Salazar Speaks Out -- good read

SpinneyLives wrote:

"connect the dots"...he was one of Martin Smith's disciples in the formative years.

http://www.dailyemerald.com/archive/v100/3/990430/home.html

I'm not sure Micah was a "disciple" of Smith. As far as I know he was coached by Dellinger even after Smith arrived.

Too funny.

This conversation is a fine example of the small time parochial thinking that comes out of Eugene (Oregon) in this regard. Look, Oregon didn't get some devine ordination in writing The Word as it pertains to American distance running. I mention Micah Davis only because he was present for Martin's tirades and would offer a solid perspective of the transitional times.

I've found a new meaning for the words "duck blind" and will now use it in this forum.

duck blind n. A shelter, often camouflaged with reeds and grasses, for concealing duck hunters.

duck blind adj. An attitude of holding stubbornly or unreasonably to group thinking that is often camouflaged with baloney, double talk, unprofessionalism or "duh, huh, what do you mean, I don't understand" comments and suffices to conceal Ducks.

DuckMan wrote:

You have it right. The "Lame Ducks", an association of ex-Oregon runners who are Nike employees have generously donated for years to the Oregon track and field program. Phil Knight has traditionally matched the contributions of the Lame Ducks. Last year, when Smith wouldn't do things their way, the Lame Ducks withheld their annual pledges. Talk about putting the screws on!! Now if anyone believes anything AlSal has to say about this, they need to think twice. AlSal has learned well--he can now doublespeak with the best of them.

You guys are bitching about how others donate their money. This is their personal donation. Can't someone just donate to a cause that they believe in? Why in the hell would Salazar and his cronies continue private donations to something they do not believe in?

If you care to reduce this to a discussion about people choosing to donate (or not donate) in situations where they are supportive of either the end use or the benefactor of their donation...so be it.

You too are what I would call duck blind.

Self-righteousness is NOT entirely what this thread is about mister gabbypants lame duck.

Spinneylives has asked me to provide legitimacy of this article. I have the magazine right here in front of me. It came out of:

DUCKS Illustrated

Volume 1, Number 19

June 23, 2005

They sell for $1.95

The DUCKS Illustrated Mailing Office is:

Ducks Illustrated

1574 Coburg Rd. #427

Eugene, OR 97401

541-221-3154

Jerry Thompson is the Editor in Chief.

It's printed by QSL Communications

I don't make this stuff up people!

Oh, and I did apologize for any typos, but one that I caught just as I was reading your responses was that Galen actually went 13:58, not 13:48 at the Pac-10 5k this year. Stupid number buttons . . . I'm glad you guys enjoyed the article.

SpinneyLives wrote:

If you care to reduce this to a discussion about people choosing to donate (or not donate) in situations where they are supportive of either the end use or the benefactor of their donation...so be it.

You too are what I would call duck blind.

Self-righteousness is NOT entirely what this thread is about mister gabbypants lame duck.

You guys are bagging on Salazar et al. for forcing the University to fire the track coach. You use the pulling of private donations as evidence to support your argument. This is a ridiculous argument. Salazar and his cronies can donate to whatever they want. This is why it is called a donation and not a contract. You have to do better than that. Why would anyone donate or promote a cause that they don't believe in? Use some other argument on how Salazar is evil other than dissuading his star athlete from going to Oregon and dissuading his friends from donating to a program that he felt sucked. If I think a certain school sucks for whatever reason, I certainly would not donate my money nor send my kids there. Salazar sounds pretty normal to me.

YOU MISSED THE POINt. What you described is perfectly normal. People are complaining because he lied about it in an interview. The action was fine. Just no reason to lie. I guess when you are accustom to a certain behavior.....

Whatever ace, whatever...don't expect to pass any reading comprehension tests real soon. You're duck blind too, and you're probably not even a duck.

SpinneyLives wrote:

Whatever ace, whatever...don't expect to pass any reading comprehension tests real soon. You're duck blind too, and you're probably not even a duck.

Whatever spineless, whatever...I won't expect words like duck blind, y'alls and gabbypants to be on any test any time soon.

Micah indeed was coached by Dellinger, along with his brother and Oliver Wirz during the final track season.

Micah was not able to attend the......."meetings" and instead was running around the track.

Let's get all the facts out there. Micah, Matt, Oliver, et al were "carry overs" from Dellinger's coaching. Out of consideration for their feelings, Martin Smith agreed to allow them to finish their collegiate careers under their coach, Dellinger. It was too bad that 7 years later the Smith Bashers didn't give Logs and Holts the same consideration.

Since so many posters keep alluding to Smith's meetings with his athletes, let's talk about it. Let's go back to that "fateful" first meeting that Smith had with the UofO athletes. Smith went around the room asking his runners what were their goals for the season and what were their NCAA qualifying times for their primary distances. Not a one of those in the meeting knew what their qualifying time would be...Smith came unglued and amongst some other customary strong language let them know that they were "pussies".

