Chris Derrick vs Trevor Dunbar

Basilisk wrote:

I don't recall anyone getting torqued about Estrada running for Mexico last Olympics. He is now committed to trying to make a U.S. team. I would assume Pappas is following the same model of development.

Actually, a LOT of people on LRC where getting torqued about Estrada and saying the same things they are saying about Pappas - even though Estrada's situation was quite different. He was born in Mexico and was excluded from the US Trials even though later it turned out he was eligible. Pappas' only ties to Greece is her grandmother was born there. Its a very different situation.

Sure. wrote:

He went from a weaker program to a stronger one

Alex went from a strong one to a weaker one

Why does it matter? In both cases they chose the route that gave them more opportunity. Pappas knows she likely wouldn't qualify in the USA this year, but wants the opportunity build her experiences and compete in the olympics. Dunbar knew Portland likely wouldn't win any national championships, so he transferred to a place he knew he could. It's hypocrisy even though he may not have realized it when he said it. I think it's funny we think we can throw stones at Pappas for taking an opportunity that MOST of us would take if we were in her situation.

rustytf2 wrote:

Sure. wrote:

He went from a weaker program to a stronger one

Alex went from a strong one to a weaker one

Why does it matter? In both cases they chose the route that gave them more opportunity. Pappas knows she likely wouldn't qualify in the USA this year, but wants the opportunity build her experiences and compete in the olympics. Dunbar knew Portland likely wouldn't win any national championships, so he transferred to a place he knew he could. It's hypocrisy even though he may not have realized it when he said it. I think it's funny we think we can throw stones at Pappas for taking an opportunity that MOST of us would take if we were in her situation.

I guess some of us (government included) feel that nationality is on a different level than your college. I'm not sure I personally care about what Pappas is doing, but I certainly don't equate it to CHANGING schools, keyword being changing. Giving up one for another. Alexi isn't giving up the US, she's basically borrowing Greece for her benefit.

If what she was doing was equivalent to Trevor, she would have moved to Greece, renounced US citizenship and become a Greek athlete for the future. I'm not saying she has to do that, but that is what Trevor did on the college level.

Not even close to being the same. This is not an opinion/fact thing, it's clearly not the same. Derrick was being a "blank".

douchelin^3 wrote:

Same situation.

He ran 7:47 high...so does that mean we get to knock my 5k PR down to 14:09? Just state the time for what it is. He wasn't in contention to win he race and was off the back with 600 to go. No need to exaggerate his performance.

Bosskk wrote:

He ran 7:47 high...so does that mean we get to knock my 5k PR down to 14:09? Just state the time for what it is. He wasn't in contention to win he race and was off the back with 600 to go. No need to exaggerate his performance.

Nope. He ran 7:43 at House of Track a few weeks ago. 4th behind Centro winning in 7:40.

Why does anyone care what country anyone runs for? I turn on the TV and see coverage of the US presidential election and everyone's waving their American flag and Donald Trump's got his supporters doing Nazi salutes to 'make America great again'. WTF? If Pappas wants to run for Greece, America, Jamaica or wherever, who gives a sh*t? She wants to run in the Olympics and the colour of the jersey she wears is irrelevant to her and any other rational person contrary to what all gun toting, god fearing Americans think. Dunbar and his faux patriotism can take a jump.

This is giving her a chance to increase her marketability and earning potential, how is that different from the quarterback transferring to Oregon or Dunbar transferring to Oregon to win a few national titles?

Hottaeksman wrote:

This is giving her a chance to increase her marketability and earning potential, how is that different from the quarterback transferring to Oregon or Dunbar transferring to Oregon to win a few national titles?

1) Nationality vs college

2) Transfer vs no transfer

D K Hobbs wrote:

Why does anyone care what country anyone runs for? I turn on the TV and see coverage of the US presidential election and everyone's waving their American flag and Donald Trump's got his supporters doing Nazi salutes to 'make America great again'. WTF? If Pappas wants to run for Greece, America, Jamaica or wherever, who gives a sh*t? She wants to run in the Olympics and the colour of the jersey she wears is irrelevant to her and any other rational person contrary to what all gun toting, god fearing Americans think. Dunbar and his faux patriotism can take a jump.

Maybe you are an over de-sensitized liberal (and I am pretty liberal by the way) but over 6 billion people on the planet do care very much about their nationality and have pride in it. It's really an American phenomenon to try and not give a crap about your own country, which is probably why we have choices like Trump and Clinton this day and age. I'm not saying we need to be nationalistic maniacs, but that on occasion, like the world cup or Olympics there is value in cheering for our country people. Heck if our teams get knocked out I enjoy picking another nation to root for.

