Vin Lananna Statement on Bob Hersh - Stephanie Hightower (and Max Siegel)

Victorious88 wrote:

So basically Vin is saying nothing one way or the other. That's perhaps the most neutral/on-the-fence statement I've ever read.

And maybe it's just a truthful statement - that Hersh, Hightower, and Siegel all worked on getting the meet to the US, and Lananna is just saying that. If that's the truth, that's all he needs to say.

I suppose Lananna acknowledging Hersh's contribution helps Hersh some, but I don't think anyone who follows track ever seriously thought that Hersh has not contributed to the sport. He plainly has.

Justsayingit wrote:

And maybe it's just a truthful statement - that Hersh, Hightower, and Siegel all worked on getting the meet to the US, and Lananna is just saying that. If that's the truth, that's all he needs to say.

I suppose Lananna acknowledging Hersh's contribution helps Hersh some, but I don't think anyone who follows track ever seriously thought that Hersh has not contributed to the sport. He plainly has.

Obviously Vin is not taking sides, but I think he is also just relaying the facts. All three people played a big role.

wejo wrote:

Stating the obvious wrote:

I agree WeJo, good analysis.

Alan has shown he's a tool.

I wished you pushed back on Vin though

Thank you.

I didn't speak to Vin.

I was pleasantly surprised he issued a statement and by his statement.

When I asked for a statement, I remember thinking "Am I wasting my time? Even if he supports the position in our editorial he can't come out and say it."

And then his gracious statement showed a talking point of the Board to be false. I'll take it.

I got the impression that Vin vindicated (no pun intented) Bob by accident. His response was an attempt to be as nice to everyone as possible.

Alan Abrahamson is the same. He is a journalist, but I get the impression that he would never rock the boat. He knows which side his bread is buttered on.

And this is the problem. No one wants to give up their ticket on the gravy train.

[/quote]

Alan Abrahamson is the same. He is a journalist, but I get the impression that he would never rock the boat. He knows which side his bread is buttered on.[/quote]

Vin Dictated wrote:

And this is the problem. No one wants to give up their ticket on the gravy train.

Alan Abrahamson is the same. He is a journalist, but I get the impression that he would never rock the boat. He knows which side his bread is buttered on.[/quote][/quote]

A good journalist should be making their own gravy and/or buttering their own bread.

Alan has repeated the [USATF Board's] talking points some of which are demonstrably false.

I commented in a thread from about 6 weeks ago, and I criticized LetsRun.com for not being harsher on Alan A's reporting on the Hightower issue. I felt that in his articles Alan was blatantly trying to denigrate the credibility of those who argued for Hersch, and those who were upset with corruption at the USATF. I'm not against someone criticizing the Hersch supporters, but Alan was doing it by using terrible falsities and subtle character attacks that were off-point, misleading, and weasel-like. He may be "respected" in the sport, or whatever, but what he's doing in this case is highly manipulative. Apparently, with his latest posts, he is continuing his past behavior.

I'm glad to see that you, Wejo, and LetsRun.com, have been willing to show some of the specifics of how Alan is doing this by propagating falsities and opinions that are irrelevant (he's not the only one, but he is a big voice, so he can get big criticism). I'm glad to see you have rallied support for Hersch, and I think an important part of taking down a person whose power-hunger is working to the detriment of the group as a whole is by calmly and specifically pointing out the desperate tactics of their mouthpieces (not saying Alan is an official mouthpiece of the Hightower for Power campaign, but he's sure acting like one for now).

Maybe someone should suggest to Alan that he get a new hashtag. Something like, #WeAreThe15%forHightower

Agreed, nice to see LetsRun finally take a stand on an important issue that needs a rally point of exposure. Proud of you as journalists!

Vin is a tool, anybody who knows him and what he is all about, answered exactly as expected.Does Vin help the sport yes he does, does he have vision yes he does, is he politically sleazy yes one of the best in the biz.