Disturbing - USA national uniforms @ NYC Marathon

no such thing as too much 'merica.

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

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.

How are they not representing their country? They represent their country every time they run! I see Kenyans and Ethiopians wearing their countires singlets in all sorts of non Olympic or World Championship events. My god you're a moron!

I think I'd like to see all elites in national vests. Same for the Diamond League. Not because I desperately want to see national sides racing each other all the time, but because it might generate more interest in the sport. Spectators and tv viewers would know who they were supposed to be cheering for. National vests is the simpliest way of organizing it.

For the World Marathon Majors and Diamond League there could be points awarding towards a national league (like the constructors championship in F1).

Spectators find it easier to get behind a team that has a history and goes on and on as athletes come and go, than to get behind an athlete running solely for themselves that appear suddenly and can just as easily disappear. The USA vests in the majors are surely being worn in Boston and New York to get a bit of support from people watching who may not be aware of who the home guys are.

If you're a big fan of the sport you don't necessarily need this. But I think the sport would be better if it had more fans, and that could be a way an attracting them. The sports section of my newspaper yesterday didn't carry one mention of Geb's retirement. This sport could do with generating a bit more interest.

what bothered me was that Meb's USA uniform was WHITE, then Ritz got a RED one one and Ryan Hall had a RED one on at Boston. Why can't all USA wear the same style uniform with slightly diff sponsor?

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

Yes, it would be nice to get some Canadian opinions, and some NZ opinions as well.

From a kiwi perspective it would have been fine by me if Kim Smith had been wearing the NZ uniform at NYC - black with the silver fern. But of course, unless reebok sponsors the NZ team in some international event, it probably isn't going to happen.

I'm wondering if that's part of the problem seen by Silly Old Fossil - Nike athletes can wear the USA uniform, even though they don't actually repesent team USA in this event, and other athletes have the choice of a "fake" uniform, or not wearing the USA uniform, even though they might be Oympians and have the same right to wear it.

Mugsy Bogues wrote:

Why can't all USA wear the same style uniform with slightly diff sponsor?

adidas, Nike, Asics and everyone else are all trying to make their apparel standout and look the best, not all look the same.

Didn't most of the NIKE athletes in the race wear some sort of quasi-national uniform? The Americans had those "USA" singlets, Bairu sporting Cananda, and Caroline Rotich and Moses Kigen Kipkosgei (neither of whom has made a Kenyan national team?) in Kenya "uniforms." I noticed Abel Kirui, who actually won a world championship, wasn't wearing one, but I think all the other top athletes from Nike were, so maybe the anger should be directed in a Pacific Northwesterly direction.

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

I find it disturbing & demeaning that pro runners Meb, Ritz, Tim Nelson, Shalane ran a non-championship event (NYC marathon) in a uniform it is supposed to be an honor to earn and wear. Last time I checked NYC wasn't Olympics, World Champs, or even Pan Americans.

This has Mary Wittenberg's stink all over it.

All this does is cheapen and soil a national institution...the USA uniform.

Did you see Jorge Torres running in a USA uni....no, he has too much class and dignity.

NYC is just another race; it is not a championship event.

PS. At least Shalane's bib covered the USA.

You're right....big deal...it's just a piece of fabric (sarcasm intended).

But please....let's have a meaningful dialogue on this.

I never thought I'd see the day when people starting complaining about American runners wearing the USA singlet. If they didn't wear it, I'm sure somebody would say they're un-American. It's a lose-lose situation.

keepthatreal wrote:

i forget, why does this really matter again?

trick question. it doesnt

long sox wrote:

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

Yes, it would be nice to get some Canadian opinions, and some NZ opinions as well.

From a kiwi perspective it would have been fine by me if Kim Smith had been wearing the NZ uniform at NYC - black with the silver fern. But of course, unless reebok sponsors the NZ team in some international event, it probably isn't going to happen.

I'm wondering if that's part of the problem seen by Silly Old Fossil - Nike athletes can wear the USA uniform, even though they don't actually repesent team USA in this event, and other athletes have the choice of a "fake" uniform, or not wearing the USA uniform, even though they might be Oympians and have the same right to wear it.

Let me get this straight, Mr Kiwi. You would be fine with Kim Smith running NYC marathon in a NZ national uniform even tho she recently declined to run in October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India??? Is that what you are telling us?

In defense of Kim, I don't believe she has ever run in the silver fern of NZ when she wasn't OFFICIALLY representing NZ.

canadeh wrote:

I'm not even American, and I thought it was contrived.

I guess you would feel the same way about Simon Bairu wearing a Canada singlet, then.

Is it not okay to unofficially represent the place you call home, then? Even if done so honorably and with dignity?

___________________________________________________

Malmo, do you also have anything but good thoughts of the winners of these big city marathons running around with their nations flag like some sort of superman cape? Seeing Shalane draped in the flag after racing for over 2-hours makes me sick. Give the woman a blanket!

Andrew A. wrote:

Is it not okay to unofficially represent the place you call home, then? Even if done so honorably and with dignity?

You can buy a running/racing kit that resembles the Stars & Stripes. That denotes patriotism without suggesting you are representing the USA.

Following your logic why even have the Olympics broken out by national affiliation? Why not just have the top 24 ranked in each event run in their club uniform.

Tim Nelson was not representing the USA officially or unofficially; he was merely representing himself.

Is it too much to ask for the USA national uniform to be worn when you are REPRESENTING the USA???????

I'm Canadian and I didn't know Bairu wore a Canadian uniform. I think it's great. I'm glad that people who saw him run by saw that a Canadian was running up in the lead pack.

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

Following your logic why even have the Olympics broken out by national affiliation? Why not just have the top 24 ranked in each event run in their club uniform. [sic]

No argument from me on that, I consider the nationalism displayed at the Olympics and World Champs to be rather archaic.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

Silly Old Fossil wrote:

Pardon me for being a purist.

Honestly, if USATF could make a huge sum of money by selling singlets to hobby joggers and do a much better job of supporting elite runners I would be in favor of that. Not sure why the Chilean miner would wear one, as he is not a USAian. Let him wear a Chilean national uniform.

==================================

I think I saw that guy on Halloween....he was wearing one.

ming ding xiong wrote:

I'm Canadian and I didn't know Bairu wore a Canadian uniform. I think it's great. I'm glad that people who saw him run by saw that a Canadian was running up in the lead pack.

Let me get this straight. Simon Bairu declines to run FOR COUNTRY (October 2010 Commonwealth Games) but then runs FOR SELF (November 2010 NYC marathon) in a Canadian uniform....you don't see an issue with that?????

If Simon doesn't want to run for Canada in Delhi (Commonwealth Games) that's fine, but don't turn around and run for self (NYC) in a Canadian uniform.

Is that asking too much?

PS. If Simon is "running for country" why has he never before run in the Canadian uniform in non-international championships??? Why didn't he run Philly Distance Run in a Canadian uniform??? Why doesn't he race exclusively in a Canadian uniform?

My beef isn't with Simon or Tim or Ritz per se, but those (NYRR) ordering them to wear USA/Canada uniform.