Obviously I have a problem with athletes that move from one country to another with their primary interest being athletics. I am annoyed when Cubans come here for exhibition baseball games and then end up on the Yankees (not just because I hate the Yankees). It is wrong, those people should be deported, but they have 90mph fastballs, so I guess they can stay. I just think that it is wrong, however, I have no problem with the individuals. I am sure that Mr. Khannouchi is a fine man and a good citizen of this country. The reason he is a citizen is to run here. His paperwork was "rushed", not as fast as he would have liked, but the waiting lines to get in here are long. Track and baseball aren't the only places this happens. The world laughs at us during the World Cup, half of our team are quickly naturalized citizens. If we can't get there with our own boys, and hell with all the track athletes that soccer is supposed to steal we should, then we should just sit with our orange wedges in front of the TV and watch the lawn fairy game.
Anyway, here is my question, what would make you feel better? Khannouchi or a non-naturalized citizen, who wasn't a world record holder for another country before moving here, but an American (non-naturalized) marathon runner on the medal stand? I think the answer is easy. That was the real purpose of my post. Big deal if Khannouchi wins the gold medal in the marathon. I like to hear the "Star Spangled Banner" as much as the next guy, and yes American have many faces and backrounds, but Khannouchi is not AS American to me.