Please consider signing petition asking Louis Luchini to Remove Himself from Olympic consideration

[quote]wejo wrote:

This is pretty funny.

[quote]

NO, it is NOT pretty funny. It is very pathetic. If someone wants to share his opinion, start a message thread. I was disgusted to see the petition. I am heartened by the fact that 99% of the people commenting on it are strongly opposed to the petition.

Please remove it, and replace it with an apology to Luchini and an acknowledgement that it was poor judgement to start the petition in the first place. That is the respectable and decent thing for Rojo to do, regardless of whether his opinion remains the same.

WEJO + ROJO.

Honestly...who do you guys think you are? I'm sure had it been one of you in Louis' position you'd have a different outlook.

This is pathetic.

Granted, we all hate the rules, but it isnt right to try and change them AFTER they are in the process of being implemented. If ppl are so bothered with the rules that they are willing to ask a hard working runner to exempt himself from the CHANCE to go to the olympics, they should have been battling these rules for the past four years rather than after an incident occurs.... right?

The logic and heart may be there, but this was not anyone's business besides Louis Luchini and maybe Bolota to work out. No way should Rojo have gotten himself involved in this, esp. by putting together this joke of a petition.

- my personal opnion

rojo wrote:

But what's wrong with me asking that he do it? Everyone

has a right to voice their opinion.

You may have a "right" to voice your opinion, but that doesn't make your petition any less reprehensible. If you really want to persuade him, talk to him privately. Don't try to publicly shame him into doing what you want. And if he tells you to go to hell, good for him.

blaine wrote:

[quote]wejo wrote:

This is pretty funny.

[quote]

NO, it is NOT pretty funny. It is very pathetic. If someone wants to share his opinion, start a message thread. I was disgusted to see the petition. I am heartened by the fact that 99% of the people commenting on it are strongly opposed to the petition.

Please remove it, and replace it with an apology to Luchini and an acknowledgement that it was poor judgement to start the petition in the first place. That is the respectable and decent thing for Rojo to do, regardless of whether his opinion remains the same.

Well said. Petition wrong. Picketing in front of Luchini's house wrong. You have the right to do those things, but reasonable people find better ways.

Quotes from Rojo:

"All I'm trying to do is to get Louis to think about the situation a little bit. "

"I'm not demanding that he give up his spot,

I'm asking that he consider doing it."

"Thus if you read the whole petition, I think you'd see that I'm willing to let him give it a crack......"

"Everyone has a right to voice their opinion. I'm voicing mine."

You still don't get it. YOU should think about the situation a little bit. Glad you would be WILLING to let him try for his qualifier, but what makes you think he needs to meet any Rojo approval criteria?

You went far beyond just voicing an opinion. This is voicing an opinion: "Rojo shows poor judgement and underdeveloped reasoning skills."

Agreed. This is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. And by the way, there aren't many people who actually signed the petition. Most who have signed put negative comments about Rojo and the petition - so you can't really count that as a signature. Please delete the petition. The rules are very clear and Luchini gets a chance to get the standard.

ttc wrote:

The bigger issue BY FAR is Jonathon Riley possibly staying home. He finished 2nd, ahead of Bolota and has the A-Standard.

Exactly. A better petition would be to have Broe withdraw, whether or not it gets the B standard. If he gets the A standard, this becomes a non issue.

Rojo, I agree with the 99% expressing distaste at your ethics.

If you still feel strongly, why not post a survey on the front page, to see how people really feel about the issue.

However, it's not your place to try and coerce, malign, and decide who is and who is not on the U.S. Olympic Team.

I believe the deadline for the 4 nominees was set by the IAAF (remember the IFs really set the rules within some IOC guidelines).

I like the idea of having an early deadline and would not even let people chase a time until August 9th.

Each NGB has the freedom (within some limits) to set up selection procedures. If you do not think these are good, then attend the USATF national meeting, get on the agenda and get on the committee to write the rules. You will see that writing selection criteria is not easy although track and swimming have made it as clear as possible. Hell, try reading other sports selection criteria sometimes!

Never reading this board again...

[quote]rojo wrote:

I can't believe that so many people are so angry

Let me tell you why I got angry with you, "rojo."

