Adam Goucher Quote?

I've met Adam and know him through friends of friends. He's not a bad guy. I rather suspect that some of his comments were probably a reaction to the many who thought his appeal into the 2008 trials in the 10,000 to be unseemly and unworthy. And I don't blame him. He appealed per proper protocol, and that the USATF appeals committee "bent" the rules to accommodate him isn't his fault. He clearly showed in that race that he was, in fact, a contender, and might've even made the team had Rupp put the hammer down earlier and dropped Torres, who likely would've been broken and dropped back to the chase pack, in my opinion. Adam took a lot of flack for that whole episode.

Nonetheless, his coments about flipping the naysayers the bird are rather juvenile, regardless of whether or not this is just an "image" and "branding" thing (ectomorphic, pale distance runners are just never going to have "street cred," no matter how hard they try, and they shouldn't seek it anyway). He lost a modicum of respect from me with those comments, whether they were taken out of context or not. In fact, I don't know what's more ridiculous - those words or Kara's needing to tell the world that an NBA player sought her phone number in the Olympic Village, as though that's an anomaly and a privilege.

BUT, I do wish them both well and wouldn't count either of them out. A healthy Adam Goucher is a beast, but he's yet to prove that he can contend on a world class level at the longer distances.

What happened at the 2008 olympic trials with him was completely unethical. At the minimum, he chose to go along with it (and therefore condoned it). This is an example of putting athletics above proper ethics. Additionally, saying he is going to give the middle finger when he crosses the finish line is very much not a trait of what I believe epitomizes a champion.

And, if he didn't care what certain people thought of him, why would he need to give them this obscene gesture? I believe it is because he does indeed care very much what people think of "Adam Goucher".

Ok, I don't want to open up this pandora's box again... only suggested it as a possible protagonist for him. Appealing to a special USATF committee as a former US champion was well within the criteria and rules set forth by the governing body. That the USATF may have committed an ethical breach to accommodate an extra runner is on them. BUT, as I already stated, if I were a member of that committee, I would likely have ruled the same way. It would've been different if the 25th runner had been excluded because of Adam, but he wasn't.

Pretty much agree with the rest.

5er wrote:

And what is with the language Goucher uses? Does he really have to curse through the whole thing?

I don't think Adam has ever been confused for being classy.

Sagarin wrote:

He clearly showed in that race that he was, in fact, a contender

If by "contender" you mean "pretender," then yeah, you're right.

Taking a favor that wasn't available to runners with faster times condones giving that favor. You either believe in fair play or you succumb to situational ethics and getting ahead at all costs. Seems to me that Al and Phil probably told Adam that he had to run in the final of those events at the OT and try to make the team to keep his income level. Adam made the first ethical compromise when he sold out to Nike and Al in the first place and set himself up for more ethical compromise down the line as a result. Probably a lesson that steered Barringer and her agent away from Nike.

Sagarin wrote:

Ok, I don't want to open up this pandora's box again... only suggested it as a possible protagonist for him. Appealing to a special USATF committee as a former US champion was well within the criteria and rules set forth by the governing body. That the USATF may have committed an ethical breach to accommodate an extra runner is on them. BUT, as I already stated, if I were a member of that committee, I would likely have ruled the same way. It would've been different if the 25th runner had been excluded because of Adam, but he wasn't.

Pretty much agree with the rest.

I hope he makes the Olympic team. That said, I don't think I'd like the guy if I met him. I remember in "Running With the Buffaloes" he felt disrespected because some massage therapist in Boulder didn't know who he was. Goucher said, "Doesn't he know who I am?"

No, he doesn't, and neither does most of the world. Just run. A lot of runners over-inflate their worth. The average person and even die-hard sports fan has no clue who Goucher is, or for that matter Rupp, Lagat, Bekkele, etc.

icecold2 wrote:

Letsrun has its favourites of who is likes to promote and has for years.

How about some new people guys? Goucher has had a good career but there is no need for him to be on the headlines until he does something impressive again.

BOO,you suck...why do we have this tendency to put older runner out to pasture...why is a debate about one of the greatest collegians (I am not a fan but its makes it no less true)wanting to make one final run a bad thing (I'm guessing at it being a final run)???

Because he's been a footnote, at best, for the past few years?

There

w.wallace. wrote:

I think this comeback attempt is awesome. And I like the quote. Goucher is turning into the badass of american distance running.

There\'s no such thing as a badass of running this isn\'t the NFL where guys can make up for poor performance with their mouths. Goucher\'s just being a cocky douche i want meb hall and ritz to whoop his ass so hard he finally shuts up for good

not a douche wrote:

He does have a life...its running. Hes a PROFESSIONAL RUNNER. So is his wife. His life is the Oregon Project. The reason you only run for health and fitness is cos you aren't fast enough to be a professional. Quit sippin' on your haterade brah.

I like his attitude but I just don't think he'll make the top 3. Meb, Hall, Abdi, Gotcher, Jorge Torres (he'll beat drunk Torres), Carney, Arciniaga, the list goes on. He is leaving the 5k because the wheels are gone, the 10k he knows he won't make it since Galen beats the shit out of him in training all the time. Its an inevitable, unenviable decision to move to the marathon. Truth is, he will be hard pressed to be top 6 in 10k or marathon. He sounds really pissed off which amuses me. Good luck, now with a Target on your back.

I don't understand why he doesn't go for the 10k?

He will have to contend with Rupp, Nelson, and who? Derrick? Puskedra? Abdi? Torres? Carney? He can beat all of those guys.

He won't beat Meb, Ritz, Hall, or the 2 or 3 random other guys who have phenomenal days, in the marathon (guys like Gotcher, Rohat, Lemkuhle, etc).

That's the thinG about the track. Some 28:15 guy isn't going to pop a 27:20 to make the team, because he simply isn't talented enough.

But a 2:15 marathoner surely can pop a 2:11 and make it.

Goucher has the track credentials to compete with nearly everyone (save Ritz, Rupp, Teg, and maybe Solinsky and Jager.... simply because of their younger legs).

He should stick to Rupp in training for the next 2 years and go for the 10k. Too many variables in the marathon.

OMG just let me post wrote:

Image:

http://i48.tinypic.com/161nnmt.jpg

This is pretty much my favorite gif in the history of the internet. Glad to see it finds its way into pretty much every board I post on.

lay off of goucher. hes a beast and so is his wife, lets leave it at that.

Anyone on this thread still think Goucher will compete at the 2012 Olympic Trials? lol

Lazy elites wrote:

Anyone on this thread still think Goucher will compete at the 2012 Olympic Trials? lol

Kara is a shoe-in.

Adam is so much better than you'll ever be he could roll out of bed 15 years from now when he is in his 50s, and beat you in your prime and on the best day of your life.

So shut the f*** up.

Adam Goucher = A never was.

Deer Adam Goucher...