Questionable Prize Standards?

Well it would be a shame if the winner gave a post race interview that was comprehendible. The RD has a right to put whatever standards he wants on who wins his money. Everyone o this board says distance running will never be popular in the US because the winners of all of the races are all from a foreign country. Here is a guy that is trying to help out american runners by saving a little bit of the prize money for them. This isn't any different than Chicago giving out American only money for those athletes who hit the trials standard. What really happened is that the wording pissed you off and you got your panties in a bunch for no particular reason. There are plenty of races out there that Kenyans can come dominate and take home all of the money, just not that one.

Based upon a review of the prize money distribution and qualifying criteria, "Beat the Clock" has been withdrawn.

Luke's Locker in Dallas did something similar before except they refused to pay a Kenyan because he entered the DAY OF THE RACE. When his coach asked Matt Lucas about it he just smirked and tried to tell the coach how smart he was. What an ass.

lizard king wrote:

Well it would be a shame if the winner gave a post race interview that was comprehendible.

There are plenty of races out there that Kenyans can come dominate and take home all of the money, just not that one.

Thw WINNER might still not speak english, but imagine the reporters clamoring to interview the first money winner about his thrilling 5th place showing.

JimG wrote:

OK, let's look at it this way.

You have a company (or TV show, or rock band). The key to its success and attracting investors is getting publicity.

You have the choice of hiring an executive/actor/singer who is talented, but doesn't speak English, or one slightly less talented who does. Which one do you want to trot out in front of the media? Remember, publicity is the key to your undertaking's success, more than the overall quality of the product.

Look, you can't even get a job working the counter at McDonald's (at least in these parts) if you can't speak at least a little English. I've been at too many races where the winners can't even say the most basic phrases. Is it any wonder coverage of the sport sucks?

What makes you think an American will have anything more interesting to say? Maybe the athletes should have to audition to be in the race. Then somehow during the race we can vote some of them off until we're left with an entertaining American superstar who will save running. We are still talking about running aren't we?

JimG wrote:

OK, let's look at it this way.

You have a company (or TV show, or rock band). The key to its success and attracting investors is getting publicity.

You have the choice of hiring an executive/actor/singer who is talented, but doesn't speak English, or one slightly less talented who does. Which one do you want to trot out in front of the media? Remember, publicity is the key to your undertaking's success, more than the overall quality of the product.

Congratulations: You have successfully identified the difference between awarding prizes for performance in an objective and merit-based athletic competition (we call that "sports") and MTV's "Making of the Band" reality show.

Want a sport where performance is rewarded? Welcome to running, and welcome to the prizing system of 99.9% of races.

Want a "product" where we give the "awards" based on language use, charisma or whatever other criteria you can dream up? You can have it, but it's not a running race anymore, Jim.