl Strawberry's legal problems.

Fawn Leibowitz wrote:

How is that a valid comparison? The film consulted paleontologists, right? And even more important, they were working from a work of fiction. We're talking about more than an average fan not knowing something that might be expected from someone who used to compete on a similar level. Like an ex-minor league baseball player not knowing something of similar standing. Where the comparison breaks down, is that baseball gets so much more coverage, that ten years from now, 30something ex-minor leaguers and non-players alike will probably know about something like Darryl Strawberry's legal problems.

There's too much logic in your post. You aren't allowed to post here anymore.

Not enough of you have noticed that this has become one of the most pointless redundant picayune threads in recent letsrun history, and I think I'm only post #72.

Drew, what are your thoughts on Paul Tergat? Was he a clean athlete?

Fawn Leibowitz wrote:

The film consulted paleontologists, right? And even more important, they were working from a work of fiction. We're talking about more than an average fan not knowing something that might be expected from someone who used to compete on a similar level.

Well, fair enough, but this site probably wasn't created with the intention of passing along tidbits of track history or for the founders to show off some encyclopedic knowledge of track trivia. To expect them to know about the controversy surrounding FloJo's 10.49 or to know David Mack's PRs before they're "qualified" to start a site that doesn't purport to be a trivia or history site anyway is like expecting Spielberg to know more about dinosaurs or cloning techniques than he needed to know to direct a very good film.

As far as "competing on a similar level" implying a corresponding knowledge of track history, do you think Sammy Wanjiru knows much about Linford Christie's career? Probably not. They're at a similar level, but weren't quite contemporaries and were/are in different events. If Wanjiru started a site and asked on his own message board who Christie was, there'd certainly be a few petty minds that would call him "too ignorant about track to have a web site."

So what if these guys don't know some of the stories behind the events they report? How many newspapers are there out there that have reporters on the running beat who know even less? Probably most of them. And it's not like the site founders are completely ignorant on EVERY bit of running history. They probably know a fair amount of it. They just don't know a FEW things that are well-known to the long-time fan and then when they inquire about those things to learn something new, those few lapses stick out in the minds of faultfinders as being "clueless about track."

And so what if the blokes at T&FN are more up on track history? You're here on this message board reading this right now, aren't you? So the site must provide something you keep coming back for. The site could surely be better in some ways, but those changes might displease another segment of the regular visitors. So it works as is. They might not know about David Mack's career, but they're doing something right. Besides, the message board is here to ask such questions and exchange information and learn things. And for trolling, of course. And other sites like Tilastopajabbamumba or whatever it's called are out there that have the scoop on PRs and trivia. There isn't a need for the site founders to provide that stuff here or even know it off the tops of their heads. They can ask questions on their own message board if they don't know something.

at......31yrsold wrote:

Drew, what are your thoughts on Paul Tergat? Was he a clean athlete?

Yep. Was and is.

at......31yrsold wrote:

Drew, what are your thoughts on Paul Tergat? Was he a clean athlete?

Drew Eckmann wrote:

Yep. Was and is.

Here's something we agree on. I honestly believe Tergat was clean throughout his career.

Here's something we agree on. I honestly believe Tergat was clean throughout his career.[/quote]

Yep. Was and is.[/quote]

Running savants, please answer:

Is that why it is over?

on the runs wrote:I agree with the OP. Take some 30 somethings that are seriously into the NFL, let alone run a damn NFL news and discussion site, and mention the name of a player who is #3 all time in passing, receptions, TDs, etc, and I'm certain that they'd know a thing or two about the player in question.

I'm no older than Weldon or Robert, but I know Mack because at some point I looked over the all-time US 800m list. Why wouldn't I if I'm so into the sport?

Big difference. Not knowing the third-greatest American 800-metre runner is like not knowing the third-greatest receiver in Miami Dolphins history...Nat Moore, who played 13 years with the Dolphins from 1974-86. Mack owns the 127th fastest 800 performance of all-time and never performed at a major international championship. That makes him like a Plaxico Burress, Donald Driver or Wayne Chrebet.

ming ding xiong wrote:

Big difference. Not knowing the third-greatest American 800-metre runner is like not knowing the third-greatest receiver in Miami Dolphins history...Nat Moore, who played 13 years with the Dolphins from 1974-86. Mack owns the 127th fastest 800 performance of all-time and never performed at a major international championship. That makes him like a Plaxico Burress, Donald Driver or Wayne Chrebet.

Exactly right! But not knowing Nat Moore if you ran a Miami Dolphin's web page would be unforgivable. Wouldn't it?

Drew Eckmann wrote:

at......31yrsold wrote:

Drew, what are your thoughts on Paul Tergat? Was he a clean athlete?

Yep. Was and is.

who's looking clueless now?

at......31yrsold wrote:

who's looking clueless now?

And you're so close to the situation as to be able to offer an informed opinion, right?

Surprised that nobody responded to my Chris Nelloms bait. Maybe one of the co-founders will write another 'wowie-zowie you're not going to believe this but...' post in the weeks to come... after they look him up.

Incorrect, Drew, malmo and several others who understand the sport and its history, know what this thread is about.

What is left unsaid is that for the vast majority of young people who inhabit this space, history begins when they reach maturity and a few years before that. Or if the person was "cool" enough to warrant any kind of attention. After all we all know who Pre was.

I've been on these boards as long as malmo has (under a diff name), and the level of ignorance here is staggering.

I've exchanged emails with Drew (under my real name) from almost a decade ago, when he worked hard on defending the Kenyans from drug accusations.

If you don't know your history, stop attacking the messengers and educate yourselves.

And lastly, I'm not claiming to be any expert, but what I dont know I read and learn about.

What is history for these younger runners is not history for you. The generation of runners prior to you probably know more about their era than you do. Yes, some people are history buffs and seek this type of info out and some are not. Nothing wrong with that.

Nobody should think they are a superior 'fan of the sport' because they know who ran the 6th fastest 1500 in America.