COE

this thread sucks.

you big mofo suck

Oh, you read it in a book.

I dont think the glory is at marathon to be honest,if you ask anybody who is the world record holder for the 42k they wont probalby know,let alone the second..

but if you asked who it is for the 100 meters the answer is obvious,as the second and third probably.

sadly, 'media' glory in t&f = 100 metres only (even when the 200 metres may be much valuable at times)

ask average joe who seb coe is, or a morocco guy called el-guerrou

No to 2012 wrote:

Oh, you read it in a book.

Yeah! You know, those things people read to acquire knowledge. You should try one some time!

Seriously, Pat Butcher's book is very insightful. He is an unbiased journalist whose writing I have always found informative and probing. He had in depth interviews with all the "players" at the time of the Coe-Ovett rivalry, and there is a lot given over to their opinions/dealings with the 2 protagonists.

I met Coe once and have corresponded with him several times. He was always helpful and generous with his time.

I didnt get to know this coe guy, but maybe its the greatness of the real winners what hold him away from 'average joe'?

I mean imagine you are one of the greatest athletes of all time in some event, so its like you dont feel like being kind or give too much explanations to people surround you, you are just the best.

Put yourself in the place of a champion, you will get sick of people for sure, just like coe probably did..

what do you think?

epopians wrote:

No to 2012 wrote:

Oh, you read it in a book.

Yeah! You know, those things people read to acquire knowledge. You should try one some time!

Seriously, Pat Butcher's book is very insightful. He is an unbiased journalist whose writing I have always found informative and probing. He had in depth interviews with all the "players" at the time of the Coe-Ovett rivalry, and there is a lot given over to their opinions/dealings with the 2 protagonists.

I met Coe once and have corresponded with him several times. He was always helpful and generous with his time.

Oh, Coe always knew which side his bread was buttered on and was always ready to suck up to journalists and others who might further his ambitions.

To read the tabloids back then - it was the likes of Ovett who were stuck up and unapproachable to fellow athletes and Coe was the golden boy.

The athletic fraternity back then knew different - where were you.

There is indeed a lot of knowledge to be gained by reading books - but only an idiot believes all he reads.

Jowell, Livingston and Coe should have been investigated by the SFO for their blatantly dishonest and corrupt bid of a mere £2.4 billion to stage the London Olympics, knowing full well (and admitting it since) the real cost to taxpayers would run out about ten times that amount.

Still, Coe is ready to make a fortune out of the decision - and that’s not my sole assessment - there have already been two television programmes (Coe tried an injunction to stop one) on the subject, apart from all the news items.

w d y think? wrote:

I didnt get to know this coe guy, but maybe its the greatness of the real winners what hold him away from 'average joe'?

I mean imagine you are one of the greatest athletes of all time in some event, so its like you dont feel like being kind or give too much explanations to people surround you, you are just the best.

Put yourself in the place of a champion, you will get sick of people for sure, just like coe probably did..

what do you think?

I think that all champions have some arrogance, but I disagree with the summation that just because one is focussed and detached, that this makes them unkind or pompous. The thing is with Coe, is that he was never into the whole celebrity aspect. He let his running do the talking and would only do interviews with the athletics magazines. He is on record as saying that he hates reality tv, and that youngsters today aspire to be celebrities without putting in the necessary work and/or talent.

I think there has been a lot of myth making about both Coe and Ovett regarding their personalities, both by the press and the "athletic" community. While I admire and respect both of them, it annoys me when people complain that Coe wasn't a "runner's runner" and wouldn't involve himself with club running; which in itself is innacurate, because he ran far more races each season for his club than Ovett did; while Ovett was a working class hero who was happy being part of the crowd. So what? Neither is right or wrong, they are just different.

Since they've retired Ovett has emmigrated to Australia, where his talented children look set to compete for their adopted country. Coe has done a lot for British athletics and UK sport in general, yet doesn't get the proper credit he deserves. He could have taken the easy option and been a commentator for the BBC, but no, he has put all his time into working on the Sports Council, British Athletics, the IAAF and getting London the Olympics.

I'm sure he doesn't suffer fools gladly and has his faults like everyone else, but credit where credit is due.

Too much fuss about one race on the suspect track in Rieti. The second best time of both Rudisha and Yego is 1:43x something. Until they run 1:42x consistently next year, then the discussion about their potential is a waste of time.

