Josh Thompson of Oklahoma State Had Top Times in 800 and 1500 at Big 12s & Didn't Run Final Today 'Cause It's Sunday

jewbacca wrote:

Only read headlines wrote:

And so what if I tell my kids there is a Santa Claus? It makes them happy! Plus, if they don't believe in Santa Claus, they will burn for ALL ETERNITY, so I'd be a pretty subpar parent if I didn't force them to worship Santa Claus.

Like I said, it makes them happy. Ignorance is bliss after all.

So what's your problem here? That people choose to believe things you don't agree with or are illogical to you? Doesn't that seem a little bigoted to you?

If religions let children choose what to believe then there would be no religions.

1. Why are there college competitions on a Sunday?

2. If he knew he wasn't going to race he should have stayed home.

3. If his coach knew he wasn't going to race he shouldn't have entered him in the meet

awesome!!!!!

keep up the values at all cost !!!

awesome!!!!!

keep up the values at all cost !!!

There is a lot of praise for him standing up for his beliefs. Would I get the same support if I stood up for my belief that he is being an idiot?

jjjjjj wrote:

Strong performances from Thompson. Kudos to him for adhering to his beliefs, no matter how irrational they may be.

That's how I feel about children who serve Allah as suicide bombers. Not really for me, but they're so darned brave!

Umm... wrote:

If he has no intention of running on Sunday why can't they put the next fastest q through to the final? If someone qualified Saturday and broke their leg crossing the finish line, wouldn't they be scratched and someone bumped up to take their place? He should have scratched so someone could run in his place. Deliberately blocking another athlete from running a race you have no intention of starting seems remarkably...unChristian.

That's the coach's decision to scratch and seek replacement, not the athlete's burden. He did nothing unChristian.

Jed Clampett wrote:

Why are they still running races on Sunday?

So they can be in classes one additional day during finals week. The vast majority of track & field athletes are students first.

jewbacca wrote:

oneoftheyoungboyz wrote:

I think he's unfortunately a victim of religion. Brainwashed by a fairy tale that causes war and violence.

I don't understand this viewpoint. If it makes him happy, how is he a victim? And do you realize that the VAST majority of believers, in any religion, are peaceful people?

I feel it is you who have been brainwashed into thinking otherwise.

I'm not arguing for religion, but against those who are antagonistic towards it. Your hatred disturbs me.

You hit it on the head. As an atheist, I understand people's doubts. However, to be blatantly antagonistic is ironic because its far more bigoted than the beliefs that they're railing against. Religion is not inherently bad nor good. It is simply a megaphone that amplifies the virtues and vices of its followers.

an innocuous action provision is implicit here. we're talking about a track meet.

dslfasjldkfasldfjklasdfj wrote:

If he wants to DNS, more power to him, but this:

LetsRun.com wrote:

... and does keep another school from putting someone else in the final.

is sleazy as hell.

100% agree. As a coach, I would support my athlete if they didn't run for religious reasons on Sundays.

But I would also scratch him from the final so that another athlete can advance. To me, that is the sporting choice. This is especially true since this athlete had planned from the start to not run in the final.

Apparently sportsmanship isn't written explicitly in the bible, so he isn't compelled to be a good person in that aspect. I say that as a catholic (who runs/works on sundays) and as a coach.

First off I def respect anyone's religious beliefs. I for one do not like the idea of having collegiate competitions/meets on Sundays. Seems like this never happened in the past and has def been more common the past 10 years. But as a coach I prob would not sign a kid I knew would not be able to compete on a Sunday if our conference meet fell on a Sunday. Unless we knew of an event he could be just as good on on another day. Call that discriminating if you like, but if he's on a good scholarship then the coach and team have the right to have him compete on any day. Just wondering if this was known up front when he became a member or scholarship athlete on the team and if the coach was ok with him not running?

Well, a journalist who was writing a profile on Thompson last year spilled the beans that Thompson doesn't run on Sundays, and Dave Smith is a well-regarded coach and generally a smart guy, so I'm thinking he probably knew well before yesterday that Thompson does not run on Sundays.

momanknows wrote:

First off I def respect anyone's religious beliefs. I for one do not like the idea of having collegiate competitions/meets on Sundays. Seems like this never happened in the past and has def been more common the past 10 years. But as a coach I prob would not sign a kid I knew would not be able to compete on a Sunday if our conference meet fell on a Sunday. Unless we knew of an event he could be just as good on on another day. Call that discriminating if you like, but if he's on a good scholarship then the coach and team have the right to have him compete on any day. Just wondering if this was known up front when he became a member or scholarship athlete on the team and if the coach was ok with him not running?

mark b wrote:

Many ideologies can be dismissed as "fairy tales" by people who don't share those beliefs - but what do those cynics believe in? By what value system do they live their lives?

So it's okay to live your life according to some fairy tale ideology because it gives you a value system' to live by? Really?

I live my life by my own 'value system'. Just normal decency, fairness, respect, etc. Not because I was told that's how I should behave, but because I find it the right thing to do. Are you implying there's anything wrong with that?

If Josh Thompson stated he could not race on a certain day of the week due to his belief that the sun revolves around the earth, I'm pretty sure that most of the population would not support him receiving a scholarship to a public university.

But if he does the same thing due to christian beliefs, he's a big hero to millions.

But really, there is no difference between the two positions.

Twinn wrote:

There is a lot of praise for him standing up for his beliefs. Would I get the same support if I stood up for my belief that he is being an idiot?

Those same folks may support you if you were to sacrifice something important to you because of your belief.

How about you forgo your next paycheck based on your belief that he is an idiot?

mark b wrote:

I do not share his beliefs for a moment BUT I admire anyone who stands by his principles even at some personal cost and the possibility of public ridicule.

So, you admire terrorists? Suicide bombers, even?

RossiCheated wrote:

mark b wrote:

I do not share his beliefs for a moment BUT I admire anyone who stands by his principles even at some personal cost and the possibility of public ridicule.

So, you admire terrorists? Suicide bombers, even?

Ha, he must admire the Westboro Baptist Church and the KKK as well.

Question Axer wrote:

1. Why are there college competitions on a Sunday?

2. If he knew he wasn't going to race he should have stayed home.

3. If his coach knew he wasn't going to race he shouldn't have entered him in the meet

1. There are all kinds of collegiate competitions on Sundays. Folks that plan schedules are not beholden to days that people from a specific religion hold dearly. Separation of church and state...

2. I believe what he raced was perfectly fine. If you are upset that he made it to the final and you did not then you should have beat him. Admittedly, knowing that he's not running another round on Sunday allows him to not worry about exerting a max effort, but I digress...

3. His coach did the right thing. Coaches coach to better the PR's of their athletes every time out - or they should be. Of course, I understand team championships and how they are tactical, but that is just another way of bettering their athletes. In this case, this kid practiced some tactical running presumably in preparation for nationals.

My issue with this is if it were to happen on the international stage. I'd hope that if this kid were to qualify for an international team he would make everyone aware that he won't run on a Sunday - or any other day he can't. The selection committee would have the unenviable task of deciding of whether he gets to travel. I for one am glad I never have to make that decision.