Eric Avila's return is complete!! Goes from 4:07 to 3:56 in front of Jim Ryun and Alan Webb and racuous crowd

I think even if you do know him, it still just depends. Since I know people who were at one point on his team and spent almost everyday around him, I've concluded that he's probably a nice guy that can and has been douche-y. Which is probably like most people.

That being said, I hope he steps it up a bit more to make the US milers stacked and for the sake of a few tenths of a second, celebrate after the line.

bloob wrote:

I think even if you do know him, it still just depends. Since I know people who were at one point on his team and spent almost everyday around him, I've concluded that he's probably a nice guy that can and has been douche-y. Which is probably like most people.

That being said, I hope he steps it up a bit more to make the US milers stacked and for the sake of a few tenths of a second, celebrate after the line.

Well said.^^^

Running statistics alone. Douchey antics aside, Quitting the sport at 19-22 and now be where he is at 24 is amazing.

wages of something wrote:

No splash page for Rupp running an AR and becoming the first American to win a Diamond/Golden League 10000m?

And this gets a splash?

A splash page doesn't mean it's a 'black page' or equivalent to an AR or any other thing.

We used a splash page in this case to highlight something that wouldn't be easily highlightable without seeing the video. How do you force people to read this cool story? By putting it on a splash page.

Rupp got a lot of publicity back when he ran his 26:44.

His most recent AR probably should have received a 'splash page' but it happened at 2 am ET and we'd been having some technical problems with splash pages. Couple that with the fact he was beating his own record and I didn't try to figure it out when I was done working on the stories around 5 am ET.

I was ready for bed.

Splash pages denote excitement for the most part and this thing actually was very exciting.

troothbomb wrote:

I'm all for redemption but are we supposed to be excited about a 24 yr old DI recruits kicking teenagers butts in the NAIA.

also, he was an idiot at the end.

Actually the NAIA is full of over age folks because there are no age restrictions like the NCAA. As far as distance running in the NAIA in addition to athletes older than typical college age there are a ton of foreigners. Look at Kennedy Kithuka who started in the NAIA then went D1. A lot of the foreigners are one and done and back to their country because they flunk out.

This guy is a total douche and would have zero chance in real competition.

Koneko wrote:

This guy is a total douche and would have zero chance in real competition.

And how would you do???^^^

Probably not very well.

I also don't strut around, thump my chest, and act like a total chode though. Typical American over-celebration bullshit. Would love to see this guy get his clock cleaned by Makh-Daddy, Soul Man, and others.

Football player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Basketball player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Baseball player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Runner celebrates after a big win... He's so cocky and has no class...

Steve Ovett did stuff like this ALL THE TIME.

What is the big deal?

Hey Rojo-

I was at the race last night and yes he ran well, but is was very poor sportsmanship. He actually pointed at the crowd and jumped into the finish line tape. I kind of wish AJ would of waited to kick. AJ went to soon and locked up with 30 meters to go. However, was a cool event, just poor sportsmanship from the winner.

It is good to see the 2014 NAIA 1500 meter champion receive praise and admiration in a season where he ran 3:42.18 for the 1500m.

http://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/3646439.html

Congrats Eric Avila Southern Oregon University Alumni!

for the millionth time wrote:

Steve Ovett did stuff like this ALL THE TIME.

What is the big deal?

Ovett won gold medals.

This overaged NAIA douche just beat.... AJ Acosta.

This type of energy and excitement is exactly what the sport needs. The crowd was going nuts in the background and was loving every second of it. Nobody wants to watch a race with no emotion attached to it -_-

troothbomb wrote:

I'm all for redemption but are we supposed to be excited about a 24 yr old DI recruits kicking teenagers butts in the NAIA.

also, he was an idiot at the end.

+1 Thank you for putting it more succinctly than I did.

If Ovett had PR'd massively like this he would have been all over it. It's all relative to where you are at the time.

Koneko wrote:

This guy is a total douche and would have zero chance in real competition.

Have to say that was my response after I watched the video.

DJFlores wrote:

Football player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Basketball player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Baseball player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Runner celebrates after a big win... He's so cocky and has no class...

And don't forget -

Runner DOESN'T celebrate after a big win... He's an emotionless robot and boring to watch.

You can't win.

This was a celebration about coming all the way back from early retirement to smash 4:00 in the mile before his home crowd, not about showing up anyone, which is demonstrated by his going into the crowd and saluting all his friends.

for the millionth time wrote:

DJFlores wrote:

Football player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Basketball player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Baseball player celebrates after a big win... He's so compassionate and competitive. Look at their heart!

Runner celebrates after a big win... He's so cocky and has no class...

And don't forget -

Runner DOESN'T celebrate after a big win... He's an emotionless robot and boring to watch.

You can't win.

Yes, you CAN win - just celebrate AFTER the line instead of 20m BEFORE the line while impeding the guy in 2nd.