"He's The Best United States Distance Runner We've Ever Had."

Writers, even sports writers who make comparisons, "Is Lukas Verzbicas the next Alan Webb? The next Steve Prefontaine? The next Jim Ryun? Can he be the Michael Phelps of distance running?" is not with the ballgame these days. Every athlete is unique, making comparisons forces them to blindly accept forced egoism...that damages their psyche, in theory. An excellent comparison? The chessworld lambasted Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen as the "Mozart of Chess", at 15 years old. What happens? Magnus drops out of the current world championship cycle as a result of setting more realistic goals. So sports writers stop with the comparisons, these upcoming youths are individual and have their goals. Let them earn their own laurels.

Mrs. Pepper wrote:

The chessworld lambasted Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen as the "Mozart of Chess", at 15 years old. What happens?

Mrs. Pepper, is Mr. Pepper around to edit your posts? Why would referring to one as the "Mozart of Chess" be an example of being lambasted?

Excuse me bad word choice. lauded would be better choice.

Thanks for the article. Are you the author?

Mrs Pepper wrote:

Excuse me bad word choice. lauded would be better choice.

Thanks for the article. Are you the author?

No, Mrs. Pepper, and no offense intended. I actually agree with the general thrust of your point.

I didn't mean to be crotchety about you being the author:)

Now I'm really confused. If the "Illinois High School Association (IHSA) does not allow student-athletes to participate in non-school competitions for their sport during the season..." Why couldn't he compete (triathlon, running events) unattached? The article states that he's dropping the triathlon ambition. I only wish Lukas Verzbicas the best but I'd also think he'd a made a great Triathloner for the USA nevertheless he's got plenty of time and the cross training is money in the bank:)

He has the right attitude for success, but frankly he needs his ass kicked by real competition day in day out for him to reach his potential.

His talent is not above that of a Kenyan I can literally pluck off the streets.

Mrs Pepper wrote:

I didn't mean to be crotchety about you being the author:)

Now I'm really confused. If the "Illinois High School Association (IHSA) does not allow student-athletes to participate in non-school competitions for their sport during the season..." Why couldn't he compete (triathlon, running events) unattached? The article states that he's dropping the triathlon ambition. I only wish Lukas Verzbicas the best but I'd also think he'd a made a great Triathloner for the USA nevertheless he's got plenty of time and the cross training is money in the bank:)

Geez lady, he's not a triathloner. So what's your point? Your post is pointless.

Don't worry, our collegiate athletics system will finish him off like all the others.

Sir or ? Read the articles, his aspirations were the triathlon yet in this recently published article - it is revealed his stepfather is a Triathlon coach. Your assertion "He's not a trathlete?" is null. Ironically is his choice to drop his triathlon aspirations, Lukas' choice or ?. After all both Lukas comes from a lineage of Iron Curtain athleticism. Personally, I just think something is rotten in pardon the pun Denmark.

the best we have ever had??? so much baloney hype.

he is a 4:03 miler and 14:06 for 5k runner.

he is a prospect who will get better, but why say something so bizarre as he is the best we have ever had?

he has not done anything yet, that one could even make an arguement for him being the best ever.

14:06 indoors is the best we've ever had, by 20 seconds actually. And his indoor 2 mile was only fractions of a second off of Lindgren, this was 2 days after the 5k and he only had 2 hours of sleep that night.

better than lagat ?

Just to add into this, even recently, he isn't the best.

I mean, didn't Rupp run 13:37, 4:02, 8:03, and 29:09?

And GF - 4:00.29/8:34.23 double, with 3 hours rest? Plus the 2 mile record?

Or what about Ritz? Sorry, LV isn't anywhere close.

Everyone wants to anoint the next great thing, but lets get real and put this into perspective.

He's Lithuanian, not American.

Not American. Over 20 years old. Will burn out in college.

zip zero nada wrote:

Just to add into this, even recently, he isn't the best.

I mean, didn't Rupp run 13:37, 4:02, 8:03, and 29:09?

And GF - 4:00.29/8:34.23 double, with 3 hours rest? Plus the 2 mile record?

Or what about Ritz? Sorry, LV isn't anywhere close.

Everyone wants to anoint the next great thing, but lets get real and put this into perspective.

Lindgren/Rupp/LV legends.

Nelson/German... two of these things aren't like the others, two of these things don't belong.

mlkjjklshdjj wrote:

zip zero nada wrote:

Just to add into this, even recently, he isn't the best.

I mean, didn't Rupp run 13:37, 4:02, 8:03, and 29:09?

And GF - 4:00.29/8:34.23 double, with 3 hours rest? Plus the 2 mile record?

Or what about Ritz? Sorry, LV isn't anywhere close.

Everyone wants to anoint the next great thing, but lets get real and put this into perspective.

Lindgren/Rupp/LV legends.

Nelson/German... two of these things aren't like the others, two of these things don't belong.

How is LV a legend but German not?

He's Lithuanian, not American.

LV is not even white. Liths are half Siberians come from north of China. Liths are Mongoloids.

mlkjjklshdjj wrote:

two of these things aren't like the others, two of these things don't belong.

Dude, I can name that tune in 3 notes!