Hines Ward tatted Kona on himself, didn't even Qualify.

rupp-certified saladbar wrote:

Here's another interpretation of his decision to get this tattoo: This guy, a professional athlete in a genuine pro sport (not triathlon), retired from that sport and turned to a new challenge. He found the challenge so meaningful and difficult that he was proud to be a finisher. He commemorated this with a tattoo.

What is the problem with any of this? If a triathlete took some practice with an NFL team, got whipped but hung in there, and tatted "Pittsburgh Steelers" on his leg afterward, do you think Hines Ward would bash him?

I never thought I'd say this, but I can't agree more with what saladbar wrote. While far from a professional, Ward isn't bad. He trained for this event and completed it which is an accomplishment in itself. He's proud of that accomplishment. For all the dumb reasons people get tattoos in today's world, I'm unsure why this one would be criticized.

He didn't qualify this year. Who is to say that he won't qualify next year?

Hey newname, it is jibe, not jive...

Okay, so I have no problem with this (presuming he finished the race), but the font he used is terrible. I mean, what tattoo artist would use that font?

Wonder what his DWS tat looks like?

Wonder how many guys with Super Bowl rings have completed a 140.6?

He covered the distance and finished the race well under the cut-off time; he earned it.

Agree. I saw him on the course and cheered for him, didn't know I wasn't suppose to!Uhm, they have a lottery too for Kona, so what is the issue?He did a good swim and bike leg and slowed down on the marathon, but very respectable first Ironman.Oh, and I am a fan....

Ringsonhisfingers wrote:

Wonder how many guys with Super Bowl rings have completed a 140.6?

He covered the distance and finished the race well under the cut-off time; he earned it.

i've NEVER heard of Boston accepting 1/2 marathon times???

Anyone know wrote:

Doesn't Boston accept half marathon and 10k times anyway?

Anyone know? I'm pretty sure Chicago does that for it's corrals.

They do not.

Everybody and their brother has been getting the Ironman tat for years, including a lot of people who never actually do one. This is one of those times when you silently chuckle to yourself and be glad that you're not one of those people taking part in such a fad, then you move on.

I get that he is taking away a spot from someone who earned it, but isn't he adding more spots by bringing in sponsorship dollars? So his presence there is a net positive number of spots... he is actually making it easier to qualify.

hayward102 wrote:

I never thought I'd say this, but I can't agree more with what saladbar wrote. While far from a professional, Ward isn't bad. He trained for this event and completed it which is an accomplishment in itself. He's proud of that accomplishment. For all the dumb reasons people get tattoos in today's world, I'm unsure why this one would be criticized.

Wooooo!

themanontherun wrote:

I get that he is taking away a spot from someone who earned it,...

No he isn't.

They have a set number of qualifier slots every year based on a very clearly delineated system. They don't add or subtract based on invitational/sponsor entries.

A lot of folks who actually qualify at other races don't go to Kona. If you've ever been to a post-IM-race roll down ceremony you might know that. An athlete can place several spots away from a guaranteed slot and still get to Kona if folks who finish above him/her don't want to go.

When you and the other haters hear become the race director or sponsor of an Ironman race or the World Championship, then you can decide who gets to take part.

The original poster in this thread must be a small-minded person to get so worked up to feel the need to call something (or someone) "So f'n stupid" based on what Hines Ward did.

I understand a lot of the grief that tri-geeks get here, some of it is well-deserved, and a lot of it is funny.

But Hines Ward should not be an object of scorn; he's accomplished things that nearly everyone who posts here will never come remotely close to doing.

oops, 'haters here' not 'hear'

reminds me of the losers who would tatoo Airborne Ranger, special forces, etc....before finishing, then bomb out, stupid people!....good point wtfbrosrsly to point out losers!

agreed Hines is a loser for this.

Anyone know wrote:

Doesn't Boston accept half marathon and 10k times anyway?

Anyone know? I'm pretty sure Chicago does that for it's corrals.

Don't let the haters jump ugly up your grill!

I don't know about Boston, but The US Olympic Marathon Trials definitely accept half marathon times for qualifying for 2016 (and did accept 10k times for 2012). That should be a cool enough event to use for your analogy.

But why male models?