Christopher Lotsbom, a high schooler who has helped us cover a few Boston meets, sent us the following article on Steve Prefontaine. It's an interesting read as some of his claims I think are way over the top but others not as much a I may think (ie "the most famous distance runner of all time") and told Chris so. The article really got me thinking on how people were alive and watching Pre run at the time viewed him (then and now).
People of my generation and Chris's generation only know the myth of Pre. I'd like to hear what people of Pre's generation thought about him as a runner (and perhaps what could have been). No need to get sidetracked on how he died. So here is Chris' article:
Prefontaine: A Man, A Sport, A Nation
By Christopher Lotsbom
On Wednesday, March 4, Fox Sports released a list of the twenty most "Shocking and Tragic Sports Deaths" that rocked all of American sports nation. Amongst this list were admitted steroid users (Ken Caminiti, # 15) and victims of car crashes (Bobby Phills–basketball player- #19, Dan Snyder-hockey player- #16, and the great Dale Earnhardt Sr. - #1). One athlete in particular that caught my eye came in at number 12. The most famous distance runner of all time, the kid from Coos Bay, the only man to hold every American record from the 2K to the 10K at the same time: the great Steve Prefontaine. At number 12!?!
"There better be some pretty damn good athletes between numbers 11 and 1," I thought to myself.
As I continued to view the list, I kept coming to one conclusion. How could they put some of these guys in front of Pre?
Just for the record, here is the list
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?contentId=8542092#sport=MLB&photo=8542082
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While I agree on the likes of athletes such as Pat Tillman, Thurman Munson, Roberto Clemente, and Dale, Sr., why are Korey Stringer and Chris Benoit ranked ahead of Pre? Sean Taylor? I don’t think so.
Come on!
I want to make it clear, I am not belittling their deaths at all. But if we were to rank pro athletes who died mid-career, on their accomplishments and legacy, then why would Prefontaine not be in the top seven or eight? At least the top 10!
Steve Prefontaine died in the middle of what would have been arguably the greatest career in American sports history. He was to be the greatest American runner ever. But why so little recognition?
Pre was one of the instigators of the running "boom." He controlled the sport (in America) in a way that no other athlete has since. Even though he didn’t bring home a medal from the Munich Olympic games, he went for it all. When other athletes would have settled, he pushed on.
Prefontaine did even more off the track. He was the first one to demand change against the Amateur Athletic Union, who had constricted the sport, forcing stars to choose between the Olympics or cash. Pre began a running club of sort at a local penitentiary, showing convicts the benefits of running, both through the mind and soul.
And I haven’t even mentioned Nike yet. Pre was the first Nike athlete. He was the first to wear co-founder Bill Bowerman’s spikes with the famous "swoosh" on them. Nike grew because of Pre.
Pre held, at one time or another, nineteen national high school records, eight collegiate records, and fourteen American Records. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 19! Winning seven NCAA titles at the University of Oregon, Pre was one of the most dominant college athletes ever.
Pre made Haward Field what it is today, racing their 38 times, and winning all but three. Pre made Track Town, USA what it is, the Mecca of the running world. Pre made running what it is.
In a sport like track and field, it is hard to capture a nation, let alone the world. Pre captured this nation, and forever he will be remembered as the greatest American to ever put on a pair of racing spikes. Pre was taken from us far too young, at the age of 24.
Steve Prefontaine’s death rocked not only track fans, but the nation and world. We will probably never see an athlete dominate a sport like Pre did, and for that, I feel, he deserves better recognition. Steve Prefontaine’s tragic death came far too soon, and as the saying goes, "Pre Lives." His legacy will live on forever, a life remembered for the many great impacts he had both on and off the track.