Anyone else think the Kenyan importing is getting ridiculous?

EZ10Miler wrote:

Maybe I'm older and remember the first boom when runners actually followed the top stars. Now distance running is quite popular as an activity but very few know who's favored to win Boston or NYC, other than "some Kenyan".

That is the Kenyans fault? The blame rests mostly on fans and the media.

The American sports fans are not stupid.... when they see some jerkoff hit 76 home runs in one season, they know the guy is a low life cheating son ofa bitch... they feel the same way for guys running 3"43 miles.

EZ10Miler wrote:

They generally look the same, speak only broken english, and eventually migrate back home to Africa. Even dedicated runners and fans of the sport have great difficulty telling them apart and keeping the names straight. Done let the PC brainwash keep you from seeing the truth.

Patently false. It's incredibly easy to differentiate between Kenyans and many speak English very well. Dedicated fans especially can recognize the top players.

I thought this thread was about collegiate running? Talking about people not knowing the favorites of Boston and NYC (or World XC) are irrelevant. Banning/restricting foreigners from competing in NCAA will only dilute the competition and make it LESS likely that Americans will be able to compete for the win later on in these big races.

subliminal wrote:

trollism wrote:

It's nowhere near the same situation at the moment, but African domination has essentially killed the World XC.

Whether it's destroyed your interest or not is irrelevant, it's been a massive turn-off for a large percentage of the viewing public around the world.

Going by this example, surely more Kenyans in the NCAA can only have a negative impact on the competition as a spectacle in the long run.

Your example does not prove anything except that most people hold an ignorant and racist viewpoint. Its because of people like YOU segregation and racism ever existed and continues to exist in america just because most hold a similar view does not make it right.

Just accept it you are a RACIST! and go on preaching about how you are an open minded and accepting person

And in fact you are worst than your predecessors who practiced open racism because at least they weren't HYPOCRITES.

EZ10Miler wrote:

They generally look the same, speak only broken english, and eventually migrate back home to

The Dominican Republic? That's baseball.

Remember when the Finns were dominating the distances? Why didn't they kill distance running, given that they spoke virtually no English, and all stayed in Finland?

Why is soccer so popular in Europe when so many of the best players are from South America?

subliminal wrote:

Your example does not prove anything except that most people hold an ignorant and racist viewpoint. Its because of people like YOU segregation and racism ever existed and continues to exist in america just because most hold a similar view does not make it right.

Just accept it you are a RACIST! and go on preaching about how you are an open minded and accepting person

It's not my fault that 'most people hold an ignorant and racist viewpoint'.

The mere fact that you believe this means that you should also agree that African dominance has killed World XC.

I never once said it was the right way of thinking or that I agreed with it, I only stated that it's the reason the event has died in the last couple of decades.

I also didn't say that the NCAA should restrict foreigners or African athletes, only that too many African athletes could lead to a World XC like situation. I don't actually care too much, I'm not American so the health of the NCAA isn't something that I lose too much sleep over.

Ignore him. He's a not being serious or is insane. Or both.

EZ10Miler wrote:

If collegiate XC is predominately filled with foreign competition then HS kids will find something else to do. I dont like to toss around the "role model" thing too much but honestly if you never know anyone or see anyone going on to the next level it just becomes "something Kenyans/Irish/whatever.. do".

Bottom line: It's not good for the sport. There are plenty of college coaches that feel the same way.

I know if my old school fielded a team of nothing but foreign talent I wouldn't give a rip about them winning a conference title.

As far as competing vs the best in the world. Athletes on that level have plenty of time and opportunity for that.

I'm a white guy who was raised in the bible of middle tennessee. I had no idea who ran at UT knoxville or UT chattanooga. My role model was Haile Gebresallasie.

I wanted to be him. I wanted to be the best. Unless you have some huge hang up on Race, I think your role models will be the top guys regardless of the color of their skin. They are not faceless unless you personally think of them that way. I think you are getting hung up in your argument based on your own biases.

I didn't bother to read this entire thread, but I'm curious to know how many of you who are defending "Kenyan importing" are the same conservative right-wing whackos who clamor for the deportation of hard-working Latin Americans who want nothing more than to work hard and earn an under-the-table buck.

I don't give a sack-full if college XC teams want to stockpile foreigners. But all scholarships monies should go strictly to American born athletes. Not naturalized citizens...AMERICAN BORN ATHLETES.

Galen Rupp's silver is a prime example of the fact that Americans have just not been working hard enough at the 10,000.And the fact that people lose interest in events when they are dominated by Africans is their own f--ing fault. It is just a sign of their own racism. We should not give in and say people will never care about a damn thing a black african does. We should not adapt culture to meet racist standards. We should hope that people stop thinking of Africans as faceless people.

