dwigt schrude wrote:
eatyer wheatings wrote:That's not what I said.
Fair enough. Just making sure you realize that from a marketing perspective medals are worth more than being top 10 in the Olympics, assuming a good race.
In general yes, but there are other interests involved besides just Olympic medals. Think Freddy Adu and soccer. Sometimes is the "promise" of great things to come is worth the investment. Again I'm not saying he'll get more than Dix, but that his value is different for different reasons. He's going to be used to try and revive a nation of young distance runners, and to promote Oregon Track to a certain extent. More like Pre is marketed now.
Lets say Rupp cracks 13:00 or 27:00, he'd be the first white man under 27:00 no? Every world championships and olympics americans have sprinters get medals. I'm not even sure their all that inspiring when a Jamaican is blowing us away and setting world records. But not in the last decade (or two) has there been a white person (or even any runner not of african decent) running at that level in the 10K, and it would be pretty significant. This is what Salazar and Co. are banking on and this is what Phil Knight believes in. Kennedy was a story, Mottram was a story. But Rupp going under 27:00 would be like them going under 12:50.
Just my thoughts and I may be wrong, but I'm thinking back to myself in high school and the guys who inspired me (Kennedy and Williams) and I think Rupp takes it a level beyond with where he's already at.
And if this championship goes fast, really fast and he's the winner he's in a great position.