watched "Without Limits" for first time last night. Was Pre really that big of a douche

I always thought that was such an odd movie for having a big budget and decent actors. First of all, Donald Sutherland was creepy as hell the entire movie. Maybe that is how BB was in real life, but the movie mad ehim look like some kind of a weird pervert. add to that the terrible acting by the other (seemingly good in other films) actors made the whole thing so odd.

The sex scene in the barn? Quite possibly the cheesiest thing I have EVER seen in a movie.

The only cool parts were the races, which I thought they did a decent job of recreating.

I thought the race sequences were well done and the actor that portrayed Pre's running mechanics was great.

Yes, Pre was that big of a douche.

Distance running was still viewed as an odd ball sport in late 60's early 70's and the depth of overall talent was minimal. Only a few Americans could push Pre and he consistently got his ass handed to him internationally. Unfortunate waste of talent, not only because of car accident. He wasted his talent because he was too arrogant to listen and implement smart tactics. He would race the same way all the time expecting a different result. He raced like a real hammerhead. If you think he would have touched Viren in '76 you are delusional.

-raced stupid

-regularly drove drunk

-paid the consequences for both

Don't be like Pre, kiddos.

Instead of Johnny Football we had Johnny 5000.

Read the book by Tom Jordan: Pre!

Watch the documentary: Fire on the Track (the movies were based on this).

Carl Spackler wrote:

Read the book by Tom Jordan: Pre!

Watch the documentary: Fire on the Track (the movies were based on this).

The Tom Jordan book reads like an audio book with the narrator having the subject of the book resting his nuts on his chin.

"The greatest one day double in World History" Pre at NCAA

If you want to know what Pre was like, read Kenny Moore's book "Bowerman and the Men of Oregon"

It talks about his life not on the track as well.

Carl Spackler wrote:

Read the book by Tom Jordan: Pre!

Watch the documentary: Fire on the Track (the movies were based on this).

What are you saying that Kenny Moore sat down and watch Fire on the Track and then wrote the screenplay for Without Limits based on that documentary?

Hmmm. Maybe think again.

Knew two of Pre's teammates very well back in the 1970's. He could be a bit of an attention hog. Both liked him though. People forget he was young (24) when he died. Still maturing. Yeah, he drank beer and could be reckless at times. He came from a good family and he had many friends so he couldn't have been that much of a douche.

I watched him race XC in person. Once you saw how tough he was, you'd respect him.

I know a couple of guys who knew pre, and both say he was really nice and not a dick as portrayed

I know Bill Crudup and he is pretty much the biggest ahole in Hollywood.

Really good video, not a Nike commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xesXzetlrE

Dude was a gutsy racer who was unbeatable at Eugene, and as far as the world stage, was only dominated by Finland's most notorious blood doper. I put him at least on par with Rod Dixon, and that is a pretty f*ing awesome par.

a bratty Pre wrote:

Seriously, I hate that guy

You hate a dead guy for being self centered? Talk about holding a grudge

7/10

The original intention was obviously to incite some high school Prefontaine fanboys into rage. Instead you got some thoughtful and informative responses!

Failed troll, but good post

Three Eleven wrote:

Really good video, not a Nike commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xesXzetlrE

Dude was a gutsy racer who was unbeatable at Eugene, and as far as the world stage, was only dominated by Finland's most notorious blood doper. I put him at least on par with Rod Dixon, and that is a pretty f*ing awesome par.

Pre was dominated by every European and NZ athlete as well as Gammoudi.

The rocks wrote:

Three Eleven wrote:

Really good video, not a Nike commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xesXzetlrE

Dude was a gutsy racer who was unbeatable at Eugene, and as far as the world stage, was only dominated by Finland's most notorious blood doper. I put him at least on par with Rod Dixon, and that is a pretty f*ing awesome par.

Pre was dominated by every European and NZ athlete as well as Gammoudi.

I don't know about that. He did rank top 10 in the world in Track and Field News yearly rankings at least two times. I think 5th in 1974. Maybe he didn't win against the best in Europe but he must have beaten a few top Europeans.

What would Kenny say? wrote:

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Carl Spackler wrote: Read the book by Tom Jordan: Pre! Watch the documentary: Fire on the Track (the movies were based on this).

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What are you saying that Kenny Moore sat down and watch Fire on the Track and then wrote the screenplay for Without Limits based on that documentary?

Hmmm. Maybe think again.

This is incorrect. Pre sat down and watched Without Limits and then he lived his life based on that movie. He was not a douche until he started impersonating the character in the movie.

Take Viren out of the equation and Gammoudi outsprints Pre, but does not dominate him.

Pre was in college most of his international career. No American-born collegiate distance runner has ever been as competitive at the world level as Pre. For comparison, Eric Jenkins was a very good collegiate, one of the best ever, yet he couldn't even make the WC team, much less vie for a medal through the final lap.

Geprge Atlas wrote:

The rocks wrote:

Pre was dominated by every European and NZ athlete as well as Gammoudi.

I don't know about that. He did rank top 10 in the world in Track and Field News yearly rankings at least two times. I think 5th in 1974. Maybe he didn't win against the best in Europe but he must have beaten a few top Europeans.

I think Pre won perhaps one race in Europe. He was below top class on the World stage. All of those guys just dominated him. That's why he was down the rankings.