Just checked Ken Longs website. He has withdrawn the prize money for time bonuses.
Just checked Ken Longs website. He has withdrawn the prize money for time bonuses.
Nothing in title 7 (I just read it) says anything about language. A person can be from other countries and speak English quite well. Proving intent is going to be tough. I agree the requirement is a bit silly. Even if a runner is fluent, that person can get confused if the race instructions are poorly written.
Not every Kenyan speaks English either. Just because you have an official language (Kenya has two, English and Swahili) does not mean everyone has to speak one of those languages, just that all government business will be conducted in those languages.
JimG wrote:
Bottom line, companies are not sponsoring races out of the goodness of their hearts or b/c they love/support running, but b/c they get publicity out of it.
Exactly. Which is why people who oppose these race conditions (as I do) should consider writing to St. Francis Hospital to ask why a nonprofit hospital affiliated with the Catholic church is sponsoring an event that appears to be designed with the specific intent of discriminating against athletes from poor African countries.
ukathleticscoach wrote:Great a 15KKK race!
hahaha. I'll give that a POD.
Pico wrote:
Congrats to the RD for having some balls to do it his way. This is not racism. The RD has the right to put whatever requirements he wants on his prize money. This is a free country and if you want to boycott his race, go ahead.
I'm sure the RD will have far greater support from the local community by preventing foreign athletes to show up, win the cash and bring nothing to the race. Most of these foreign runners have learned to say, "thank you...I am happy to win...I will return next year"...as if that adds anything to the event.
Oh I'm sorry I was under the impression that the "race" was to see who was the fastest person who entered the contest. And i must also have been mistaken when i though that the prize money was given to get fast runners to show up to the race and run there by making it a better race. You clearly want a race of fat slow people with great personality's. If you cant see through my sarcasm I'm making the point that what they bring to the race is running fast which is kind of the whole point to running. I've been beat by a lot of Kenyans and been lucky enough to beat some of the slower ones but all of them had great sportsmanship, ran hard and brought a heck of a lot to the race. If you want a race with only Americans I have a news flash they hold several every year they're called the US national championships and they are held on the road, XC course and track you should check them out no Kenyans.
OK, I think the original requirement was a mistake, but let me play the devil's advocate just for the hell of it.
Although the rest of the world is catching up (or has caught up) in basketball, let's suppose it's like in the 60s and 70s, and most of the rest of the world was substantially behind the U.S. If the Italian and Greek and Brazilian and Chinese and Polish teams were stocked with Americans a little short of NBA talent, if 4 or 5 starters were American, some of who spoke a smattering of the language, some fluent, a couple hopeless, would the club team's fans, or the team itself, be justified in saying, "Only two Americans per team. Our fans want our boys playing, not Yankee mercenaries"?
In fact, isn't this the policy of some overseas leagues? Does this make them racist, or simply self-interested?
Lest I be accused of comparing apples and oranges, let me ask it broadly: Don't the sponsors/supporters of an event have a responsibility to shape the event in such a way as to maximize its interest?
This is similar to governemtn banning smoking in restaurants and bars...let the market decide...if you are offended by the wording of the prize money structure, don't run the damn race.
If a restaurant wants to allow it's customers to smoke, let them...if you don't like it, don't go to that establishment.
Additionally, I am tired of people who reside in America and can not speak English...so props to Ken...a man who stands for something, like it or not.
Complete and utter racism. This goes against the spirit of sports.
The irony is that its about "speaking" English and not writing, in which case most "real" Americans would fail to qualify anyway.
How sad that they have to resort to trickery to keep the winnings at home.
Wonder if they have similar requirements in Berlin?
This isn't racism at all. Being a different race doesn't prevent you from learning a specific language.
I can say the KLA has definitely rubbed me the wrong way with this one (I saw the site before he changed/took down the prize standards); I will not be participating in any of his events again (not that I'm in the running to win any of the money).
Racism? What, only people of a certain race are likely to fail to meet the qualifications? Sounds like YOU are the racist one to me :P
Lizard king, clearly you are one of those illiterate "real" Americans I was talking about.
"US Citizen, with fluent speaking and understanding of the English language"
He is now categorizing US citizens by their ability to speak English.
Are you serious? If this isn't racism, what is it? We know where the winners are usually from.
If you want to talk to and write about the Americans, do it regardless if they are the winners. But I suppose the discrimination would be a lot more obvious that way.
Tommy2Nutts wrote:
Are you serious? If this isn't racism, what is it? We know where the winners are usually from.
It's only racism if you believe that certain racial groups are inherently worse at speaking English, which is somewhat racist itself in its implications.
themanontherun wrote:It's only racism if you believe that certain racial groups are inherently worse at speaking English, which is somewhat racist itself in its implications.
Okay already. Everyone understands how clever you are with your literal interpretation of racism. We will be sure to substitute the term "bigoted" in the future.
OK, let's look at it this way.
You have a company (or TV show, or rock band). The key to its success and attracting investors is getting publicity.
You have the choice of hiring an executive/actor/singer who is talented, but doesn't speak English, or one slightly less talented who does. Which one do you want to trot out in front of the media? Remember, publicity is the key to your undertaking's success, more than the overall quality of the product.
Look, you can't even get a job working the counter at McDonald's (at least in these parts) if you can't speak at least a little English. I've been at too many races where the winners can't even say the most basic phrases. Is it any wonder coverage of the sport sucks?
JimG wrote:
I've been at too many races where the winners can't even say the most basic phrases.
Are you trying to turn this into another Galen-Rupp-bashing thread?
Aside from the rare victory by Gabe Jennings during one of his unmedicated manic episodes, I'm having a hard time thinking of any races in which the winners had anything to say that was worth transcribing, reading, or listening to. The same is true of just about any sports event. Just the usual platitudes from the winners, with a few thanks to God and various family members. I'd rather see a good Kenyan who lets his feet do the talking.
In any event, this wasn't designed to keep out the running equivalent of a Sergio Garcia or a Roger Federer or a Manny Pacquiao. It was designed to keep out Africans who are too good for candy-ass Americans.
JimG wrote:
OK, let's look at it this way.
You have a company (or TV show, or rock band). The key to its success and attracting investors is getting publicity.
You have the choice of hiring an executive/actor/singer who is talented, but doesn't speak English, or one slightly less talented who does. Which one do you want to trot out in front of the media?
Jim, you could make the exact same argument about physical appearance. Would it be OK for the race to disqualify ugly people? Let's not turn running into figure skating.
Pico wrote:
This is similar to governemtn banning smoking in restaurants and bars...let the market decide...if you are offended by the wording of the prize money structure, don't run the damn race.
If a restaurant wants to allow it's customers to smoke, let them...if you don't like it, don't go to that establishment.
Additionally, I am tired of people who reside in America and can not speak English...so props to Ken...a man who stands for something, like it or not.
I completely agree with you this is America and its his right to have a race and invite whoever he wants just like it’s your right to invite whoever you want to your KKK rally’s. I just happen to think you’re both A-holes and that no self respecting runner who believes in true competition should attend his race.
Boycott x 3...thank you. That is all I am saying...don't participate in the race. That is your choice, just as it is the RD's choice to put those qualifications in place.
The freedom to choose in this country is quickly being taken away by Obama and his goons. I guess this is what he meant by "change". I applaud anyone who tries excercise their freedom of choice, expression and speech, before that too is under total government control.
This RD chose to place qualifications on his prize money; you chose not to participate. What a great country. We have choices.