I'm not talking about race/ethnicity, but I think it's absolute BS that Bernard Lagat is considered an 'American' record holder considering he was born and raised in Kenya, and competed for that country the most of his life. It makes a joke of national records- though perhaps all national records should be discarded and we should only count world records! He was a Kenyan, he is a Kenyan, he will always be Kenyan. QED
He only competed for Kenya because he didn't have his citizenship yet. He barely ran competitively while living in Kenya.
And I'd be willing to bet he fits in more in America today than he would in Kenya.
I feel I have much more in common with Lagat than with a 300 pound jesus freak in a trailer park in Arkansas who doesn't believe in evolution, thinks Obama is a muslim and has never even seen a college campus.
And that's about 20% of the population apparently.
Can we stop with these stupid threads? Seriously, I feel ashamed and pissed-off every time I see them. I have no doubt it would be less of an issue if he were born in Australia or England.
Bernard Lagat is my hero and I'm damn proud he's American!
You probably mean Native Americans. Then again, they came from Asia across the Bering Straight.
i think the average us/american who knows very little about
track but watch the olympics will cheer on Lagat and consider him one of their own. The petty jealous coulda should wouldas on this website will not.
Let's get real (again).
Lagat came to the USA at age 21 or 22, as a 3:37 guy. He has an American wife, American kids, pays American taxes, attended an American university, carried an American flag after each of the American SEVEN medals he won in international competition. Virtually everything he has accomplished (including 3:26) has come from training here in the American system.
Coached by a naturalized American citizen born in the Peoples Republic of China.
If that's not an AMERICAN success story, I don't know what is.
Don't get mad get even. Move to kenya, train hard, break their national record and make kenyans mad that you are not really a kenyan.
Countries are artificial man-made creations. As long as he is not a robot, I would consider him one of us whether I lived in the US, Canada, Britain, or Nigeria.
just saying wrote:
As long as he is not a robot
Oh nice! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU HAVE AGAINST ROBOTS!?! This message board makes me sick.
agip wrote:
I feel I have much more in common with Lagat than with a 300 pound jesus freak in a trailer park in Arkansas who doesn't believe in evolution, thinks Obama is a muslim and has never even seen a college campus.
And that's about 20% of the population apparently.
excellent post. thanks for sharing. couldnt have said it better myself. but you forgot to mention the people who want to force women to have unwanted babies and contribute to every single environmental known to man.
Actually I think his wife is Canadian originally.
I love Lagat! In fact, he is my favorite American runner. I love his attitude, his passion, his joy, and his longevity in the sport.
Having many immigrant relatives, I think it's hard for people born in the US to understand how immigrants are the most gung-ho Americans around. Of course he most likely still identifies as a Kenyan, but being out of Kenya for so long, he likely feels as much American (he CHOSE to be here) and compared to all the athletes in a 'USA' uniform, he'll wear his with as much or more pride.
The guy failed a drug test in the USA, how much more American do you want?
Lagat is a liar and drug cheat.
Geddy lee could toss his cookies for him in a bass contest.
trollism wrote:
The guy failed a drug test in the USA, how much more American do you want?
I don't think you're unintelligent, but you must be ignorant of the facts on this one.
coach d wrote:
Let's get real (again).
Lagat came to the USA at age 21 or 22, as a 3:37 guy. He has an American wife, American kids, pays American taxes, attended an American university, carried an American flag after each of the American SEVEN medals he won in international competition. Virtually everything he has accomplished (including 3:26) has come from training here in the American system.
Coached by a naturalized American citizen born in the Peoples Republic of China.
If that's not an AMERICAN success story, I don't know what is.
All of that is true. But you left one thing out: he has EAST AFRICAN genes.
And when it comes to distance running, that is the most important thing of all.
I don't consider him an American at all. But, that's just my personal opinion. To each his/her own.
agip wrote:
I feel I have much more in common with Lagat than with a 300 pound jesus freak in a trailer park in Arkansas who doesn't believe in evolution, thinks Obama is a muslim and has never even seen a college campus.
And that's about 20% of the population apparently.
Couldn't agree more.
he's about as American as tacos, salsa, and enchiladas.
Lagat is American. Y'all crazy and racist but I still love my running brothers even the red necks.....if your not white you are not American. Being Chicano I am neither Mexican or American.