I think it's one of the worst things you can do to tell someone that you don't think they can run fast. The mental aspect of believing in yourself in running fast shouldn't be underestimated -- who the heck are you to tell Louis Luchini what he can or can't run? I've seen too many unlikely performances from too many unlikely people to believe any of the self-appointed experts anymore. I just hope you didn't get into Louis's head. You can't run 13:10 until you've been fit enough to run in the 13:20's, and you never know when someone is ready to break through.

Secondly, as somebody who was a super skinny kid I remember what it was like to have people gang up on you and pick on you. I haven't thought of that in a long time, but that's exactly what came to mind when I saw your suggestion for a petition. How would you like it if you just finished a great season and a bunch of people got together and told you that doubtless you can't do better, so just hang 'em up, regardless of what you had EARNED through your own HARD WORK. I hope Louis Luchini isn't ashamed of anything he's done, shame on you for at the very least implying that he's no good. Track is no baloney, and the results speak for themselves, you have no place bringing a petition into the mix.

It must be nice to be a Monday morning track star, where everybody jumps from 14:00 to 12:57.9, and why don't American runners just suck it up and do better. Must be nice to be able to live with yourself for tearing down someone who's actually out there doing it. I already read your self-serving justification, so spare me the excuses (actually maybe you could just put your own hubris aside and admit you were being a sanctimonious jerk). I'll just reiterate that I think it's shameful to plant any seeds of doubt in an aspiring runner's mind, and hope you enjoyed the response.

Guys, I have been big supporters of you both over the years but this is in my opinion BS. Your putting the young Louis in a no win situation. If he doesn't give up his slot he looks like a tool in front of his peers and if he does he throws away a chance to go to the games. EVERYONE knew the rules coming into the Trials and even though I think those rules aren't the best way of choosing a team you have to stick with them. You can't change things or try to manipulate people to get the results you desire.

I think this whole thing needs to get pulled with the comments that it was misguided and a quick reaction but after further thought you realize it is unfair to put Louis in this situation.

I ask you this. After years of training and being in this sport knowing that the ultimate dream of everyone lacing up a pair of shoes and heading to the track to race is to make it the the Olympics....would you give up your slot if you were in a similar situation? I'm not a big fan of sending someone who ran 31:13 in the 10k to the games but if that is what happens so be it. I think Dathan deserves the chance to go and we should not start a petition to change his mind. Just my opinion.

I didn't actually read the petition. Is it good?

wejo wrote:And an even bigger travesty is this concept of having to put down 4 names now instead of leaving it open until the deadline. Not sure if this a USOC or IOC rule but this is utter laziness and i don't see the point of it.

Why would it be a travesty? The IAAF/IOC rule is that members must submit their nominations on July 21. The USATF, in order to comply with the rule the USATF made their deadline July 18, today, the last day of the Olympic Trials.

You two are graduates of two of the finest universities in the world. You're not serious when you say that you cannot understand why the IOC needs a list of candidates from each country a month in advance? How is it that you suppose you would manage an event of this size on days notice, with thousands of athletes requiring travel visas and such? How would you expect to manage housing, transportation and event accreditation on days notice? How would you manage the publication of hundreds of tons of event programs and press information? It's just not as simple as qualifying, then clicking on the lowest fare at Travelocity,com then showing up to the starting line.

To put it mildly, "They've got an Olympics to run!"

rojo: can you also put something together that supports Luchini's decision to stay and see which one gets more signatures?

I agree. I think that Wejo and Rojo generally do a great job. However, in this case they are so wrong. It amazes me when very bright people say and do inane things.

Letsrun.com or the Gestapo?

Agreed, love the web site …. generally Wejo and Rojo do a great job with the site and promoting running in this country.

That said ….. the petition is totally ridiculous (crap)! Expressing an opinion is one thing, but don't rally a mob to come after Louis. By writing the letter you're trying to put the athlete under enough public scrutiny and pressure that he gives up his rightful spot. Why didn't you just talk with Louis or write him a letter directly. Even giving your opinion on this board would be OK, but starting a petition drive ... BAD. As owners of this web site and a collegiate coach you should have more respect for the great athlete's of this country.

If you don't like the rules, then write a letter to the USATF. The spot is Luchini's ... if rojo wants to do something productive, then influence USATF to change the rule.

Please do the right thing an apologize for such and idiotic idea!

What the Hell kind of name is Bolota anyway?

This is ridiculous. Rojo get a life man, you can't change the rules.