HALL-2:08.24

Lets see if you were a REAL-American you'd know not to end a sentence in a preposition like "for", thats extremely UN-American grammar. If you were a REAL-American you'd know there werent American Record's in the 1870's, nor, more importantly, were there slaves in the 1870's. Get your facts straight and stop the liberal PC bullsh*t.

Agreed. The FIFA system makes sense.

I suspect that it wasn't so simple as simply delaying his oath.

Actually, the system of national teams or representation in sports makes little sense at all anymore.

I know that's the fashionable argument at the moment but why don't you try telling that to these people:

bobby e. wrote:

Thank you. Personally, I like the FIFA system, and I think that Khannouchi should have been allowed to represent the US, but Lagat should not have.

I would have had no problem with Lagat receiving US citizenship while still running for Kenya. However, I understand Kenya's athletics association would not allow this.

It's not the KAA. Kenya doesn't allow dual citizenships. Since Lagat was a US citizen in Athens, he was not a Kenyan citizen. Lagat kept Paul Korir out of the Athens Games spot he rightfully earned.

2004 Olympic Trials

1500m:

1. 3:35.4 Isaac Songok, Individual

2. 3:35.7 Bernard Lagat, Individual

3. 3:36.0 Timothy Kiptanui, Individual

4. 3:36.1 Paul Korir, Individual

5. 3:37.0 Alex Kipchirchir, Individual

I know you think that's clever, but apparently you haven't considered that everyone in that photo cheers just as vigorously for a pro team, and not the same one for everyone, in the time span between World Cups. This is a first, though, I've never seen anyone desperate enough to try to promote hooliganish soccer fans as a defense for anything.

Of course I've considered it. I've been reading about the "anachronism of national teams" for the past 10 years. All I'm saying is that national teams are far from an anachronism. Less popular than in years past? Somewhat. A little more muddled in a world of increasingly fluid borders? Sure.

An anachronism? Not by a very, very long shot.

By the way, nobody in that photo was even remotely a hooligan and national team supporters are far less hooliganish than their pro team counterparts.

I don't think Hall has the American Record. KK has the record by over 3 minutes

reese wrote:

I don't think Hall has the American Record. KK has the record by over 3 minutes

LESS THAN 3 minutes.

COACH DOS wrote:

AMERICAN RUNNING IS BORN AGAIN. A REAL AMERICAN RUNNING THIS WELL, WOW, GREAT JOB!!

Is Khannouchi not a real American because he immigrated? I thought America was a country of immigrants. Please do not be a bigot.

Now just a freaking minute. Remember that the Flora Marathon is run in London. London is in England. England uses the metric system. So Hall ran a metric 2:08:24. What does that convert to in english time?

MR metric wrote:

Now just a freaking minute. Remember that the Flora Marathon is run in London. London is in England. England uses the metric system. So Hall ran a metric 2:08:24. What does that convert to in english time?

Ouch. You should really leave the comedy to the professionals.

I think he's referencing Jim Crow laws which limited basic rights/services, by not granting ful and equal protection under the law to those who parents/grandparents had been slaves.

Everyone can make a big deal of racial undertones, East African genetic predisposition to running, and "American born" records, but Hall's run should quiet the controversy, not stir it up. Right now, America has a stable of marathoners who were born and raised in the country (Hall), immigrated in at a young age but still went through the American distance program (Meb and Abdi), and those who became US citizens only after they had great marathoning success (KK). The four have proved that running success is not predetermined by birth, but by smart, hard training. THAT is truly American, because each performance pushes the others to reach for higher and higher goals.

good post. Moral of the story if Hall runs remotley like that in Bejing he will scare the hell out of a piece of metal. That London field was tougher than any Olympic field, no matter waht you say about racisim the cold hard facts is the biggest racing lure for africans is money to escape poverty the olympics while undoubtedly tough is for already affluent african marathoners.

We know that once you get caucasian runner, you will thrown out meb, lagat or kanuchi.

disgusting Yankess. look their puking words

"Today, Ryan Hall's 2:08:24 would be the true American Born New American Record"

Mesfin wrote:

We know that once you get caucasian runner, you will thrown out meb, lagat or kanuchi.

disgusting Yankess. look their puking words

"Today, Ryan Hall's 2:08:24 would be the true American Born New American Record"

Yep Mesfin, it takes an Ethiopian to show the world how to get on with your brothers, just ask an Eritraen.

or maybe simply Abdi and Meb as to why they got US citizenship

take the whole barnyard out your eye before even considering others

I am not taking sides on the whole issue. I do however NOW understand why Meb ( a silver medalist) is not worth as much $$$ to a sponsor as Hall. Much of our society views them as different ( I did not say they are different, just viewed that way ).