In witnessing recent events such as the Diamond League, it got me thinking philosophically if we treat our favorites and pros with kid gloves. There are differences of opinion about the Rowbury/Simpson debacle, but I could not help but wonder:
If Simpson and Rowbury were not "darlings of the track," would we be discussing this? In other words, if Jane Jones (fictitious name) from who knows where was in the event and tripped or was tripped, she would likely be taken down, no matter who caused the trip.
I remember just a couple of years ago, as well, when an A&M runner (the name is slipping me) -dared- to place in the top 3 of the US Nationals, even as she was not going to qualify for the Olympics. She was not a big name, and so the tone was more like, "What is she doing?"
All runners strive to make good on their training and to perform in races. So, why is it that people feel the need to make excuses for the "favored ones?"