Please consider signing petition asking Louis Luchini to Remove Himself from Olympic consideration

Why don't you go back and review Bolota's recent racing history:

In the last 2 months he has had 2 DNFs and a 14:04 for 20th place (otherwise known as DFL).

Bolota MIGHT not be the best candidate either...

ZZrunZZ wrote:

LL should not be penalized for some dumb ass system that has been in place for years and years. Instead of picking on the athletes perhaps you should channel you lame ass efforts into changing the system FOR THE NEXT TRIALS in 2008.

God, get a friggin life.

um, it has not been in place for years and years. if the system from 2000 were in place now, bolota would go to the olympics if he hit the A std. lane would go if he hit the A std and either broe or bolota did not.

this is why there is so much confusion. no one realized this system was in place until the beginning of the trials. some say that is usatf's fault, perhaps it is actually the fault of the athletes or the coaches, who knows. the point is that it is a bit strange, and if louis is not planning a serious attempt at the A std, why not let someone else do so? same goes for marla runyan in the 1500.

(as i have pointed out elsewhere, i don't agree with the wording of the petition, and with using a petition as the means, but i do agree with the sentiment, and it should be expanded to include torres as well. they have every right to say "no, i want to give it a shot, those are the rules and they benefit me," but i see no harm in calling the situation to their attention.)

i also wanted to say that it seems like some people posting on this thread are under the impression that rojo is asking louis to give up a spot on the olympic team. that is not the case. what is at issue is one (or two if you include torres) of the four nominating slots that allow a runner to pursue the A std. so again, the relevant question to louis is: "are you planning to go after the A std?" if yes, then he has a "right" under the current rules to keep his spot. but if he knows in his heart that 13:21.5 or so is out of his league within the next 3 weeks, then maybe he will want to give Bolota a shot instead.

>>>>Whose responsibility is it to know what the system says? How about the athlete's???? To blame it on anyone else is a cop out. Regardless of how long the system has been in place the fact remains, ROJO's means of addressing this issue with LL is chickenshit. A classic case of killing a mosquito with a sledgehammer. How about doing it in a private phone call or email.How about including Amy Rudolph in the list of athlete's potentially screwed by the "system"????? It is what it is and it's up to the athlete who is pursuing a life long dream to do their homework and get the job done under the existing "system". Let's see some outrage when Marion Jones makes it into the 100m sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Robert could have written "given our byzantine olympic selection process, olympic B qualifiers who do not think they'll be able to reach the A standard should consider standing aside to let others with a better shot try to reach it. Some events where this might be appropriate include the mens 5k.... In that event, Louis Luchini . . ."

Stating an opinion like that is welcome.

Singling out Luchini for a column was a low-class move.

Starting a petition to try to get a person to make an entirely personal decision the way that you think he should is just indefensible.

Petition the government over an issue that concerns you. Petition your school to get a new cross country coach (take note, Cornellians). Petition your Mayor to get the trash collected more often.

Do NOT petition your neighbor to paint his house a certain color. Do NOT petition a guy to date your sister instead of his girlfriend. Do NOT petition a person who is going to the olympics to give up his spot just because you think you know better.

Wejo - what was "presumptuous" was not Rojo having stated an opinion. What was presumptuous was starting a Petition to exert pressure on Luchini to make his decision the way that Robert thought it should be made. That's what petitions do, and it is completely inappropriate for a complete stranger to try to influence such a personal decision.

That it was made so public is just insult to injury.

Hold on, why Rojo have to do vote buying. you see this is why i dont like politician. Rojo stop using propaganda statements like this. If your friend would have gone for the time none of this would have to come up. Men put it to rest

get a life wrote:

You guys need to get a life.

You act like Rojo went out and committed some crime.

Many of you agree with him.

Well, as far as many agreeing with Rojo on this one, all I have to say is that there are a lot of dumbasses out there.

1) Rojo - man, who would have thought that someone could bring that hate hammer on themselves more than I could? Just in case you haven't gotten it yet, you're wrong here brother. I have renewed faith in the Letsrun.com posters.

2) Many an athlete has run a great race when all was not going well. Who's to say (other than Luchini himself) that he can't do it? While I'm the first to trumpet genes over anything else, ONE of the things that separates the good from the great is the belief that you CAN do it even when the odds are against you. To quote the often-quoted Dylan Thomas, "...Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Luchini should put everything he has into attempting if that is his dream.

Rojo, like your site and all, but...man, just can't get behind you on this one.

Bump

Rojo,

You need to remove your petition, apologize to Luchini

and make peace with the people you have pissed off on

this board, NOW? I heard it myself about BA's lack of

interest on pursuing the A-Standard on NBC. He simply

put it like this "who cares” Why in the world are you

petitioning for the guy who doesn't care about having

the A-Standard at the expense of Luchini who is

pursuing it earnestly.

By posting that, you lost it and lost us too in the process. You can redeem yourself from your indiscretion by rescinding the petition and apologize to the Luchini's. That is an honorable thing to do.

Yalie, it's clear from your inferior running programs that you're just jealous of Stanford. You shame your school by posting so ignorantly.

And everyone is equally entitled to their dreams. Read your comment over and see how stupid you sound.

You can try to paint it another color but your idea is crap. You should be emabarressed. You're done. What a weak and pathetic gesture. Just shut up and apologize.

Rather than admit a mistake, the brothers Johnson should emulate their hero, G. Bush and send all those that criticize to a virtual Guantanamo - ban them!

PS. And why don't you get off Bolota's nuts a little bit....I don't think there is room for both of you in his stupid little speedsuit.

enough of this discussion, go to the rojo penance thread. time to put our energy into deciding what rojo should do to make up for this stupidity.

LET'S RUN.COM - Where Your Dreams Become Reality. Unless we decide to start a petition to pressure you to give up that dream because it would put someone we like better on the team. But, make no mistake, this pressure has nothing to do with nepotistic attitudes or lamentations about failing to reach our dreams as we are not the bitter or vindictive type. It's for the good of the sport. Seriously. Stop laughing damn it! We are the future of track and field!! We told you to stop laughing!!! Swear to God we will ban you!!! Look - when we run the sport someday your children will be banned and then you will be sorry!!!

The arrogance and audicity of Rojo is absolutely amazing. But what is even more amazing is he doesn't get what he did wrong. My God, what a fool!

you're right.

what's pissing me off now is that there isn't an apology.

Ivy League boys don't apologize, they debate. . .

Then they justify, then they rationalize, then they parse words. . .

To wit; ". . .it depends on what the definiton of is, is. . ."

The Johnsons are proving to be just that, a couple of johnsons.

Please everyone stop your bitching its getting kinda old....oh wait i know.....now you can make fun of me for making this post.....lame asses