Fast forward...urban legend as told by the Smith Bashers, recalls that Smith called out some unsavory names---where is the corporate memory about the fact that these (very good) athletes didn't have goals, didn't have knowledge of their qualifying times and were basically "sucking of the scholarship system"? Without a selective corporate memory we end up with crybabies and excuse makers. As I said earlier, Smith never had a chance. Instead of giving him support when he was trying to make inroads to correct the "under achiever phenonenon" at Oregon, the "old Boys" attacked the messenger. The Old Boy network at Oregon is satisfied with losers, as long as the losers are a bunch of distance runners wearing "Go Pre" shirts around town. Dare to be great? Never, not this spineless, clueless bunch with their Beaverton boys running interference for them.

the old boy network would like to see some of the great athletes have meets in Oregon, not sent elseware, that is the problem with Smith.

Obviously Duckman, not all duck blind followers are willing to just let a "sleeping dog lie"...they prefer to lie their way through the past into the future and pick at the sore that want to scar over and heal!

ha, ha, ha, ha!

If Vinnie does indeed take the job, they'll all be out on their collective duck tails! You can't have your cake (perhaps one of the better D-I coach/administrators available) and eat it (drive the bus, make the decisions and coach the star player) too! You just can't...

I sure am looking forward to the prospect of a post mortem Pat Tyson interview...ahhhhhh...Duck Illustrated, your assignment if you choose to accept it...Micah was coached by Dellinger and people resented the fact that Smith continued to coach Logsdon. Hmmmmm...don't do as I do, do as I say seems to apply in Eugene. Doesn't it?

Who on earth are the supposed "people" who "resented the fact that Smith continued to coach Logsdon"? Tyson didn't mind, the new Oregon athletes didn't mind, the fans I know didn't mind, the sports writers reporting on these events didn't mind. Logsdon got a standing ovation from the Eugene crowd when he won a 3,000.

You like to make stuff up just to be irritating. If you're going for the "Jackass" approach you've let a few sitcoms inform your ability to communicate.

I liked your post on who Oregon might turn to if Vin isn't taking and I liked your post on "why can't we all just get along?" What happened? Of course I don't really want you to answer but know you'll feel obligated.

DI: Did you discourage Galen Rupp and other high school runners from coming to Oregon contributing to Martin Smith's resignation?

Salazar: A lot fo people were saying I was keeping Galen from going to U of O. I tried to get Joaquin Chapa there. I didn't tell anyone not to go to the U of O. The idea that the reason he resigned was because of Galen Rupp is ridiculous. The U of O wouldn't and shouldn't do that for one kid. You can't put all your money on one horse. He could be injured. Galen's parents wanted me to keep coaching him. Galen needed to be in a friendly environment, one that welcomed me working with him. All we wanted was to continue to do what we had begun. Martin Smith and I didn't see eye to eye. That's not anybody's fault. We disagreed on training and the direction of program. Galen didn't want to be in the middle of that. When Joaquin Cruz was there Bill Dellinger allowed him to have a personal coach. It wasn't going to work here.

------------------------------------------------

READ BETWEN THE LINES, FOLKS. HE DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED OF HIM. THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION IS UNDOUBTEDLY YES, IF YOU READ THE ENTIRE ANSWER. RUPP WASN'T GOING THERE UNLESS AND UNTIL SALAZAR COULD COACH HIM. PERIOD.

Alberto obviously has a yeast infection.

I can't believe it. I actually read every post regarding "Salazar Speaks Out". Salazar has serious issues and Phil Knight must like Salazar giving it to him on the side since he continues to let Alberto speak for him. Everytime Alberto starts a sentence with "We" I cringe. He uses "We" when he speaks for Phil Knight and Galen Rupp. Both should pull this guy to the side and tell him to shut the hell up.

"My plan for Galen" and "I called Galen's parents" and "We will run in Europe this summer". Uuuuu, I thought Galen was running in Europe this summer?

Then there's this quote: "The Rupp's pay me a monthly fee which is verified by contract and they keep the cancelled checks. It's a very unique situation where you have an extraordinary athlete who wants his high school coach to continue to work with him while he is in college."

Wow, that's a self serving statement. So the Rupp's pay Salazar by check, Salazar cashes the check and hands them an envelope with cash. On paper he's getting paid by them, but in reality he is merely cashing the check for apprearances. Rediculous, this man is sad and too stupid to not get caught.

Regardless of your opinion on this situation, two things are clear:

1. Martin Smith has taken the high road the entire time. He would not comment on anything regarding UO and the coaching situation- he was focused on his athletes and making sure the team was functioning until he resigned. He was not going to try and get into any sort of media war with UO, Alberto Salazar, Nike, or whoever.

2. Alberto Salazar has, for the better part of 6 months now, voiced his opinion every time he gets in local Oregon papers about the whole UO situation. Why is he so obsessed with addressing every issue that comes up with the UO track program? Whether or not you agree wtih him, he has not handled this situation with the maturity and poise of Martin Smith. In fact, hes acted like a 13 year old kid the entire time.

'"My plan for Galen" and "I called Galen's parents" and "We will run in Europe this summer". Uuuuu, I thought Galen was running in Europe this summer?'

The former Oregon coach used to say "we" all the time when speaking to his runners. A coach and an athlete are a team, a partnership, is that a hard concept to understand?

Have you ever had a coach? My guess is you're coach didn't care too much about your performance, and that you've never performed nearly outstanding as Rupp has, even relative to your own talent (or lack thereof) level.

Get a life. These guys are rocking and rolling, you are whining and bitching. If I was to choose, I'd be them.