Have you ever watched an event called the Olympics? It's a thing where different nations send their best competitors against the best from other nations, and the top 3 get medals. It's supposed to embrace different nationalities and promote fair competition. It has value to a lot of people and I personally enjoy knowing that you gotta watch out for the Koreans in short track, the Brazilians in soccer, the Canadians in hockey etc. etc. There is a reason every uniform has its nations flag on it, as opposed to some one world government flag.

So you're more approving of what alexi is doing now than if she were to actually renounce her American citizenship and move to Greece? That doesnt make a whole lot of sense.

Merica let's make it great again!

Vernon Adams had finished his undergraduate degree at EWU and then went to Oregon. Dunbar transferred before finishing his undergrad. Different situation

You make good points, most of which I agree with. The point I'm making is not to have one world government flag but if someone wants to represent a country, no matter how tenuous the link is, why would that be such a problem? I'm Irish and the Irish soccer team is made up a lot players born, raised and living in England with maybe one Irish grandparent, very similar to Pappas, who only play for Ireland because they are not good enough to play for England (they'll never admit to that of course) does that mean I feel the team isn't representative of my country? Not at all. It doesn't bother me and most other Irish people.

Deadman Running wrote:

Basilisk wrote:

I don't recall anyone getting torqued about Estrada running for Mexico last Olympics. He is now committed to trying to make a U.S. team. I would assume Pappas is following the same model of development.

Actually, a LOT of people on LRC where getting torqued about Estrada and saying the same things they are saying about Pappas - even though Estrada's situation was quite different. He was born in Mexico and was excluded from the US Trials even though later it turned out he was eligible. Pappas' only ties to Greece is her grandmother was born there. Its a very different situation.

Agreed completely different situation and I don't have a problem with Diego choosing to represent Mexico. I do take issue with how he handled the decision. He had said he would not represent Mexico regardless because he considered himself and American and only wanted to represent America. But then changed course when it was clear he was unlikely to make the US team. I can understand his ties to Mexico and if he had just said from the start he identified with both countries and wold represent whichever he could at the games I think there's no controversy.

What Pappas is doing although within the rules is a disrespectful to both the US and Greece. And I hope Chris's comments to Dunbar were tongue and cheek. Comparing Dunbar transferring to what Pappas is doing is moronic apple's to oranges.

Damn strait.

'Merica not Grease

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

Agreed completely different situation and I don't have a problem with Diego choosing to represent Mexico. I do take issue with how he handled the decision. He had said he would not represent Mexico regardless because he considered himself and American and only wanted to represent America. But then changed course when it was clear he was unlikely to make the US team. I can understand his ties to Mexico and if he had just said from the start he identified with both countries and wold represent whichever he could at the games I think there's no controversy.

What Pappas is doing although within the rules is a disrespectful to both the US and Greece. And I hope Chris's comments to Dunbar were tongue and cheek. Comparing Dunbar transferring to what Pappas is doing is moronic apple's to oranges.

Nationality is a pathetic human construct. The idea that people should engage in an us vs. them mentality, whether it be at the school spirit level, racial level, or nation level, is a manifestation of our species's outdated tribal structure.

The world would be a much better place if we could just give up this unfortunate genetic programming. The rise of communication and transport technology renders the existential need for tribalism moot.

Greg wrote:

Vernon Adams had finished his undergraduate degree at EWU and then went to Oregon. Dunbar transferred before finishing his undergrad. Different situation

You're being cute, but technically I think you're wrong. Adams couldn't even train with Oregon until the season began because HE HADN'T finished all of his courses when he began his transfer process. Not that it matters because you certainly understand the difference between these situations and Alexi's. Also, I don't think the EWU players felt it was all hunky dory with his undergrad being done and all. He had more eligibility for EWU and they punished him for it. Cheap shotted him in that game and broke his finger, which cost him the middle of his season, a shot at being a Heisman candidate, Oregons shot at a national champhionship and could have cost him a chance at the NFL, though it's looking good for him now.

But imagine if he would have gone to Oregon for the season to play and then returned to EWU to graduate. Funny how that isn't allowed, but yet it's more similar to what Pappas is doing.

Monkeybones wrote:

So you're more approving of what alexi is doing now than if she were to actually renounce her American citizenship and move to Greece? That doesnt make a whole lot of sense.

Not sure how you got that. Sorry for sidetracking you.