Alan Abrahamson's latest column calls out Wejo and any fans who worship Steve Prefontaine and/or Keira D'Amato

You can't hide from Facebook and Social Media anymore. Indian run motels have integrated staffs now. Korean owned liquor stores have black clerks mow. Chinese restaurants have blonde waitresses and Mexican cooks. Hollywood commercial are full of people of color. Highly visible Sports Federations and media are under severe scrutiny now to integrate their personnel. Those who refuse are shamed endlessly in twitter, facebook, instagram, etc. It's a new world we live in and we're never going back, never, ever.

A. Moran wrote:

Please show me proof that White athletes get more coverage here.

Looking at the names visible on the front page today:

Brazier, Obiri, Coleman, Jacobs, Sumner, The Jackson's (Bershawn+Shawnti), Mu , Rudisha, McLaughlin, Gorriaran, Mahomes

Hocker, Ritz, Crouser, Engels, Purrier, Tanner, Willis (Prefontaine & D'Amato if you want to include the subjects of the article)

Not the proof you were asking for.

Alan made a career off a Michael Phelps ghostwrite.

How dare he feed into the cult of the white savior, Michael Phelps, rather than giving attention to athletes of color who might deserve it?

/s but my point remains. Hypocrite.

rojo wrote:

He seemingly ties the worship of Pre to unconscious racism: "To be even more direct: this fetishizing, this hagiography, underscores the race and class problems that bedevil track and field. "

.

It follows that celebrating any Caucasian person or their accomplishments underscores the race and class problems that bedevil society.

If you've ever had a poster of Elvis, Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, Justin Beiber, James Dean, etc. you're part of the problem.

It's the same criteria for all of us.

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women writers?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women editors?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women timing crew?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women track crew?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women video crew?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women photography crew?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women managers?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women coaches?

How many blacks/Hispanics/Women Board members?

We know already from Social Media.

rojo wrote:

He seemingly ties the worship of Pre to unconscious racism: "To be even more direct: this fetishizing, this hagiography, underscores the race and class problems that bedevil track and field. "

.

I really think it gets down to AA, having looked at his new words for the day news feed, wanted to prove he could use "fetishizing" and "hagiography" correctly in a sentence.

"the best american runner"

global medals where...exactly? global records where? Other people were doing more at different distances and disciplines all over the place. People just want a reason to worship the angry "little guy" that embodies the white working-class identity those in the managerial class like you lust over. When's the last time you worked with your hands for less than $15/hour wejo? how many centuries has it been?

I think most people think you and your brother are racist because of the amount of racist garbage that you have splattered all over your life's work.

Will You Please wrote:

I'd be okay with not reading anything more about Pre ever. On Facebook in particular, the idolatry is excessive. And not enlightening.

exactly.

The guy was talented, and never seemed to learn from his racing.

Herb Elliot retired unbeaten at 22. They should be singing about him.

I am obviously a foreign born person. I saw Pre race in Munich. I never understood the hype.

rojo wrote:

He calls out Wejo for calling Keira D'Amato's AR as the coolest track and field story of the century.

Alan obviously hasn't realized that Letsrun calls something the greatest or coolest or most epic five times a week. Weldon's claim about D'Amato was relatively tame, as things are usually said to be the greatest or coolest ever.

D'Amato's record was soooo under reported....this guy is conjuring up a cat. Carl Lewis doped. That is why there is no meet named after him. 7 out of 8 doped except King Carl in the 1988 final?? Get outta here! Seriously.

And reporting on Trans people should not be a thing. USATF or IAAF are the responsible ones (currently) for the international track scene. Blame them, not the Brojos.

The message boards are another story, but there is only so much the Mods can do....

This Abrahmson is a pretentious blowhard, trying to endear himself to the woke crowd with the hopes of being liked. His reaching for a story shows an ineptitude and uncreativeness that unfortunately is rampant in this world. And like a fool, I have fallen for it and given him the pittances of attention he so craves.

okcorralleye wrote:

Will You Please wrote:

I'd be okay with not reading anything more about Pre ever. On Facebook in particular, the idolatry is excessive. And not enlightening.

exactly.

The guy was talented, and never seemed to learn from his racing.

Herb Elliot retired unbeaten at 22. They should be singing about him.

I am obviously a foreign born person. I saw Pre race in Munich. I never understood the hype.

He ran an incredible race in Munich. Last two laps were electric. Ran to win and left it all on the track

I no longer take any argument seriously that states that a problem is "unconscious racism." People love Pre for what his spirit represents. Which is an unmatched work ethic, bodily sacrifice, and always giving your absolute best.

The best part is Alan is gonna read this all from his iPad in Hermosa.

D'Amato's story is a very unlikely one. Is it more unlikely that a 29 year old Kenyan farmer would break the world marathon record in 2:02:57 after starting running only at age 24? There are plenty of great stories out there. D'Amato's is good but who knows whose is the best? There are plenty of candidates.

rojo wrote:

He calls out Wejo for calling Keira D'Amato's AR as the coolest track and field story of the century.

Of course he did, this was a ridiculous claim, and Wejo meant it

I know Alan and he has fun trolling wealthy fanboi wannabes. No harm. No foul. It's click bait.