Disturbing - USA national uniforms @ NYC Marathon

Shoe companies will tinker with the uniforms at the marathon majors because there is so much more exposure in each of those individual competitions than in any track meet outside of the Olympic or World Championships.

Nike won't have their athletes where the appropriate national uniform in every competition because they want to sell their brand, which is why each year they issue a new design, which often contains a retail component. So for a few major events, like the WMM, they will sometimes direct athletes to wear something other than the current professional uniform if they think it's a good thing to do. They're the ones paying the athletes so it's their call.

I didn't read the entire thread, but I can only think the OP has an empty life and has nothing legitimate to worry about. All of the people he mentions have actually been on USA national teams. Brazilians in the race wear shirts saying "Brazil." Simon Bairu was wearing the uniform of Canada.

What's the problem?

Mr. Obvious wrote:

As far as I am concerned they have earned the right to wear the uniform any time and any place they choose.

Exactly. End of thread.

Silly Old Fossil, 0/10

You understand that the singlet Tim wore yesterday isn't the exact same one he wore in Amman, right? This isn't the school team that issues you your uniform once at the beginning of the season.

I'm going to guess that most here will think you're off for thinking that Meb, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the marathon, did not deserve to wear the current USA singlet because he hasn't made a World or Olympic team since that uniform has been issued.

Patriotism

Ritz's singlet yesterday was not from Beijing, or Berlin, or the World Half at Berlin. It was a custom-made deal, looked quite like Hall's at Boston (only it was Nike, not Asics, obviously).

You're that guy that has to find something to be angry about everyday. Just relax, man. I'm almost certain they wouldn't have worn the uniforms if they knew how hurt you were going to be.

No, they probably would have still worn the uniforms, as they should. This is not something that should even be discussed. In an age when Africans dominate the running scene, I do not see what is so wrong with Americans letting the world know they are there by wearing a USA singlet. What happened to national pride? When Meb crossed the line in his USA singlet it was a great moment for us all and for American distance running. There is no issue with a reminder that Americans are here and showing some patriotism.

I'm electing to believe we all got trolled.

Millions of kids are dying of AIDS right now in Africa.

Who cares where an athlete who has already represented the USA at the Olympics wears his or her uniform?

Ritz's singlet was not a special made one by Nike. Nor were any of them. They were the official USA singlet.

They were handed out by USATF, but the only athletes who are allowed to wear them by their company are: NIKE athletes.

Ritz's red singlet is not special. It is part of the USA uniform, it just hasn't been worn by anybody in any event. If anyone can remember, the 4x400 gold medal team in Beijing had red and blue speedsuits. The white singlet is exclusive to the marathon athletes, and was made especially for the heat in Beijing. The blue is the normal one that is handed out many times before.

Meb got his white uniform at NYC marathon last year. It was given to him by USATF. Ritz got his red uniform from USATF. Oh, and Tim Nelson got his from.. USATF. Bairu most likely got his from a past national team, since Athletics Canada don't let too many athletes keep uniforms.

I can't believe that even on letsrun, anyone with a shred of sense or maturity thinks this is something to complain about.

No Chance Kid wrote:

Meb got his white uniform at NYC marathon last year. It was given to him by USATF. Ritz got his red uniform from USATF. Oh, and Tim Nelson got his from.. USATF. Bairu most likely got his from a past national team, since Athletics Canada don't let too many athletes keep uniforms.

They would have all come from Nike. When Tadese ran in London, that uniform would have come from directly from Nike and not the federation in Asmara.

Who cares? I find it hard to get upset over people having USA on their shirts as long as they've been on a national team and aren't pretending to be something they're not.

Wrapping yourself in the flag if you make the top 3, on the other hand, always seems disrespectful. And it's even worse at things like the USATF championship where everyone's an American to begin with.

I'm just saying wrote:

Maybe it was so the Americans watching the race could distinguish Meb from the other East Africans.

Alberto Salazar never had to wear a USA shirt to distinguish himself from other Cubans.

Primordial Ooze wrote:

Who cares? I find it hard to get upset over people having USA on their shirts as long as they've been on a national team and aren't pretending to be something they're not.

Wrapping yourself in the flag if you make the top 3, on the other hand, always seems disrespectful. And it's even worse at things like the USATF championship where everyone's an American to begin with.

It seems odd that more people on here are more upset about athletes draping themselves in the national flag, than about wearing the national uniform in an event they are not representing their country.

See, that is my beef....the implication they (meb, bairu, whomever) are representing their country when they are not.

As I have said before....I'm sure it was Mary Wittenburg behind this "charade"....not the runners themselves.

I have made a national team in the past (albeit a junior one), and I still wear my singlet proudly on certain occasions. I am now long past my prime and out of college, but I will occasionally show up at local races wearing it. In my opinion I earned it USATF gave it to me, and if I want to wear it then that is my choice. I probably do it as a way for me to feel better about my current fitness and feel good about once being good, but so what thats my choice. These guys on the other hand are still running well and showing their national pride on a big stage, and probably getting more adulation because of it. I would imagine it also makes it easier for people to recognize them, etc which is also a win.

I'm not saying......I'm just saying.

Frank Burley wrote:

No Chance Kid wrote:

Meb got his white uniform at NYC marathon last year. It was given to him by USATF. Ritz got his red uniform from USATF. Oh, and Tim Nelson got his from.. USATF. Bairu most likely got his from a past national team, since Athletics Canada don't let too many athletes keep uniforms.

They would have all come from Nike. When Tadese ran in London, that uniform would have come from directly from Nike and not the federation in Asmara.

In the US, they get them from USATF. Trust me.