I agree. Especially since American runners are finally starting to (seemingly) have similar top-end aerobic ability, Fisher and a few others who don’t have elite kicks off a hard pace should try pushing the tempo in some of these races. At absolute worst it creates some drama and drives strong championship performances (I realize this is indoor season, so I’m speaking more generally).
Comparing Buddy Edelen to Grant Fisher?Hahahahahahahabbabanabbabba. Edelen might be able to run 28:00 in today’s shoes. But probably closer to 28:30.
That is the point.
Times change. Being the best and beating all your peers does not.
Grant is the 7th fastest in history @ 10000m. He has placed high in Olympics and World Championships. He has set numerous US records. You don’t understand the sport very well.
No way. No medals yet. Sports are about winning at the end of the day. I'd take Centros career over Grants any day of the week. There is always going to be an innovation that makes the previous generations times seem slower as well. People remember who medals more than who time trials a fast race.
Centro is one of the top 5 middle distance runners in US history. Grant is one of the top 10 distance runners in US history.
Name the other nine, and why they're better than Fisher.
I feel like it wasn't as bad of a race as many say here.
He went for the WR, struggled and finished 5. with an indoor PR. He's definitely in sub 13 shape right now. Not a bad place to be at all.
I like his attitude. When he peaks right and runs a bit more according to his strengths (still think he should have gone hard at the worlds 10k with 2-4 laps to go) he will medal on the world stage sooner or later.
Unless he’s the best runner in the field, going hard with 2-4 laps to go will put him out of the medals.
I respectfully disagree. I feel like his chances to medal would have been higher bc I am not sure of the others being able to run 26:30ish like he could.
I am quite sure he would have been able to surge long & hard for 3 laps (like 61 - 61 - 56/57 or so) and that this would not have placed him worse than 4th or 5th and perhaps 1 - 3.
Centro is one of the top 5 middle distance runners in US history. Grant is one of the top 10 distance runners in US history.
Name the other nine, and why they're better than Fisher.
IF you were smarter, and it is clear you are not, you would know that the best distance runner in US history is in the top 10. So is the 7th, for example. So your question makes an assumption which is not necessarily warranted.
Nothing wrong abut that. He just was not ready for the big time.
Wow!
Again, another post from someone who has NEVER competed at this level.
First, Grant is BIG TIME! I'm curious as to what you define as Big Time. Outdoor global finals, U.S. titles, and 3 U.S. outdoor records. If you're measuring stick is world records and global gold medals your "Big Time" club is pretty exclusive. Running 7:35 indoors the middle of February is "Big Time" and a great time! He went out at WR pace and ran until he couldn't keep up (his own admission). Yes, he was disappointed and thought he would run faster, but he understands the process and has a plan for the upcoming summer. I think Grant is on a great trajectory to being a global podium finisher, and he has plenty of time to do it. The toughest thing to endure is being patient over so many years so as to develop overall speed-strength endurance as well as the mental aspect of competing on the world stage (Diamond League and Global Championships). Grant is checking all of those boxes and IMHO he will be rewarded.
This thread may be an exaggerated version but it's the same thing I was thinking as the pace quickened. I fully expected Fisher to get left behind. It was no big deal when an American faltered. The announcer wasn't shocked and didn't make it a theme.
I'll listen about Ethiopians. But when it's an American I fully expect the gleeful interviews with Lewis Johnson after making the team, then a month or two later the same familiar sucker material woulda-shoulda-coulda after the big one.
Nothing wrong abut that. He just was not ready for the big time.
Wow!
Again, another post from someone who has NEVER competed at this level.
Don't wish to single out Aouita since many posters do this. A lot of threads have these posts. Nevertheless, this guy DID write what he posted, so he is included in the following complaint.
Running is the only sport in which commentators have to be better than the stars (at the stars' own discipline) in order to have the right to criticise. All other sport have respected analysts who have never participated in the sport in question at any level. Tune in any day to Stephen A. or Cowherd and you'll here them talking about American football. Some of these shows are intentionally set up as debates. First Take spun off Skip Bayless doing the same on a competing network.
Daily, these guys will say: "Quarterback A sucks. He lost the game." or "Quarterback B is better than A." The 'opposing' anchorperson never - NEVER - replies with "How many TD passess have you thrown in the NFL?" When a call-in reporter is offering an opinion on a player or team, the host NEVER says "How many points have you scored this season?" I have never heard: "They could you easily beat you...in ANY sport!" on a TV or radio program in which sports other than running are discussed. NEVER.
Such rebuttals are unique to running or, perhaps, the LRC MB. And they are meaningless. The technique is simply a fall-back for those unable to argue against another poster's points. The continuously ridiculed Drew Hunter could easily beat all MB posters and moderators including the brojos and (especially) malmo, even at events far from his specialties. So can Fisher. Does Grant suck compared to the very best in the world? Absolutely if his most recent race is indicative. Are there numerous B-list Americans finishing ahead of Hunter? Again yes. My ability is irrelevant to the analysis.
ESPN, Fox Sports, and CBS Sports all have commentators discussing the NBA now that the Super Bowl has passed. Some will claim LeBron is the GOAT. Those who don't - and who themselves have never played a basketball game - will still be allowed to voice opinions. Nobody is saying Jim Rome is better than LeBron or MJ, least of all himself. He is still allowed an opinion in the world in which he operates. It is possible that MJ is not all-time top 5 even. This can be true regardless of the playing ability of whomever is making such a claim.