ok, i've tended to think the pollen talk is just excuses, and the mask is hilarious, but when rupp and farah were commentating, rupp said something about how salazar looks it up on "pollen.com or whatever". I thought it was a joke.
I just checked pollen.com, and the most intense pollen over the entire US is indeed centered on the coast of Oregon. I couldn't believe it.
As much as I hate to see an Olympic silver medalist('s coach) making excuses like that, maybe there is something to it.