It's unfortunately how little people realize what a professional athlete does around events besides running the race.
First, Hall is a truly gracious, decent person who takes time for the dozens or in some cases hundreds of people that want to meet, talk or get photos taken with him. What he has done as an athlete, a humanitarian or as a Christian resonates with those who wait in line for many minutes to get the autograph or photo op.
Whether or not you like his current performance or his relationship with God doesn't matter. It DOES matter to a LOT of people and they would much rather have a moment with him than say Christo Landry (at least at this point in his career).
We don't know the circumstances of his injury or why he came to Atlanta when he may not have been prepared or capable or racing. Likely, organizers/sponsors wanted him there even if he could not finish because of the promotion he brings to expos and local media based on his past performance, not what he was or wasn't capable of. Perhaps he offered not to come because he didn't feel like he could perform but decided since his wife was racing and organizers said to come because of what he brought prior to the event was more valuable than if he won or finished 20th (or DNF).
We've had the privilege of having Ryan come to our business for a day (actually during a family trip, not event or sponsor arranged). He was amazing with those that attended the clinic and incredible with our staff. He was super accommodating, easy going and flexible in dealing with the demands of a visit he did on his own with no compensation.
Yes, it would be nice if he could return to the level he achieved in the past but even if he doesn't he still has so much to offer beyond the ability to run fast. One thing for sure is that his greatest talent is his belief in himself even when the training or results may not point to a great result. And that is what will allow him to perhaps reach the level he did in the past. Yes, to the outsider it may seem deluded to talk about great results when past or current performance indicate otherwise. However, he has seen himself that he can exceed his training/performance in the past and can do it again in the future. Fortunately he doesn't worry about the haters on LRC or he would have likely quit after his frosh year at Stanford.