Outside Mag: Galen Rupp is hard to love

I love that the article is followed by an article on Desi. Two athletes who have such different career trajectories and while one could argue Galen has the superior career, Desi is the one whom the running community embraces and loves to root for.

Agree with the article. I also agree with your assessment that Outside is doing a good job with running related content. I was happy when they picked up Alex Hutchinson.

The problem with Rupp is that he has been with Salazar far to long. He projects many of the bad traits and habits of Salazar's. … It is obvious to me that Salazar intends Rupp to inherit NOP. I think Rupp should separate himself from Salazar, but that seems likely to never happen.

The article is true, but I still think it’s a jerky article to write and publish.

That is like a negative yelp review of a store or restaurant by a customer who didn’t get exactly what they wanted. Rupp does give perfectly fine interviews like the one with the Brazilian podcaster. Writer sounded bitter that he couldn’t land an interview.

dwightarm wrote:

I love that the article is followed by an article on Desi. Two athletes who have such different career trajectories and while one could argue Galen has the superior career, Desi is the one whom the running community embraces and loves to root for.

Huh? 26:44, 2 x oly medals, as a Chicago win are all that needs to be said. There's no arguing. AT ALL. Sheesh, I'm not even a Rupp fan.

They Hate Us Cause They Ain't Us.

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

Also, bull$h!t:

"which it is suggested that former Oregon Project runner Dathan Ritzenhein was pressured into taking a high-volume infusion of L-carnitine against his will."

No one held a gun to his head. He's a grown man making grown man decisions.

Blahhhh wrote:

That is like a negative yelp review of a store or restaurant by a customer who didn’t get exactly what they wanted. Rupp does give perfectly fine interviews like the one with the Brazilian podcaster. Writer sounded bitter that he couldn’t land an interview.

Exactly, the spent half of the piece talking about how he tried to get an interview prior to the 2016 games but was told no by Nike. Then complained about it. Time for the writer to grow up. No one owes him an interview.

Galen isn't easy to like ,but I don't have to like him to appreciate his body of work.

Really?????? wrote:

The article is true, but I still think it’s a jerky article to write and publish.

It isn’t jerky at all, it’s insightful and unlike most articles about Galen Rupp, interesting. I have been following distance running for 40 years and interviewed a number of runners myself. Rarely have I met a pair of chaps in this sport who was as difficult to root for as Salazar and Rupp. They stand out in a subculture that is generally populated by gregarious and decent folk, and this is both odd and disappointing to many of us who have been around the sport a long time. What I find most strange about your comment is that you think the article “is true” but “jerky”. That pretty much sums up the mentality of America today. You don’t really want the press to be insightful. You want corporate-approved, air-brushed cave paintings that tell a simple story which won’t upset the apple cart. Well, how about embracing truth once in a while.

I’m fine with the press covering Salazar’s questionable attempts to get an edge for his athletes. That’s factual and ought to be covered. I’m not fine with the press saying about Rupp “too bad nobody likes him,” which isn’t true and is just jerky. Report facts and I can make up my own mind about which athletes and coaches are d-bags.

It also doesn’t help his cause that he doesn’t do well in photos. It’s obvious that the Kara Gouchers and Shalane Flanagan’s are going to be popular and fawned over. Desi is cute but keeps a low key image and Meb just looks the part. It’s gotta be hard to sell the image of a guy who always looks awkward.

Really?????? wrote:

The article is true, but I still think it’s a jerky article to write and publish.

Indeed. A pretty dirtbaggish thing to write. And this is a major publication?

You either have poor reading comprehension or you didn't bother to read the article. The facts of the lukewarm reception to Rupp's success are reported in the article in the English language. That is straightforward journalism, not opinion. Rupp has shown created this situation quite independent of Salazar on national television, by choosing to spit instead of shaking Bernard Lagat's hand, by walking past journalists ignoring their questions when he has a bad race. There are facts that we have all seen documented before our own eyes.

Rupp doesn't come across as particularly smart. He's not articulate and his presentation is a bit robotic. Though these aren't atypical traits for the schoolboyish jock-type, it does create a bit of a maturity problem. He'd do well to have some endeavor on the side, like Ryan Hall had the Steps Foundation. Something to show the public he's got something else going on aside from his own glory.

Or it seems like you have a biased viewpoint already. In that case, of course this will seem like a fair article..to you. Many people walk by journalists when they have a bad race. Didn't shake Lagat's hand? Seriously?

I'll just state facts. He was loudly booed when introduced at the Boston start line. I was surprised how loud.

'side Hopkingtown wrote:

I'll just state facts. He was loudly booed when introduced at the Boston start line. I was surprised how loud.

Was that Meb and Goucher screaming from the sidelines?

bdbgerg wrote:

Fentrekker wrote:

You either have poor reading comprehension or you didn't bother to read the article. The facts of the lukewarm reception to Rupp's success are reported in the article in the English language. That is straightforward journalism, not opinion. Rupp has shown created this situation quite independent of Salazar on national television, by choosing to spit instead of shaking Bernard Lagat's hand, by walking past journalists ignoring their questions when he has a bad race. There are facts that we have all seen documented before our own eyes.

Or it seems like you have a biased viewpoint already. In that case, of course this will seem like a fair article..to you. Many people walk by journalists when they have a bad race. Didn't shake Lagat's hand? Seriously?

Not at all biased. I root for Rupp, but it is nowhere near as much fun as rooting for Frank Shorter, Steve Prefontaine, Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit Samuelson, etc. They were all great runners but more importantly they seemed genuinely thankful for our support. I have never seen a sign from Galen that he cared if anyone but Salazar cared. I admire his love for his coach. It is obviously a deep relationship, but sports is also entertainment, and nearly every other champ I have seen is way more gracious. And yes, Galen did spit rather than shake Lagat’s hand. End of the 2012 5000 at the US Trials. It was rough to watch because I was thrilled that Galen won. So no, I am not biased. I still root for him to win. I also root for him to become more his own man, and less of a Nike stooge.