Looks like Wariner is going to be OK after all, as he clocked a 43.98 at Bislett. There has been a lot of talk on these boards second guessing his decision to leave coach Hart. Hopefully, this performance will lay to rest some of the speculation that he is ruining his career. I think it is a bit short sighted to assume (1) the official story is the only reason why he changed coaches and (2) that loyalty to a coach should exceed your own best interests (were we to extend that argument to its logical conclusion, we would all still be living with our parents). Wariner is an amazingly gifted athlete (I saw his breakout relay leg at the Sun Angle Classic - it was amazing and given the number of 400 meter runners that have passed through Baylor it was not all coaching). This performance shows he is well on his way to representing USA at Beijing. I would think this should at least earn him a thumbs up in the People magazine of running known around here as the week that was.
Wariner 43.98 at Bislett
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If it looks like chicken, smells like chicken, and tastes like chicken, but Wariner says that it is beef, then it is f***ing beef.
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There is no doubt from anyone that Wariner's a gifted runner and a poll of cynics would still tally a 99% probability of him representing the USA in Beijing.
What gets me, and I assume others, is that he comes off as a total jerk and the episode with his Hart does nothing to dissuade. For the life of me, I can't understand why he doesn't get Michael Phelps type hype. He is the Great White Hope but nobody (NOBODY) outside the track and field world knows who he is, and he's doing his best to further alienate within this audience.
I love watching his races, especially his finish and hope takes down Michael Johnson's record. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire, and I believe he has a lot of growing up to do. He's got the world by the tail if he wants it and it'd be terrific for the sport. -
Loop guy is obviously out of the loop. Who says he is a jerk? No one that I know of.
The fact that the Johnson Bros take it as a personal offense that he changed coaches (sorry ROJO) but you and his ex-coach are not on the same level by any means. So it wasn't and shouldn't be a personal affront to you.
Time to get back on the bandwagon and root for him to bring home another gold. You guys can put aside personal (believed) affronts and do that, can't you?
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I totally agree. Who knows what other reasons why Wariner and his coach had to go separate ways. Lets all cheer for him to bring home an Olympic Gold!
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hes a punk and i could take him!
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Loop Guy # ! wrote:
Loop guy is obviously out of the loop. Who says he is a jerk? No one that I know of.
fs
Your loop of people must be very small.
Problem is, the perception is out there but, then again, it didn't stop his agent from getting endorsements. Until Merritt last week, most would still think that the gold has Wariner's name on it thus being a sure hit for advertisers. But, where are they?
Truth is, his people HAVE BEEN approached and turned down those endorsements. The only reason I could think of was if they felt the pressure would increase. I doubt that is the reason because they claim to have stayed out of the issue with Hart, but pressure schmessure they had big bucks. -
Loop Guy wrote:
For the life of me, I can't understand why he doesn't get Michael Phelps type hype.
It might be because Michael Phelps is quite possibly the best swimmer of all time, while Wariner doesn't even have an American Record to his name. -
Moes Tavern wrote:
Truth is, his people HAVE BEEN approached and turned down those endorsements. The only reason I could think of was if they felt the pressure would increase. I doubt that is the reason because they claim to have stayed out of the issue with Hart, but pressure schmessure they had big bucks.
Simply untrue. You are out of the loop while pretending to be an insider. -
I've met him, and he came across as a jerk. I still root for the guy, but I wouldn't go have drinks w/ him.
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cool dude wrote:
... Lets all cheer for him to bring home an Olympic Gold!
Uhh...Lets not forget that we want to cheer for an AMERICAN to bring home the Olympic Gold. Anyone heard of LaShawn Merritt?? Go USA!! -
Swimmer wrote:
Loop Guy wrote:
For the life of me, I can't understand why he doesn't get Michael Phelps type hype.
It might be because Michael Phelps is quite possibly the best swimmer of all time, while Wariner doesn't even have an American Record to his name.
I think being the third fastest 400m runner in history before the age of 24 is right up there. -
It's because Jeremy just doesn't have much of a personality. He's a horrible interview on TV . . . doesn't smile, doesn't give interesting answers, doesn't look like he enjoys what he's doing, wears those cocky glasses, doesn't show positive emotion. He's just flat.
He could change, and I hope he will. Michael certainly wasn't a colorful personality, but he got better at it over time. -
I think it helps Phelps that a swimmer has many events to do and gets less fatigued. Also, with all the skinsuits coming out they look like the best ever. Maybe, maybe not. Runners technology hasn't exploded in the last 15 years.
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Phelps is in a different league. Poor example.
I am a track fan and hope Wariner wins the 400 and is a member of the 4 x 400 but Phelps is a god in his sport. -
maybe its because the two AR he is capable of achieving are also the WRs.
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other than michael johnson, has there been as consistently brilliant a 400m runner as wariner ever? and his career has a long way to go.
wariner comes off as relatively humble and self-effacing in that interview posted from before berlin. -
SATCH thinks La SHAWN is faster than cool shades over 100 or 200 -BUT in olympics , have to run many races , will pick JW in close finish-X MAN WILL BE 3RD-
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what do you mean it looks like hes ok after all. is 43.98 that much better than his 44.07 he ran the week before. yea that 44.07 wariner sucks, but this 43.98 wariner is awesome.
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He wears the shades because he is gouch eyed? The dude needs to keep the shades on. Otherwise Marty Feldman all the way.
