Stoppit Smith wrote:
Let's evaluate this.
So, he had charisma...
Had he not died in a fiery wreck, it would be interesting how things played out.
But let's take a look at some names that died in tragic events
Drazen Petrovic
Roberto Clemente
Pat Tillman
Then there's Prefontaine.
Petrovic died in an accident that wasn't his fault.
Clemente died in a plane crash heroically bringing needed supplies to Puerto Rico.
Tillman died serving the United States.
For Prefontaine to be at a .16, he would have had to have been even worse when he started driving, which would mean willingly picking up the keys when drunk.
Of all four of those names, the only one that had full responsibility for the decision was Prefontaine.
And let us be clear that if Prefontaine had not run for Phil Knight, the race would not necessarily have had his name. Only because Prefontaine was backed by Knight and Nike..AND He ran for U of O in Eugene...AND he died in Eugene..is that name on that race.
If the Pre Classic were to be held anywhere but Eugene, it would make no sense.
It's not because he was a great man.
Lets see:
He did not die in a fiery wreck and would have survived unscathed, had he been wearing his seat belt.
Comparing deaths is bizarre.
He had only been driving for about 15 minutes so there had been no significant change in his blood alcohol level.
At the time of his death,, Pre was living in a trailer and working part-time so if he was running for Nike, they weren't paying him much.
I don't know if was a great man or not, but just about every HSer running when he was alive, idolized him.
Were you a runner when he was still alive? If you were, there is no way you would be posting this stuff.