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Conway Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001 Posts: 3570 Location: Northen California
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2002 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hmmm .. Thought I was always the critical one .. I'm going to make this obtuse statement: Webb and Ritz did very little and they did a ton !! How's that ??
As far as their times and impact on the sport as a whole they did little .. Their times were pedestrian by world standards .. and they are average in comparison to their contemporaries ..
But in America !!! What they did meant everything to Americans .. Because of the perception / dream / hope of what they can do .. As DG says we've been so down here that any glimmer of hope looks good .. And that is sad ..
I am still cautious however, as the road they have to travel is very long .. Where they are and where they need ot be ot be competitive on the world scene are "miles" apart - pun intended .. I just hope that when they get there - cause I do think they will - the bar is still in the same place .. |
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Micah Ward Olympic Medalist
Joined: 08 May 2000 Posts: 2152 Location: Hot&humid, GA
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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I got to agree with DG and Conway on this one.
Dan, sometimes you could make a revival preacher cuss. |
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Dan Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2002 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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Micah, you can't do that... I'm pretty sure Conway and I are saying the same thing!
My point is that outside the general populace's interest in our sport, Webb and Ritzenheim really did not accomplish much of note. They are being compared to 30 year old marks, yet those marks were actually internationally competitive back then... Sure, it's great we have people back to that level, but that level is meaningless.
Dan |
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Micah Ward Olympic Medalist
Joined: 08 May 2000 Posts: 2152 Location: Hot&humid, GA
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2002 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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It isn't meaningless if it is a springboard that leads to bigger and better results and brings some fans to the sport. That is what I am hoping for. |
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Distance_Guru World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002 Posts: 1280 Location: Nebraska
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2002 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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I couldn't agree more.
_________________ Time is the fire in which we burn |
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Conway Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001 Posts: 3570 Location: Northen California
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2002 7:41 am Post subject: |
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t its gotta happen fast becasue the rest of the world isn't going to sit and wait .. More like ist and kick .. |
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Dan Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Thu May 02, 2002 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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So, you've basically saying their marks are not meaningful by themselves, but carry meaning because they could lead to meaningful marks by Webb/Ritz or others down the road? In which case, I ask again, why should I get excited about those marks for what they are now?
Dan
[ This Message was edited by: Dan on 2002-05-02 19:39 ] |
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Conway Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001 Posts: 3570 Location: Northen California
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Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 8:53 am Post subject: |
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I'm not excited about the marks, bu tby th eexcitement that the general populace has developed .. The marks are menaingless .. They won't garner medals let alone win a race .. But the excitement that has been generated could induce others to work to try to achieve some level of success .. As I tried to say in a post above (that somehow got squiggled up) It better happen quickly beforre the bar is raised much higher ..
As for Web and Ritz .. I feel for them becasue they are expected to do something they may never do .. When Ryun and Pre were doing their thing they were hwat I call "man childs" - their times were almost the best in the world already .. Today those times are barely national class .. If Webb runs 3:32 he'll still be on the outside looking in !! Just as others have been .. He'll have ot get to 3:28 to really be in the hunt .. That's 10 seconds from where he has been ..
If you want to compare Webb and his percentage of the WR at 1500 to say 100 meter sprinters his 3:38 is the equivalent of a 10.36 sprinter - plenty of those coming out of high school .. Odds of them getting to the WR - almost nil .. Odds of them becoming competitive - say 10.00 range - better but still slim .. Not trying to sound negative, just explaining my cautious optimism ..
I'm more excited about WEbb and Ritz for what they may spawn as opposed to what they may do .. |
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