No Longer a fan of Deena Kastor

I'm not usually a fan of conspiracy theories, but Mary has a huge ego and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot of truth in your post.

What did she say that was anything different than what was said in the USATF Board's release? She just rephrased it. She didn't make a personal attack.

What has Deena done in the past 2 1/2 years? Has she not been a great ambassador for Asics, working in her community and being a leader in the sport by running for the Board and many other committees? Deena is extremely involved in our sport, and is a good role model, don't take it for granted.

These are good points. Does the NYRR directly/financially support USATF? If so, were they threatening to pull their support, if they didn't cut Doug Logan (since they're pissed that Houston was picked over them for the Marathon Trials)?

This sounds like when the boss doesn't hire someone's family member, and that person grind an axe against the boss to get them terminated.

Asics = Deena = NYC Marathon (were clearly pissed at not getting the trials). Cannot rule out the possibility of the NY snub playing a role in Deena voting Logan out.

Yes, let's pretend she doesn't exist.

We loved her in 2004 but now we can hate her because she has an opinion.

What a bunch of maroons.

As the old man who handed out our clean clothes at UMass used to say.... "minor sport!"

Logan didn't exactly bring a lot of energy to the job... but Kastor's summation is a bit bs.

marathon experience........... wrote:

WHAT IN THE HELL HAS DEENA DONE IN THE LAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS?

Um, win the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon?

I have had many interactions with Deena beginning in 1998. I cannot see her being that petty.

As for ASICS, apparently they fine with what she brings to the table. She has carried herself with grace. She is the heir apparent to Joanie as the beloved medalist who will show up at events when she is 55 and bring in a crowd. (Not sure she is going to be running at Joanie's level at the same age---that is pretty amazing).

I have never heard of anyone (including doping control people) who have ever had a negative interaction with her.

As noted, she said that the press release said. I would love to know specifics and think it should come out so the next CEO knows the threshold for success.

Iguana Tayl wrote:

Asics = Deena = NYC Marathon (were clearly pissed at not getting the trials). Cannot rule out the possibility of the NY snub playing a role in Deena voting Logan out.

1. Deena is part of the Board that selected Houston as the Trials site. This decision was not solely made by Doug Logan.

2. If you were more diligent you would have found Quotes from Deena praising the decision to host the trials in Houston (me, I'm too lazy).

3. Deena did Chicago Last year, not New York.

This is about a possible conflict of interest. It's not about Deena Kastor as a person. Instead, it's about the situation, a situation where someone appears to be subject to multiple competing interests.

For example, it is quite possible that a judge could fairly adjudicate a case involving a member of his/her own family. But we still want to avoid that situation, and it's not because we distrust any particular judge, or question the ethics of any particular judge.

So I don't question Ms. Kastor's ethics, nor do I have any reason to mistrust her. But at the same time, I think there is a reasonable question about a potential conflict of interest here, as noted by the OP. That's based on the situation, not on the person.

The Houston bid was accepted since it is so much more substantial than any of the others. Houston's awards for the winners made the difference and is the new standard expected from future bidders. The others must no longer horde money for themselves and should pay out to elites who work every day for the sport.

I understand that message boards in general, and Letsrun in particular, tend to view everything as a nice, neat straight line financial transaction, but this is a bit much even for that.

I thought Logan was a good guy and he came and cleaned house a little, and stepped on quite a number of (well-connected?) toes in process. Maybe he had to, maybe he could have been gentler? Either way, despite doing some good things, he may still not have been the man for the job. Project 30 was stupid--an arbitrary overreaction to a non-problem. There have been some athletes with less than wonderful things to say about Logan's leadership re: the sport, not just of the federation (see Lauryn William's comments about Project 30, for example). There are reasons not to like Logan that don't involve tortured conspiracies with the NYRR handing out money in brown paper bags and employing Stasi-like agents to enure total loyalty.

I've been a fan of Deena from way back in her Arkansas days in 1993. She lived with a girl from Wisconsin who I used to know.

She's a real tough competitor who we can all look up to for inspiration. She's been through hell and put her self through hell many many times for her 2:19 and her Olympic Medal. I respect her and admire her as much as I admire the top Japanese runners. She is the embodiment of toughness and endurance.

As for the whole political BS with Logan and the USATF, I don't give hoot. I am just here to train and race to the best of my ability. The inner workings of the USATF does not affect my life whatsoever, but it seems to me that yes, track could be a more popular spectator sport than it is. We have the best track team in the world, that's for damn sure.

chill out - she said nothing that other board members didn't say.

uncle pervy wrote:

As the old man who handed out our clean clothes at UMass used to say.... "minor sport!"

Logan didn't exactly bring a lot of energy to the job... but Kastor's summation is a bit bs.

Bishko (sp?) was right (though also very old and bitter)but being a minor sport is not necessarily bad and you can be a very successful minor sport if you market it right and know your limits.

However, being a minor sport and dysfunctional is not a good combo.

The best thing for this sport would be if USATF named Mary the new CEO. I have no idea why she would take such a role (which INITIALLY would be a big step down), but if she did, she is the only one who could ever turn around that organization.

Having said that, knowing how the NYRR operates, she would need a top notch COO. Its amazing the NYRR can pull off what it does every year given their low staffing. There are literally a few key people who make that organization run... its truly amazing what they accomplish.

For those that have it in for Mary, I just don't understand why. She is an amazing woman and a great... no UNBELIEVABLE ambassador of our sport. She has connections at every level... corporate and athlete... and she motivates and has a vision unlike any other in our sport.

Mary, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, for the sake of our sport, make a bid for the CEO position! Not sure who can run the NYRR in your absence, but I'm sure someone can fill in. With a better run USATF, the NYRR wouldn't have to carry the weight of keeping running alive in this country, making the CEO of the NYRR arguably an easier job then it is today.

here here - great idea Conto. She does stand out in the field.

Thanks Conto, you can pull you nose out of her box now.

You have been punk'd. Mary is not nearly as well thought of as you may think. Her temper tantrum after not receiving the trials showed her real colors.