Peachtree 10k gets rid of noname Kenyans by restricting $ to 'Mericans

Lake Charles La wrote:

Americans need special assistance and ethnic jingoism to win races ? We must be proud.

If this kind of ethnic jingoism takes hold and spreads to Europe it could be interesting. I wonder what would happen if some track meets in Europe start offering more money for European runners only.

The media will take note of this jingoism and it could be another black eye for a sport that has already suffered hundreds of black eyes.

Why it gotta be a black eye? Why can't it be a red eye or a pink eye?

Ear marking a good portion of prize money for US citizens is not a bad idea at all. In fact, it's a very good idea.

Having another portion that is up for grabs for athletes of any nation keeps the picture in balance. This will promote US athletes but also keep the internationals in the race.

Reasonable solution but that doesn't change the fact that the analysis of the "problem" by Peachtree organizers is short-sighted. I think there is some delusion that this will change American racing landscape. I think the only thing that would dramatically increase fan base and recruitment is if the prize money in many races was in the hundreds of thousands or millions for a single race. This is money that young kids will start thinking they can make a livelihood out of. This is a minute fraction of sports like NFL, basketball, or any other major sport for that matter. Now, I get that distance running coffers are not as deep as other sports but what came first, the lack of talent or the low appeal of the sport compared to others? I don't know the answer to these questions but I wonder how golf, a sport that your average American would label as "boring", has managed to maintain a high profile and awesomely high prize money yet I doubt their audience all year could rival a major American sport in 2 games. Think about another old sport that was popular when track and distance racing was, boxing. Even today, boxing has maintained high energy despite being that exciting nor being necessarily dominated by Americans. Maybe we need to hype up races or televise it in a more appealing manner?

Winning spirit wrote:

Just so you're aware: The Kenyans get taxed here for prize monies won, then get taxed a second time in Kenya (up to 30%), and then their agents take a healthy cut as well. If anything - the Kenyans get screwed over royally.

WRONG.

Kenya does not assess income tax on its overseas residents for foreign-sourced income (except in certain situations, which is not the case here). Even if it did, double taxation laws would prevent any additional liability.

You're an idiot who should stop making up stuff.

That'd be awesome!

No Name Needed wrote:

Hope 8 Kenyans show up, pay to get in, and go 1-8.

Then they can give 9th place guy the check. Prove it a mockery.

grox wrote:

Rick wrote:

'...that barley speaks broken English.'

I guess that applies to you.

Yes, he oat to know better.

I think wheat have a problem here.

aquafina wrote:

grox wrote:

Yes, he oat to know better.

I think wheat have a problem here.

You maize have stumbled onto to something here.

zohan wrote:

aquafina wrote:

I think wheat have a problem here.

You maize have stumbled onto to something here.

This has gone farro enough!

AnonymousPseudonym wrote:

zohan wrote:

You maize have stumbled onto to something here.

This has gone farro enough!

i'm having a rye smile reading this thread

get a clue. wrote:

Duh. The idea was taken from a race last year in Utrecht, Netherlands, were they restricted prize money to EU citizens. Google it.

Not true.

In some European countries such practice has existed (even if sporadically) for more than a decade.

grow our sport wrote:

We shouldn't continue to throw money away at non-Americans who give nothing back to our society and sport (beside the taxes they pay).

Serious question.

Does that mean you prefer to see American citizens winning the big American Marathons in 2:12 or 10Ks in 28:30 instead of watching a race of athletic excellence with the lakes of Geoffrey Mutai, Wilson Kipsang, Lelisa Desisa, Teklemariam Medhin, etc?

I agree with a poster that mentioned having US citizens-only prize-money but also open competition prize-money.

I don't care, as long as no money goes to doping NOPers.

LOL II wrote:

Serious question.

Does that mean you prefer to see American citizens winning the big American Marathons in 2:12 or 10Ks in 28:30 instead of watching a race of athletic excellence with the lakes of Geoffrey Mutai, Wilson Kipsang, Lelisa Desisa, Teklemariam Medhin, etc?

I agree with a poster that mentioned having US citizens-only prize-money but also open competition prize-money.

Yes. The average Americans wouldn't know the difference. Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, and Dick Beardsley still go to marathon and race Expos, despite being well off the pace of the current Africans. People and the media would actually care. Our talent pool would grow too, as more American guys would have the opportunity to win and have success. Our sport needs current American icons besides Ryan Hall. To have Americans winning the majors might actually get the races back on TV and sponsors caring.

LOL II wrote:

grow our sport wrote:

We shouldn't continue to throw money away at non-Americans who give nothing back to our society and sport (beside the taxes they pay).

Serious question.

Does that mean you prefer to see American citizens winning the big American Marathons in 2:12 or 10Ks in 28:30 instead of watching a race of athletic excellence with the lakes of Geoffrey Mutai, Wilson Kipsang, Lelisa Desisa, Teklemariam Medhin, etc?

If it were stars like Mutai, Kipsang, etc that would be a totally different story. This was the top 5 from last year:

1 MOSINET GEREMEW 5 21 1 1 28:07 28:07 ETHIOPIA

2 BELETE ASSEFA 3 22 2 2 28:09 28:09 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

3 PETER KIRUI 1 25 3 3 28:11 28:11 KERICHO, KENYA

4 SAMMY KITWARA 2 26 4 4 28:17 28:17 KENYA

5 MIKE KIGEN 6 27 5 5 28:23 28:23 TEDDINGTON, KENYA

When it's 2nd-tier Kenyans or 2nd-tier Americans, people would rather see the Americans.

2nd tier? Geremew is an unknown, but not second tier if he's beating Peter Kirui a former Kenyan National 10,000m champion and Sammy Kitwara a 2:05 marathoner and definite top-level talent on the roads. Who do you consider top tier?

This was the top 5 from last year:

1 MOSINET GEREMEW 5 21 1 1 28:07 28:07 ETHIOPIA

2 BELETE ASSEFA 3 22 2 2 28:09 28:09 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

3 PETER KIRUI 1 25 3 3 28:11 28:11 KERICHO, KENYA

4 SAMMY KITWARA 2 26 4 4 28:17 28:17 KENYA

5 MIKE KIGEN 6 27 5 5 28:23 28:23 TEDDINGTON, KENYA

When it's 2nd-tier Kenyans or 2nd-tier Americans, people would rather see the Americans.[/quote]

get a clue. wrote:

Duh. The idea was taken from a race last year in Utrecht, Netherlands, were they restricted prize money to EU citizens. Google it.

It was Dutch citizens only.

wtfunny wrote:

liker of liquid barley wrote:

Impressive.

+1 .. Too awesome.

I am sure barley is grown in large amounts in the USA. It is also grown in Kenya. It is perhaps barely grown in China.