Disturbing - USA national uniforms @ NYC Marathon

I've worn a Scotland vest in the Manchester 10k and got a lot of shouts from other Scots in the crowd! It was amazing. I reckon Andrew Lemoncello would have had much more support at London If he'd had a GB vest on. Ritz et al wearing a vest like that is fine by me

So would you b!tch about other countries wearing their national jersey? Grow up; they are proud Americans representing their country. Either you’re looking for your 15 minutes of fame on LRC or you’re actually this much of a troll to make this stupid argument.

Just shut up please. Thank you.

I've given this more thought and have to double back here, sorta. I never said I was especially against it but some of the arguments here for it are compelling indeed. To me, what matters most is what gets the job done. If the USA stuff (even Hall in his asics USA uni) helps to raise the profile of athletes in the sport then great. It can't hurt to try it, that I can tell. It'd be great to see more of our best athletes in high profile races (not just Olympics or WC) showing up with USA on their chests. I root for the runners at my local college because of the name or logo on their chests, same for the Hansons crew. It'd probably help market our sport and its athletes to the US general public than the names on the bibs have. I still don't feel that way about putting the flag on clothing or using the flag like athletes do after finishing a race.

The Stache wrote:

If the athletes WANT to wear the USA, they have that right, especially those who have represented the USA at an actual international championship. But for it to be mandated is silly, contrived, and a bit jingoistic.

Did I miss something? Did somebody claim it was mandatory?

hmmmmmm wrote:

I'm not for or against this practice of wearing the national jersey, mostly because I haven't thought about it, but I do have an issue of identifying people by their citizenship.

The NBA doesn't say "Steve Nash - CAN"

Races, unless it's an event like the Olympics, should identify the athletes either by their team/club or sponsor.

IE: Dathan Ritzenhein - Nike

They identify by country in Tennis and a lot of other individual sports.

None of the Kenyans are wearing their club jerseys. Their teams are sponsored by concrete companies, police, and military, right?

Dumbest. Thread. Ever.

In fact, it would probably help both casual viewers and dedicated fans if there was some variation in what people raced in. It sucks to watch and have everyone in the same uniforms and you can't tell anyone apart.

I saw a 2:40-ish guy wearing a USA jersey in the Baltimore marathon this year. I know for a fact he has never represented the U.S. (or qualified for the trials) in anything. Pretty sure he's worn it in other races, as well. I don't have a problem with people wearing the jersey when they've earned it. But there are people out there who buy the gear.

No wonder no one follows running and most people think runners are a bunch of dorks. I mean seriously we are arguing about a uniform. Give it a rest.

Crystal Cube wrote:

So would you b!tch about other countries wearing their national jersey? Grow up; they are proud Americans representing their country. Either you’re looking for your 15 minutes of fame on LRC or you’re actually this much of a troll to make this stupid argument.

Cube, but are they representing their country????

Was there a trials race to make the USA team for the NYC marathon? I think not.

Look, Tim Nelson (at least at NYC marathon) is representing HIMSELF...not the USA.

I have no issue with the Bolder Boulder team race, or the Chiba Eikeden because they are sanctioned international competitions (USA T&F seal of approval), but NYC marathon is not an international competition...just an international field.

Are runners like Tim Nelson kinda perpetuating a fraud by misleading the uninformed into thinking that NYC marathon is an international competition...akin to the world championships.

Could it be that I actually have more national pride than most of you do.

Ever heard the expression "the right place at the right time"....that's all I am asking you to consider.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

The Stache wrote:

If the athletes WANT to wear the USA, they have that right, especially those who have represented the USA at an actual international championship. But for it to be mandated is silly, contrived, and a bit jingoistic.

Did I miss something? Did somebody claim it was mandatory?

The professionals wore what the uniforms that their sponsors gave them. They decide whether they are to wear a purely commercial uniform or a national uniform, if appropriate.

Ever heard of "Freedom of Expression"??? And right place at the right time?! NYC Marathon is in our own f*cking country you idiot! We (Americans) can wear whatever we want to wear in our own country's race! I'm not taking anything you say seriously. And those who wore the USA singlets actually represented the U.S. in some major championship race (olympics, Worlds, whatever else) so they have every right to wear those jersey. Just not the pros, but a non-pro or elite American can wear a USA jersey because they are proud representing America. God I hope you're not American because if you are, disgrace to you.

Siman Bairu wore a Canada jersey at NYC.

Those weren't the national uniforms. They were uniforms that had USA on the front, but that doesn't make them national uniforms. As someone pointed out Ryan Hall had an Asics Blue singlet w/ USA on it for Boston and Ritz had a Nike red one w/ USA on it for NY yesterday, Meb's was a Nike white w/ USA on it. None of those were the national uniform.

New Balance used to make a shoe that had a big USA on the heel that didn't make those the national shoes, just like putting a USA on singlet doesn't make it the national uniform

Thank you for bringing that up non-african.

Alright Fossil, are going to argue how Bairu wore a Canadian jersey??? I thought it's not a good idea representing your country by wearing your country's singlet. So are you going to bash Bairu or be a pr*ck and continue to bash only Americans??? Answer to that!

Crystal Cube wrote:

Ever heard of "Freedom of Expression"??? And right place at the right time?! NYC Marathon is in our own f*cking country you idiot! We (Americans) can wear whatever we want to wear in our own country's race! I'm not taking anything you say seriously. And those who wore the USA singlets actually represented the U.S. in some major championship race (olympics, Worlds, whatever else) so they have every right to wear those jersey. Just not the pros, but a non-pro or elite American can wear a USA jersey because they are proud representing America. God I hope you're not American because if you are, disgrace to you.

Easy, easy there, pussycat.

Good god people, you would think I am espousing NEVER wearing the USA national uniform. Why are you freaking out that I am suggesting the USA national uniform should only be worn for international championships, plus certain team events?

So why didn't Tim Nelson wear his USA uni at Pre, at track nationals, at Philly Distance Run????

Look if every Nike athlete (runners, jumpers, throwers) wore the USA kit at every domestic competition...you don't think that wouldn't DILUTE the significance of the USA national uniform????

Why am I the only one making insightful, reasoned arguments for my position.....you all only say "no big deal". I wish it was more of a deal for more of you.

The Nike USA singlets worn at the NYC marathon were the official Nike USA singlets you get when you make a national team. USATF gives them to them to wear at the races. I'm pretty sure the only athletes allowed to wear them without upsetting their sponsors are NIKE athletes. That is why Hall had a "fake" USA singlet at Boston. Kenyan athletes (if sponsored by Nike) proudly wear their Kenyan national team singlets at major marathons, major USA track meets, and cross country races.

Like past posters have said, they have proudly earned those Jerseys by making National teams in the past, so its not like they just bought them at the USATF tent before the race.

Which brings up another point. The 2008 USA kit singlets available for purchase at the USATF tent are only replica's. They are by no means the quality of the official singlets. The replicas feature stiching in uncomfortable places, and ironed on USA decals. Where the official one's have absolutely no stiching at all, and the USA is part of the actual material. If anybody has made a national team before and saw the replica jersey, they would know the difference.

Was there anything wrong with Salazar wearing his Oregon singlet in marathons back when?

I don't think it's a huge deal if someone wants to buy a USA singlet from USATF to wear to the Turkey Trot. I kind of feel sad for an adult wearing it, but I feel that way about an adult wearing any pro level sports jersey. They're out there showing visible support for our national teams and athletes. Maybe even showing personal aspiration, like kids wearing Tom Brady's jersey to play football in the yard on Thanksgiving. We don't really have any other teams or ways to show visible support like that for our sport and athletes.