a frown on letsrun.com

yea they start that dumbass poll, but delete a thread about something that is obvious to the whole international track community--- Suzy has a great ASS!

I agree brother. Here's a little snippet I had in another thread:

"Man, as far as the Steve Holman comments go, all I can say is that it must suck to have been an elite racer and then get old (he is only 32 though). Everyone, no matter how good they were is at some point called a WASHED UP has been (see Frank Shorter and Alberto Salazar) even if they have recognized they don't have it anymore and then retired. Sure seems unfair to me."

It is unfair to use that term I think. At least though Kennedy was good enough at some point to now be called "washed up". Don't think the brojos ever were good enough to ever get that label someday.

Agreed. He may be past his best days, but he deserves more respect than what is being given.

He's a genuinely nice guy, every time I've talked to him. He smiles and waves back if you happen to see him on the trails around here. He's not shy about giving advice in his store. He's been a major plus for the running community here in Indy.

If he were an ass, I wouldn't object. However, he has always seemed to carry himself with class - and thus deserves better.

Hopefully he'll get through this injury laden period and run a sweet 10k or marathon some day soon.

I agree with you Indy Runner. Bob's resume speaks for itself. He seems to be a stand up guy from everything that I've read and people that I've talked to. He carried middle distance running through the early to mid 90's and placed a very respectable 5th in the 5000m at the Atlanta Olympics. I believe it was 5th, I may be wrong about that. But he is a tremendous talent, and to say he is washed up because he is getting older and his better days may be behind him his ludicrous. He's had some bad luck the past few years with the car wreck, thyroid problems, and some others injuries he's had, but he is still pretty dog gone good.

I think we need to spend more time building people up and not trying to tear people down. He's represented this sport well and needs to be commended for that.

Oh well, I guess I"ve said enough.

I agree with the original post. I don't think it's necessarily a bad question - maybe the responses will get BK all fired up! - but it is a bit unfair to suggest he's "washed up".

It's a measure of the level of excellence that it takes to be good at this sport that someone who's 32 can be considered past his prime. But I think BK could, should and can come back strong. Let's see, FASTEST AMERICAN EVER IN 5K, I think Bob can hold his head high wherever, whenever and to whomever.

Fact: A 'washed up' Bob Kennedy will run faster than 95+% of the posters on this board including those who designed a negatively biased poll against him. I wish I could be that 'washed up'.

I haven't had to post in a while because my scientific expertise hasn't been needed, but now it is.

The poll is indeed unfair as some of you have pointed out, and here's why:

We are given just two choices in the poll. He is either washed up, or ready to come back and surprise. There are so many other possibilities that fall between those two extremes that it is amazing. This is a scientifically invalid poll. I for example, do not believe that Kennedy is washed up (a pjorative term if I've ever heard one), and yet I don't think he will surprise either. I think he will come back from his injury and do very very well, but that will not surprise me. It is what I expect. He has said he is going to go for the AR in the 10,000. If he gets it I won't be surprised. I'll be impressed with him even more than I already am, but I will not be surprised.

The problem with the second question in the poll is that it has two conditions. It is common for a poll voter to go with the question with the lesser number of conditions if they aren't 100% leaning toward either one. In this case, this poll was skewed against Kennedy not only because of the number of conditions in the second question but also because of the way the question is asked, it initmates that it would indeed be a surprise if Kennedy were to return to form. So, either the poll creator knew what he was doing and wanted a poll that was skewed that way, or they just don't know how to create a valid poll. I vote for the latter. A poll of this nature must be equal with conditions on both sides. A proper poll (although I object to the term "washed up") would be:

1 - Is Kennedy washed up?

2 - Is Kennedy not washed up?

That's "pejorative".

Climb the mountain.

Bob Kennedy: One more guy who doesn't have to prove jack-$hit.

Agreed.

I personally think BK is the greatest runner from the US. He made a bold statement that the top road racers in the US would get humiliated in European track. When BK runs a road race in the US, he runs like he is from the same trailer park as "winner". Maybe he does have something to prove.

Here's an alternative that I think would get the point across more respectfully.

Are Bob Kennedy's major PRs:

1) In the past

2) In the future

This may still be kind of harsh but at least it still leaves the possibility that he could run well again, just might not PR. Just thought I'd toss this out there.

Why the slam on me Mr. Mayes?

Again I ask.

I think you guys are unnecessarily giving the Johnsons a hard time. They provide a great service and in return they get a bunch of whiners that do not appreciate what they do. It was not at you specifically, but the uselessness of this thread. Do you think that BK has something to prove on the roads after his statement?

I appreciate the site and the effort they put into it. I don't appreciate the way they reffered to the fastest American distance runner of all time as being washed up. It is a poor choice of words.

Agreed. We never said I didn't like the site. Hopefully suggestions from me and you, runskinnyethan, will help the brojos (actually I think it's just wejo now) make a better site. If you are going to do anything in life that puts you in the spotlight, you should be aware that some people will criticize something about what you've done. You need to have some stones. Randy Mayes, I think wejo can handle a little criticism.