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Member
Posts: 40
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| I agree, it will turn into a "who's more outraged" thread. But what else are internet forums for?
Just a warning: Don't confuse nationality with race. What pisses me off is that's implied in the article that "American-born" is interchangeable with "white".
How people can make the jump from nationality to race is beyond me. The article discusses how he's not "American-born" and goes on to discuss how being of East-African descent gives him the upper hand, possibly because it's "in his gene's". What about all the african/asian/hispanic-Americans who are born here? Shouldn't it be in their gene's?
Note: Non-American-born people have fought and died in our countries military for years, yet no one says they're "not American enough"
Edited by BurghGuy 2009-11-03 4:24 PM
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Regular
Posts: 89
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| swimbikeandrun - 2009-11-03 3:23 PM mmrocker13 - 2009-11-03 2:38 PM Do only the untalented, unathletically gifted people get to be "Americans"? Quite the contrary. There never seems to be a problem in the Olympics when someone from 'another country' represents the USA. "..foreign-born athletes competing in USA uniforms at the Beijing Olympics. There are at least 33 of them, compared to 27 at the 2004 Summer Games, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which didn't track the statistic before then. They include four Chinese-born table tennis players, a kayaker from Britain, Russian-born world champion gymnast Nastia Liukin and seven members of the track-and-field team. For those seeking symbolism, it's hard to top the men's 1,500-meter squad — Kenya native Bernard Lagat; Lopez Lomong, one of the "lost boys" of Sudan's civil war who spent a decade in a refugee camp; and Leo Manzano, a Mexican laborer's son who moved to the U.S. when he was 4 but didn't gain citizenship until 2004." He wants to be an American. He's an American. Period.
x2...
All sides of my family immigrated pre revolution (except those already here)...but I consider Lagat as "American" as I. His comments at Beijing were classy, inspirational, and I considered him a great "ambassador." That is my sole exposure to him...so there may be controversies I have missed...but "good on him" for that day!
Seems silly debate.
I do think that when racing international events...if one chooses to drape a flag over yourself...it probably ought to be that of the country you are racing for...or maybe carry two...'eh? | |
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Expert
Posts: 1074
Location: Calgary
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 Bronze member | Well, here is the thing, as far as I am concerned, why does it matter.
Does it matter that an American wins the NYC Marathon? Initially, if you are one to take pride in your country and connect yourself with your country and the person who won the marathon also takes pride in belonging to his country, which is also your country, you know I suppose that kinda feels good. I mean that is why we watch sport, to live vicariously through the victories of others and somehow own a part of the victory. However, he is the one who kicked a$$ (assuming he did, I didn't watch the race). IMO His accomplishment does not really speak to anything uniquely American. Neither do Ryan Hall's accomplishments. Neither do the failings of any other runner.
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Veteran
Posts: 236
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| swimbikeandrun - 2009-11-03 3:23 PM
He wants to be an American. He's an American. Period.
Absolutely.
In the "want" category - he wore a USA shirt, he broke down and cried after the race and grabbed an American flag to run around with.
The guy is obviously very proud to be a citizen. I'm proud to have him one.
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Coach
Posts: 4575
 
Location: Sixburgh
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| Did Zeb wear shoes as a child before moving to the US?
Asking because elastic recoil of the musculoskeletal system provides significant energy in running movement. The more flexible your achilles & hip flexors are, the more elastic recoil available for forward propulsion. One of MANY factors thought to make African runners so talented. (The "eggs against the wall theory" being another factor)
This is not a question of race, but of environment. Even white South Africans spend much of their childhood without shoes.
My comments are neither racial nor national, but rather environmental. It's possible that his physical environment as a child before moving to America could have some impact on his natural running talent.
Things to think about... | |
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Regular
Posts: 89
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| AdventureBear - 2009-11-04 12:22 AM Did Zeb wear shoes as a child before moving to the US? Asking because elastic recoil of the musculoskeletal system provides significant energy in running movement. The more flexible your achilles & hip flexors are, the more elastic recoil available for forward propulsion. One of MANY factors thought to make African runners so talented. (The "eggs against the wall theory" being another factor) This is not a question of race, but of environment. Even white South Africans spend much of their childhood without shoes. My comments are neither racial nor national, but rather environmental. It's possible that his physical environment as a child before moving to America could have some impact on his natural running talent. Things to think about...
Yes..but...this is not a uniquely "non-american" environmental factor. I was raised in Alabama. All the kids ran track, at the suggestion of the local pediatricians, barefoot. I don't know if they "outgrew" this belief/practise in recent years (now in Savannah). | |
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Coach
Posts: 4575
Location: Sixburgh
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| RiverRat50 - 2009-11-04 4:13 AM
AdventureBear - 2009-11-04 12:22 AM Did Zeb wear shoes as a child before moving to the US? Asking because elastic recoil of the musculoskeletal system provides significant energy in running movement. The more flexible your achilles & hip flexors are, the more elastic recoil available for forward propulsion. One of MANY factors thought to make African runners so talented. (The "eggs against the wall theory" being another factor) This is not a question of race, but of environment. Even white South Africans spend much of their childhood without shoes. My comments are neither racial nor national, but rather environmental. It's possible that his physical environment as a child before moving to America could have some impact on his natural running talent. Things to think about... Yes..but...this is not a uniquely "non-american" environmental factor. I was raised in Alabama. All the kids ran track, at the suggestion of the local pediatricians, barefoot. I don't know if they "outgrew" this belief/practise in recent years (now in Savannah ).
I simply said they were things to think about, which many people don't. Also, I'm not referring to barefoot running, but rather living life without shoes on which allows for more stretching of the Achilles tendons during development years.
I think the bigger issue here, and why Zeb winning is important has far less to do with where he was born, when he moved ot he US or whether or not he is a citizen. One of the big "debates" (can't think of a better word) is how training of US distance runners differs from those in other countries.
Zeb was trained by American coaches on American teams, which is significant.
No one can deny that "good genetics" is a large factor in sports performance. Zeb chose good parents obviously.
It's a silly discussion overall and peopel should look at the facts instead of the "passion" of the argument. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 267
Location: Columbus, IN
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| WelshinPhilly - 2009-11-02 3:14 PM Couldn't this have been easily settled by checking for a flag magnet on Meb's car?
Your flag decal won't get you into Heaven, anymore. - John Prine. | |
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Is NYC marathon winner American enough?
