Rupp gives standoffish interview after 3k season opener

Do you hens ever get tired of squawking about this meaningless BS? Could we save the "OH. My. Gawd. Did you hear how he just answered that question" crap for the People magazine crowd?

bunch of hens wrote:

Do you hens ever get tired of squawking about this meaningless BS? Could we save the "OH. My. Gawd. Did you hear how he just answered that question" crap for the People magazine crowd?

+1

I agree. These are the same people who then go and smash Kara Goucher for being over dramatic.

Devils advocates son wrote:

If you give him the benefit of the doubt that he actually has played by the rule book and yet has over a decade of hate and criticism by certain folks and this website for over a decade, all the while training his butt off and overcoming almost everything people said he couldn't or wouldn't do, could you understand how he might develop a chip on his shoulder? Could you put yourself in his shoes and speculate how you might react?

Rupp has always had the loner, and follow the leader, personality type. That's why he was a great fit for Salazar. Salazar likes people he can fully control. Rupp is the apex of that. What you are actually seeing is Rupp acting out Salazar's personal frustrations: Don't say mean things about my (second) daddy.

Same here. The questions from the one guy were the only good questions about RUNNING. I think the short answers were just because they don't want to reveal their training at this time. No problem.

What did that other guy ask. "Did you like the green track?". What a softball question!

canspo wrote:

Guessing wrote:

I agree. Salazar hovering was a little creepy.

He was standing 15 feet away. How is that creepy? It seem very likely he wanted to talk to Galen after the interviews. I'd expect nothing else from a coach after his athlete has finished a race. He walks into the shot looks towards Galen for a few seconds then walks away. How is that hovering?

That is a technique that people in position of power over someone use to control that someone's conversation. And, to act as a supporting force to help someone get through an interview. Rupp is simply channeling Salazar hatred of the interviewer. Watch the video and look at Salazar's face. The hate starts there. (http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=7002236)

Angel's Advocate wrote:

Devils advocates son wrote:

If you give him the benefit of the doubt that he actually has played by the rule book and yet has over a decade of hate and criticism by certain folks and this website for over a decade, all the while training his butt off and overcoming almost everything people said he couldn't or wouldn't do, could you understand how he might develop a chip on his shoulder? Could you put yourself in his shoes and speculate how you might react?

Rupp has always had the loner, and follow the leader, personality type. That's why he was a great fit for Salazar. Salazar likes people he can fully control. Rupp is the apex of that. What you are actually seeing is Rupp acting out Salazar's personal frustrations: Don't say mean things about my (second) daddy.

If that's what you want to believe so be it. Not sure why Rupp wouldn't be entitled to his own frustrations towards comments like yours. If I was the most consistent US long distance runner over the past 10 years (and maybe in history?) and had earned a silver medal for my country, which turns out to be plentiful in jealous haters who are more likely to support (and not suspect) the top Kenyans I think I'd have a big old chip on my shoulder. The tone of this website is often, trash Rupp, bow to Kenyans and Ethiopians. Ignore the wild out of nowhere times that east African "juniors" run and celebrate them as the next great ones, and then look for reasons Rupp will fail and seek to find him guilty of cheating.

For the record, Rupp may very well be cheating, so may Centro and Rowbury. So may Lagat and Meb. Maybe Solinsky and Teg were. If you want to believe they are/were you can find things that help support your belief, such as so and so says the were. I'm absolutely certain NOP pushes the limits of science and the gray area. But I'm not convinced they have and actual doping plan in force for any of them. Yet that's the expectation of a great many American fans now, created in part by the mob mentality built of accusation of no hard evidence. Again, maybe they are guilty, but Kara Goucher not believing that someone can't feel burned out one day and race great a week or two later doesn't make me a believer.

All the while Kenya and Ethiopia are complete jokes on drug testing, and yet Kenyans are getting caught on the regular now for real cheating. I guess the Ethiopians are just that more naturally talented than the Kenyans, as they are now running faster and "clean".

If I were a top US runner who managed to mix it up with the top runners in the world and my own country constantly beat the war drums against me and yet drooled over any random east African who comes along with a free pass, I'd find that a hard pill to swallow. And I think that is the tone that is set on this website and carried forward by many who read it.

Montesquieu wrote:

I'm certain the guy in question is Dave Ross, aka Nikeman. His questions were excellent, knowledgeable, and respectfully asked. Clearly, though, Rupp does not like him!

Dave Ross aka Nikeman essentially is a LetsRun employee. I'm sure this is why Galen doesn't give him the time of day. Can you blame him? LetsRun can't really expect Rupp/Salazar to give them the time of day after Rojos constant bs.

message board rat wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emWEjMmILE4

Notice the change in his demeanor at the 0:47 second mark when facing the guy holding the camera. He does it again at the 1:15 mark and the 1:48 mark. Short answers; unfriendly vibe. He was giving longer answers to everyone else and smiling as well. He definitely had a problem with that person.

