LAGAT IS NOT AN AMERICAN

hs kid wrote:

This is a stupid issue, but...

If Craig Mottram (who is white and therefore 'looks' american) had moved to the states in college and had gotten citizenship and was racing for the US, you wouldn't have any problems accepting his status. It's just that Lagat looks like all of the Africans who are kicking our asses (except Lagat's) that you won't accept his citizenship. How long has he lived here?

The question isn't about citizenship but the fact that his lineage lends itself to superior genetic and cultural advantages for elite-level distance running. It is less LEGITIMATE than an American of European descent, which was the heritage of our FOUNDING FATHERS, like it or not.

And I don't totally subscribe to the theory that it's all drugs that pave the way for Africans' superior performances, though that may have something to do with it in the fairly recent past. But they have multitudes of 16-year olds, for crying out loud, who can run low-28 for 10k, and they always have, even before drugs hit the scene en masse in the early 90s.

If you don't think that there are distinct genetic advantages that the East Africans possess for distance running, then you are smoking something awfully good. We could export a bunch of sub-10.00 100-meter runners to Liechtenstein so that they could claim some Olympic medals and records, but somehow, that wouldn't be as AUTHENTIC as if a homegrown athlete did it. That's all anyone is saying here.

sounds like you are a more legit American only if you are white but not black, indian or any other race and thats preposterous

mfalme wrote:

sounds like you are a more legit American only if you are white but not black, indian or any other race and thats preposterous

REAL Americans include Billy Mills and Alberto Salazar.

Lagat is American in name only...after ten years we will reconsider....yeah, that's the deal, a ten yr. moratorium. we can all agree on that!

Folks,

now that you have Lagat, why not give us Shawn Crawford?

I'd love to see him wear the black, red and green Kenyan uniform. After all, that would be an extra medal in the 200m. What say you?

Alright, this whole conversation is pointless. Whether or not any of us think he is American, in the eyes of the US government and the world, he is an American Citizen, thereby making him an American. Like it or not, he's one of us now, so deal with it and quit whining about him not being American. He has an American passport, an American address, and pays his taxes to our government. Thats as American as anyone else here is.

Ok for the sake of argument I will say this.

I agree 100%

What gets me is the people who say he is not an American. Sorry folks he is. And when he was a Kenyan I always cheered for Lagat. And as an American if it is a race where he is not racing in a championship style of race or setting a record I will continue to be for Lagat.

As far as him setting American records and saying he is America's best distance hope, I don't feel comfortable with it. And yes I may be a bigot or a jingoist or what have you, but I personally would prefer to see a person with the same culture and background as me set an American record. Its the same thing in politics though, its called virtual representation. If you are a poor black from the ghetto would you prefer some white Republican to represent you or another black dude? See what I'm saying. I would always rather see Gouchars and Webbs and Halls set records and win medals then, Lagats and Mebs, because I share an identy with those runenrs. At the same time I cheer for the Lagats and Mebs of the world because this is running, and its not a team sport, so I choose to cheer for them because they are the runners I like.

What gets me is the people who say he is not an American. Sorry folks he is. And when he was a Kenyan I always cheered for Lagat.

YO, BUD, YOU CHEER FOR A DRUGGIE LIKE LAGAT??? I GUESS YOU LIKE BARRY BONDS AND BEN JOHNSON TOO?

When did Lagat fail a test?

skinny runner dude wrote:

When did Lagat fail a test?

RIGHT BEFORE THE LAST OLYMPICS....FAILED HIS A TEST...

Actually it was a sample, and his B sample passed so he passed the test.

Yup, he "passed" his B test, but lets face it Nike had millions invested in this guy and probably put the pressure on to have him re-instated....wouldn't happen? remember the olympic head who wanted to get Seb Coe in event though he didn't meet the qualifier in his later yrs? the olympics and nike love those $$$$$$$$$$$$ ( the sport is corrupt!)

Lagat will not run for the USA in 2008, he is afraid to get caught and has too much to lose. he will pick and choose those meets that don't test.....

weather its corupt or not I still love it. Call me jaded or an idealist but I still love the simplicity of running. And I happen to like Lagat, who in my mind has yet to fail a drug test.

you are doing whats called reforming the argument

since you people can't debate a topic intelligently; you change the argument into something it's not. This way you can accuse people of something they aren't guilty of (racism), and you can argue against something ANYONE would agree with you on (racism) when in fact that was never even the question at hand. Good job though, you're in the clear now, anyone that argues against you is a bigot.

yep, what he said!

media coverage wrote:

mfalme wrote:

sounds like you are a more legit American only if you are white but not black, indian or any other race and thats preposterous

REAL Americans include Billy Mills and Alberto Salazar.

Lagat is American in name only...after ten years we will reconsider....yeah, that's the deal, a ten yr. moratorium. we can all agree on that!

you are a damn fool,you have absolutely nothing consider about Lagat, right now he is enjoying everything an american is entitled to and more, infact i think he is more american on paper than you seam to suggest in name because he still maintains his kenyan name, am sure he will make the next worlds and olympics and he will be wearing American uniforms, and they will sing the American national Anthem when he wins the gold, you just have to swallow this bitter pill.