I have not read much of this thread, but I am assuming someone has brought up:
You are asking for a "dream team" of top US runners. Fantastic, they'd do great I am sure. But what if Kenya or Ethiopia brought THEIR "dream team" ?? You act like the US is the only one's not brining their top guns. Kenya and Ethiopia's best runners are often on the roads, or focusing on track. Cross country has become super watered down because of $ on roads.
If Kenya or Ethiopia put all their marbles in the X-C basket, let's say there was a team prize of $10,000,000, and matched up against US dream team, I ain't betting a penny on the US.
You and others are saying: "hey man, what if, what if we got Hall to run? Damn, he's a stud! Imagine him in world cross? Remember his 59:43? His 2:06? Oh yeah. " (Ok, I made up those words, but that was the point).
Ok fine, Hall is great. 59:43 & 2:06:23.
So what if Kenya added THESE guys (all these guys ran = to or better than 59:30 or 2:06:20 in the last few years, some did both, and some did so SEVERAL times. How many of them ran world cross last year??? Any? 1 or 2?
Samuel Wanjiru KEN 58:33:00, 2:05:10
Patrick Makau KEN 58:52:00, 2:04:48
Sammy Kirop Kitwara KEN 58:58:00
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich KEN 58:59:00
Evans Kiprop Cheruiyot KEN 59:05:00, 2:06:25
Paul Kosgei KEN 59:07:00
Jonathan Maiyo KEN 59:08:00
James Kipsang Kwambai KEN 59:09:00, 2:04:27
Bernard Kiprop Kipyego KEN 59:10:00
Wilson Chebet KEN 59:15:00
Moses Mosop KEN 59:20:00
John Kiprotich KEN 59:23:00
Francis Kibiwott KEN 59:26:00
Patrick Ivuti KEN 59:27:00
Robert Kipchumba KEN 59:28:00
Geoffrey Mutai KEN 59:30:00, 2:04:55
Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot KEN 59:21a
Wilson Kiprotich Kebenei KEN 59:27a
Martin Lel KEN 59:30a, 2:05:15
Abel Kirui KEN 2:05:04
Duncan Kipkemboi Kibet KEN 2:04:27
Emmanuel Mutai KEN 2:06:15
Gilbert Kirwa KEN 2:06:14
Gilbert Yegon KEN 2:06:18
Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot KEN 2:05:52a
Vincent Kipruto KEN 2:05:13
William Kipsang KEN 2:05:49
So for every Ritz or Hall we add, they add TWENTY-SEVEN guys as good or better. Yes, read that again. sub 59:30 or sub 2:06:20 are better than Ritz and Hall. And ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL those guys above have done that in the last couple years. How many of them ran world cross last year?
Talk about dream team. So our dream team against their "C" team (which in the big scheme of things IS what they send, when you subtract all the talent I just listed that isn't there)....yeah, that would be a good match. But would it mean as much as you seem to think it would mean if we did well? No, not really.
But it would still be fun to watch.