Meb says Boston didn't make an offer

The BAA is really digging themselves a hole.

Very inconsistant to tell Meb that he is not good enough while shutting out Sub-2:30 runners to make room for 5hr runners. No problem with 5hr runners but don't call Boston the "Elite" marathon then.

WHAT KIND OF RACE DO THEY WANT!?!?!?!!!!!!

Sorry, but Boston is great, but not great enough to exclude someone like Meb who runs for place and has a better shot at winning any non-paced marathon than anyone in the field! [quote]Wisco Fan wrote:

Redneck wrote:

If he just wanted to race, get a faster time and collect some money he would have gone to London.

I'm sure he could race there for free, too.

Are you a Boston Marathon employee? You sure sound like them.....

Please check the facts wrote:

What are you talking about? Meb has run PR after PR in the marathon as he ages. He is still running faster these days then he did in the marathon 8 years ago when debuted in NYC. In fact, he improved his 2006 Boston finish time in 2010. However way you look at it doesn't make sense that Boston would make such a stupid decision to not make meb an offer to run their race.

Hey, that's why you have built up and sustain a big city marathon and those clowns at JH never have. JH has a reputation for risky decisions and not going with their best options, this simply adds to it.

After seeing what they did to Meb, i personally will no longer watch or participate in this race. Goodbye Boston!

Doingnewyork wrote:

The BAA is really digging themselves a hole.

Very inconsistant to tell Meb that he is not good enough while shutting out Sub-2:30 runners to make room for 5hr runners. No problem with 5hr runners but don't call Boston the "Elite" marathon then.

WHAT KIND OF RACE DO THEY WANT!?!?!?!!!!!!

The BAA doesn't assemble the elite athlete field for the Boston Marathon. Didn't you see the note on the front page?

I can't believe the hysteria here. We have heard one side of the story from one interested party. Suddenly John Hancock is evil personified. We have no idea of the content or context of any discussions.

Meb has handed it to them so it is easier to go in silence then be forced to come out and address the Obvious "negligence" on their part and be slapped with a lawsuit. It serves in their best interest just to shut up and hope this thing goes away. Which by the way is smart on their part.

Someone kindly explain the difference in BAA and JH. They work together don't they? They are both accountable for each other and if not then the BAA should come out and apologize instead of point fingers.

What is to tell wrote:

Meb has handed it to them so it is easier to go in silence then be forced to come out and address the Obvious "negligence" on their part and be slapped with a lawsuit. It serves in their best interest just to shut up and hope this thing goes away. Which by the way is smart on their part.

Ridiculous. What sort of lawsuit would be slapped on them?

Typically corporations do not discuss private negotiations in the press. I see John Hancock's "no comment" being what would be expected in such a situation.

Maybe Hall didn't want Meb in the field??

Maybe they cost him another spring marathon by stringing him along which could be worth lots of $$$ in appearance and prize. Just saying that what does the guy stand to gain by coming out if it didn't go down that way. Surely, he has more to lose financially in Boston risking a chance not ever been invited there again which could easily be several hundred thousand during the rest of his career. Maybe he feels doing the right thing is a worthy fight. I promise you Boston will think twice before doing something like this again with any other world class athlete. Meb at least can walk with his head up high since he did the right thing. We should be praising this guy for his guts.

Meb talks to the San Diego Union-Tribune:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/10/boston-marathon-doesnt-invite-keflizighi/

Meb's response to not getting invited to run Boston is understandable. If you were in his shoes, wouldn't you be disappointed and a little upset too? I think that's what his website response reflects--he just doesn't really understand why they didn't invite him when he's qualified to compete.

But Meb is such a humble guy (even though it might not seem like it from his initial response) and he knows what it's like to overcome these obstacles. I mean, his book is even called "Run to Overcome." So I think he has a positive outlook toward this. Even if he doesn't run Boston, we may see greater things from Meb because of the other races he can do.

As to Meb & Ryan Hall being friends, he talks a little about that too in his book. So they're definitely friends. And if you're interested, he's giving away a copy of his book every day through March 31 on this site:

http://www.runtoovercome.com/index.php/sweepstakes/

We should all keep running to win no matter what race we're doing!

If that is the case then crazy for the organizers to agree. I was watching the videos on Meb's website and i go goose bumps watching the MEB Inspirational Video. Such an inspiring Fellow. Glad he is still in the sport.

http://marathonmeb.com/photo-gallery/video/

wejo wrote:

Rojo contacted the BAA who contacted John Hancock. Here is their response.

As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on athlete negotiations.

Thanks very much.

Best regards

Brian Carmichael

Director, Corporate Communications

John Hancock Financial Services

I bet Brian Carmichal is cashing a check larger than what they offer guys to run Boston. They have the money.

Whole thing sounds fishy. Who is Meb's agent?

www.williamsburgtrackclub.com

Meb will come out of this bigger and better. He always does and no doubt he will overcome this obstacle. He and his sponsors will go on to do great things in the sport even without Boston. Boston is the bigger looser.

My goodness, how many of the posts in this thread are by Meb or his camp?