Thank you. THis is the point I was getting at. The underlying premise of saying people lose interest because they can't relate is based on your own bias that people can't relate to black africans.Why can they not relate? Because they do not look like themselves? Have you ever talked to a black person? Do you know anyone from Africa? One of my best friends and teammates was a top runner from Ethiopia. He was awesome. I sure as hell could relate to him better than some of my other mid atlantic preppy teammates.

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

dits astory wrote:

Just the way it is, people want to watch what they can relate too, and a close competition.

Why could people not relate to Kenyan runners? They relate to canadian hockey players and latino baseball players just fine.

Only giving Scholarships to American born is not the answer. Having an weighted allocated scholarship system would be a better option. ex. you are allowed 12.4 scholarships if you get a foreigner it cost the school more money then an instate athlete there for should eat up more of the allocated scholarships. For argument sake lets say worth 2 now out of state athletes might be 1.25 for a full ride. This gives you incentive to recruit local but you still have the option to go get what you want. Last it saves money and gives more opportunities to Americans.

EZ10Miler wrote:

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

Why could people not relate to Kenyan runners? They relate to canadian hockey players and latino baseball players just fine.

"The Kenyans" are a marketing nightmare. They generally look the same, speak only broken english, and eventually migrate back home to Africa. Even dedicated runners and fans of the sport have great difficulty telling them apart and keeping the names straight. Done let the PC brainwash keep you from seeing the truth.

Maybe I'm older and remember the first boom when runners actually followed the top stars. Now distance running is quite popular as an activity but very few know who's favored to win Boston or NYC, other than "some Kenyan".

"

They generally look the same" Oh my gosh, this is racism 101. Do you realize people just look the same to you when you have not had much contact with them. Ie all chinese people look the same statement. Ie when i visit friend in Mexico people always say I look just like this other white guy with brown hair.

Sure its natural to think that when you do not have much contact with a population, but that is only more incentive to expose people to other people of different backgrounds. Why should we not encourage that?

Golyq wrote:

Limited scholarship in this money should go TO AMERICANS. NOT KENYANS.

It makes absolute sense- if Americans can get full scholarships in other sports why would they ever go into distance running when they see a bunch of foreigners (who are probably mostly overage) just flying in, not speaking english, not doing classes (seriously they don't), and taking alll the damn spots!

If you are in the sport only for money then you are in it for the WRONG reason.

your argument is not worth my reply. I will rephrase it and you can decide for yourself how stupid it is: I am entitled to a scholarship because I am born in a geographical location in which I had no choice in.

Let me guess in your job interview you are also going to say you are entitled to a position because you are American?

NWRun wrote:

Only giving Scholarships to American born is not the answer. Having an weighted allocated scholarship system would be a better option. ex. you are allowed 12.4 scholarships if you get a foreigner it cost the school more money then an instate athlete there for should eat up more of the allocated scholarships. For argument sake lets say worth 2 now out of state athletes might be 1.25 for a full ride. This gives you incentive to recruit local but you still have the option to go get what you want. Last it saves money and gives more opportunities to Americans.

Why should Americans get more opportunities? Schools want the best. They don't care where you come from (for the purposes of this discussion). Why should it cost more for foreign students? And if you're going to say cause your taxes pay for it, then I think you don't understand the situation very well.

It has nothing to do with taxes. It has to do with the cost of each athlete. Since out of state athletes cost more and foreign athletes cost the most. I am saying that they should cost more of you scholarship allocation. Or even say that in state would cost less in scholarship allocation. ie. if an instate student cost the athletic dept 20,000 for a full ride and an out of state student 35,000 and a foreign student 45,000 shouldn't it cost more in allocation since they athletic dept and college are separate entities. My idea comes from a salary cap format.

Anyone who think all these Kenyans are given a ticket to a "better Life" is retarded.

Look up the percentage that actually graduate. There.

Jeff Wigand has gone full retard. Never go full retard man.

I'm a white guy who was raised in the bible of middle tennessee. I had no idea who ran at UT knoxville or UT chattanooga. My role model was Haile Gebresallasie.

I wanted to be him. I wanted to be the best. Unless you have some huge hang up on Race

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Ah, you are exactly what is wrong with the sport...with Gebresallasie, you are a fan of a complete drug fraud. Cycling -Armstrong.....Baseball --Barry Bonds and Distance Running --Gebresallasie......You don't get it????? How stupid can you be???? American parents do not want their kids to emulate cheaters, and the corporate world runs from the druggies.....you seeing Barry Bonds endorsing MCDonalds? No way! Same for Track and Field..... corporate sponsors run the other way.