LETSRUN DISCUSSION: athletes becoming US citizens late do you support them?

I don't embrace Collen DeReuck anymore than I do these two.

Let the masses speak their true feelings on the subject. Reason in other comments the athletes weren't developed here or couldn't follow them like US athletes. I beg to differ with Mebrahtom, Abdiraham, and Bernard how could you not follow any of those three for over a decade when they've lived and trained in the US?!

You're a dick, a troll, and an idiot.

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps Frank Shorter is American!

Ohhenry wrote:

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps Frank Shorter is American!

Shorter is native born according to the constitution.

I agree with many points Vipam but not all of them. Its surprising to see the first opposing comment resorted to name calling instead of meaningful opposition!

Oui!

malmo wrote:

ps Frank Shorter is American!

Shorter is native born according to the constitution.[/quote] Actually the Constitution itself explicitly say that Shorter is a natural born citizen -- leave that to federal statute, title 8, section 1401 of US code.

This is a pointless discussion that's already been hashed out numerous times here and always with negative outcome. People will always feel the way they want to feel, all humans hold irrational beliefs and no message board dork is going to dissuade anyone else from it.

true. we would all celebrate if mottram became american. why???

because he didnt come from the country that has been a huge rival for us and all other countries for the past decade.

430miler

Rivalary doesn't seems to be the reason moreso than skin color. The rivals that were between Kenya and Americans were mostly in the 70's and early 80's. The typical poster here isn't old enough to have extensive knowledge of those events enough to form soley rivalary based opinions.

In the USA, almost all of us are immigrants. The only people who are truly "American" are Native Americans.

I think, in running, what sets foreign runners apart is high school. While the USA is putting all runners through similar programs from age 14-19, other countries are developing special programs for talented individuals. In africa, 15 year olds are training with elites in their twenties. High school IS the disadvantage America has when it comes to running. During our high school years, the rest of the world stretches a gap between us, which only a select talented few manage to bridge.

I would consider someone an american runner if they went to high school in the USA, regardless of their nationality. Why does nationality matter in the USA anyway? everyone can trace their roots to somewhere outside of america. where do you draw the line between american and foreign?

I follow T&F no matter what country is on the singlet. Athletic excellence is just that and knows no political bounds. I have favorite athletes and many are not USA citizens.

Do I dismiss the raw power and speed of Murofushi,the grace of Isinbayeva,do I avoid the wonder of Defar and Dibaba floating effortlessly around the track at speeds that defy logic,because the do not wear a USA singlet-

No not one bit.

In my youth Bannister was lauded as a MAN breaking a barrier not because he was a Brit but because he excelled at sport. I looked forward to those events where the best in the world would gather to do battle on the boards of that smokefilled place on 50th Street. May the best man win and to him the wreath.

To limit my enjoyment of the sport because of race color ethnic background or difficulty pronouncing a name is idiocy to the nth degree.

My America is built on ideals like this:

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

and like this

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

Shame on you if it's not your America too.

Tom Hyland

Best post I've read on this board. Thanks.

true. and once again, its not a racial issue. its a nationality issue.

people see the name "meb" or "lagat" in race results and see that he's run a fast time. they praise him. but all of the controvery starts when they see him labeled as an american.

i want as many points for team USA as we get. but as coach mark wetmore recently stated in his flocast interview. "he has more pride in the american-born and raised runners" these runners were born and raised here, and chose running (or running chose them) to be their sport. they didnt immigrate to this country for the sole purpose of running attributes, and they have lived under the same american standards and circumstances that you and i live on a daily basis.

we (americans) are always going to have more pride in our true citizens. born and raised. just kenya is always going to have more pride in their true citizens. born and raised. (not that any other country has these immigration issues like america does, but you have to realize that america has evolved into the country of immigrants)

you obviously don't know anything about Keflezighi, definitely a TRUE american, whose family came here because of ethiopia's war on his birth nation, eritrea. he didn't run until he came to america.

so you're a 'true' american by accident of birth, while someone who chooses to become an american (a much tougher standard, since i doubt you, like most 'americans' would be able to pass the test) is not?

guess you're welcome to your opinion -- no matter how ill-informed, ignorant, and simple-minded.

Thank You for a great post! To the poster (honestly) I agree Meb and Abdi are definitely products of USA and Bernard Lagat is about as close as you can get he developed into a world beater here in the USA!

As far as Coach Wetmore I don't think he downgrades Bernard, Meb, or Abdi for becoming USA athletes like some posters. Would he be proud of Craig Mottram becoming a US citizen like alot of posters- no I don't think so!

I agree with Wineturtle in that I would be proud of any clean American who does well in athletics and thats the true American Way!

Vipam I used to have respect for you but coming on here and whining about race you're no better than most others on this board. Come on. You REALLY think people would embrace Mottram as an American, well get the f out.

I'm sure your just a poster who opposes me all the time with your new posting name and don't mean that first statement at all. If you used to respect me (means your a frequent poster/reader as I have NOT posted much as in the past until today) what name do you normally post under because I don't see kartelite in any archives???