No to 2012 wrote:

Oh, Coe always knew which side his bread was buttered on and was always ready to suck up to journalists and others who might further his ambitions.

To read the tabloids back then - it was the likes of Ovett who were stuck up and unapproachable to fellow athletes and Coe was the golden boy.

Is this the same Coe who turned to the press after winning the 1500 in Moscow and screamed "Now do you believe me?" because they had written him off after the 800?

or after winning in LA 'who's finished now.'

'No to 2012'

I take it you won't be watching the Olympics then? Maybe we should wait another 60 years to stage another Olympics?

Anyway, it will make a change from the taxpayer funding around 10 million people to watch Jeremy Kyle anyway! The TV rights alone will bring in £1 Billion + then factor in the increased tourism worth billions over the years, plus much needed jobs

As for corruption he was the one of the politician who exposed the cash for questions businessmen

My politics are a million miles from Coe - but he is a hero for this country. Try and do better, I know I couldn't

Increased tourism?

Another sucker taken in by the pro-Olympic spin.

I’m afraid a mere glance at the experience of other cities during international sporting events show that they do not attract tourists.

Tourists stayed away from Germany when they staged the football World Cup because they did not want to spend their holidays in the company of thousands of football fans. When Australia and Greece staged the Olympics, tourists boycotted the countries, fearing traffic jams, a security clampdown and hotel rooms to be had only at rip-off prices.

Who in their right mind is going to want to holiday in London in the congestion and security hell that will be the capital city in the August of 2012?

And as for much needed jobs - most of them seem to be going to foreign workers and anyway - think about all those involved in the gravy-train.

Every landowner, developer, contractor and builder, from the corporate suits to the sparks installing the lighting has been handed a loaded revolver to put to the head of the government.

Pay up - or the Games get it.

Whatever figure anyone is giving us at the moment, the real cost is going to be even more stratospheric.

£9bn? Do I hear £12bn?

The man who designed the Montreal Olympic park reckons we will eventually be landed with a bill of not less than £15bn for an event to which only the wealthy and the well-connected will get a ticket.

And he never factored in the addition security bill, now that we are probably the world’s number one target for terrorists these days.

Those bloody 7/7 underground terrorists were most inconsiderate - had they acted a week before, rather than a day after London’s successful bid, London wouldn’t have won the lottery at all - all that bribing would have gone to waste.

As over 99.9% of the British public will be viewing it on TV anyway - the Games might just as well be staged in Timbuktu.

Put the Coe that ran 1:41.73 on the SAME SURFACE at Rieti that Rudisha ran on, and Coe would still have the WR.

Coach D wrote:

Put the Coe that ran 1:41.73 on the SAME SURFACE at Rieti that Rudisha ran on, and Coe would still have the WR.

I agree 100%.

yes, and dont forget:

-A proper set-up rabbit

-not having to overtake the leader in the turn

-normally 'outlined' track, not with an indoor-like turn

-30 years of advance in training + diet

-not being in june, at the beginning of the season

-having some guy to offer some resistance (he won by 50-60 meters ) instead of running absolutely alone 300 meters

-you could go on and on... ;)

2012:

Check this out:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Unemployment-Number-Of-Adults-Claiming-Benefits-To-Hit-Six-Million-New-Report-Says/Article/200908315363624

By the way I notice your last post did not mention any positive benefits whatsoever - our are just totally biased - can't you afford a few quid on your tax bill? Wake up all big business is corrupt - or at best, full of billionaires raking it in at someone elses expense

Before you start off again my council tax bill went up 50% in 2 years for f all. At least now I get to go to see the Olympics on the train!

1:42:01 Rudisha vs 1:41:73 coe wrote:

yes, and dont forget:

-A proper set-up rabbit

-not having to overtake the leader in the turn

-normally 'outlined' track, not with an indoor-like turn

-30 years of advance in training + diet

-not being in june, at the beginning of the season

-having some guy to offer some resistance (he won by 50-60 meters ) instead of running absolutely alone 300 meters

-you could go on and on... ;)

agreed

You seem awfully cynical old chap. London 2012 is going to be a lot of fun. Maybe your life is shit, your job is shit and you live in a shit place, but we aren't all as miserable as you, so don't try to be our spokesman if you don't mind.