Do you think Nick Symmonds would ever give a weak interview like that? Nope. Even if it was to someone he had a problem with, he would first call them out on camera, then proceed to answer any question they have, with more than curt answers.

Galen, this is (one reason) why people don't like you.

So I just watched the interview after reading this thread. I think you are being misleading on what actually takes place.

1) He did give the interviewer you're referring to some standard answers, but

2) The interviewer starts to try to keep Galen on the line by asking question after question and taking tangents. There are plenty of other interviewers there and I'm sure Rupp knows a professional interviewer from an amateur. it seems he starts to get a little annoyed with the fact that he basically asks 3 questions in a row, which don't really flow and are quite honestly more like the type of questions you would ask a high school runner. He's not gonna want to sit there for 20 minutes so he'd probably like to answer some other peoples questions and finish his cool down or work out. Also known as taking care of business.

3) It's a good bet that he gets a little tired of being interviewed about Farah.

4) I've seen Nick Symmonds give some very brief one word answers, and quite arrogantly sometimes. So what? Isn't it the interviewers job to ask good questions and not make a statement with a question mark at the end that basically begs a short confirmation answer?

IsntitObvious? wrote:

Dave Ross aka Nikeman essentially is a LetsRun employee.

Is that why his nickname is Letsrunman, and not something like.... Nikeman.

Excellent posts. Thank you.

I wasn't there representing LetsRun. I was there representing my own site.

Honestly, I don't really blame Galen for deflecting my questions. Going into the marathon trials I guess that they want to keep some air of secrecy about training and strategy.

It's not the first time that I've interviewed him or had interactions with him off camera. Most of the time he's actually a pretty nice guy. If you catch an athlete after they've had a bad day or some situation where they are only doing an interview out of professional obligation (such as this one), it may well come across as this one did.

I've done a lot of interviews and I generally don't ask "fluff" questions. I do my homework before an interview and generally know what I'm going to ask well before hand. Granted, there are certain things that I'd never bring up or I could just kiss my chances of ever getting a media credential again goodbye.

He posts here a fair amount under Nikeman. I think he used to work for Nike--hence the possible conflict. He has some good interviews up on his site.

One word answers wrote:

Montesquieu wrote:

I'm certain the guy in question is Dave Ross, aka Nikeman. His questions were excellent, knowledgeable, and respectfully asked. Clearly, though, Rupp does not like him!

I don't know anything about Dave Ross, but I agree that the questions were good and well-asked. I was puzzled that Rupp's answers were so unenthused. He seemed happier talking to the other interviewer, so maybe he really doesn't like this Ross guy.

Angel's Advocate wrote:

canspo wrote:

He was standing 15 feet away. How is that creepy? It seem very likely he wanted to talk to Galen after the interviews. I'd expect nothing else from a coach after his athlete has finished a race. He walks into the shot looks towards Galen for a few seconds then walks away. How is that hovering?

That is a technique that people in position of power over someone use to control that someone's conversation. And, to act as a supporting force to help someone get through an interview. Rupp is simply channeling Salazar hatred of the interviewer. Watch the video and look at Salazar's face. The hate starts there. (http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=7002236)

hahaha.... Had to watch that part again. Salazar def be creepin'.

This is the moment:

Again, I don't work for Nike. I never have. I have been running in their shoes for 30 years, that's why I chose the "nikeman" handle many years ago. I do some wear testing for them these days, but that's about it.

Perhaps Galen is on edge because of losers like the people on LetsRun who hide behind their keyboards and bash him. When you are high profile, all of your words and actions will be criticized by these types of losers. He could sign an autograph for a child and you losers would still criticize him. Face it though, he is better at life than these lames, who are just insecure about their own shortcomings and have to take their frustration out on the winners in life by bringing them down.

That interview was terrible.

He could have talked about the challenge of new workouts, the mental toughness involved with training alone, where the 3000 fits in his plans. Anything at all to sound like something more than a total lump on camera. Honestly, I have seen 9 year-old give more interesting and insightful interviews than that. Great look for the sport.

Also, what is he looking around at?

rupp-certified salladbar wrote:

That interview was terrible.

He could have talked about the challenge of new workouts, the mental toughness involved with training alone, where the 3000 fits in his plans. Anything at all to sound like something more than a total lump on camera. Honestly, I have seen 9 year-old give more interesting and insightful interviews than that. Great look for the sport.

Also, what is he looking around at?

The interview seemed fine to me. Perhaps Rupp prefers running to talking about running. He expresses himself just fine on the track.

Rupp clearly really doesn't like the direct questions or the interviewer. Kind of funny.

AlSal is creeping. Rupp is a professional. He can cool down on his own. Why the need to babysit. Send controlling and cultish.

As a Rupp fan I think he acted horribly during this interview. They weren't tough questions and they were the only good questions being asked. It's hard to defend him to people when he treats others like this. It made him look like a spoiled brat. The best runner in the country should be a happy guy.