"Summer of Webb" 2007- What a Joke!

Bernard Lagat ain't American. What are you talking about? Wasn't 2007 the year Lagat faked citizenship for Kenya and then failed an A sample with EPO?

kh wrote:

Bernard Lagat ain't American. What are you talking about? Wasn't 2007 the year Lagat faked citizenship for Kenya and then failed an A sample with EPO?

I thought he was American in 2005?

It was Webb's best summer.

WTFBBQ wrote:

kh wrote:

Bernard Lagat ain't American. What are you talking about? Wasn't 2007 the year Lagat faked citizenship for Kenya and then failed an A sample with EPO?

I thought he was American in 2005?

He was American in 2004 BEFORE the Athens Olympics.

The article was about Webb in the summer of 2007. The article was not about great runners in the summer of 2007.

readerofthings wrote:

The article was about Webb in the summer of 2007. The article was not about great runners in the summer of 2007.

I just realized I insulted Webb with that comment. I meant to say it was about Webb specifically and not about the time frame.

Why all these threads on ancient runners, let's talk about Rupp, or Centro

Bernie L wrote:

I can't believe this. Are we all forgetting that a certain other American called Bernard Lagat won world titles at both 1500m AND 5000m that very same summer? But somehow it's the "summer of Webb"? Really?? He ran some good times but couldn't come through when it counted.

You must be new to this site. They LOVE Webb. Probably their favorite runner of all time followed closely by Chris Solinsky and Ryan Hall. Joanie might crack the top 500.

higherscooler wrote:

Why all these threads on ancient runners, let's talk about Rupp, or Centro

I was breaking 14 when you were sh1ttin in your hands and rubbing it in your face!

5IVE000 wrote:

higherscooler wrote:

Why all these threads on ancient runners, let's talk about Rupp, or Centro

I was breaking 14 when you were sh1ttin in your hands and rubbing it in your face!

Really, what did you run 13:59. Lmao

Bernie L wrote:

I can't believe this. Are we all forgetting that a certain other American called Bernard Lagat won world titles at both 1500m AND 5000m that very same summer? But somehow it's the "summer of Webb"? Really?? He ran some good times but couldn't come through when it counted.

It's better than that summer of mojo or whatever people on here reference.

I do appreciate that it was Webb's best summer and that he is a very popular figure on this site. I just think it's hilarious that for the ONLY summer in recent memory when an American was PROVABLY the best mid-distance runner in the world, they went ahead and claimed that a DIFFERENT American was the best mid-distance runner in the world.

kh wrote:

Bernard Lagat ain't American. What are you talking about? Wasn't 2007 the year Lagat faked citizenship for Kenya and then failed an A sample with EPO?

Ya but the B sample was clean

Bernie's not all bad

Bernie L wrote:

He ran some good times but couldn't come through when it counted.

Every race counts.

Idkdk wrote:

Bernie L wrote:

He ran some good times but couldn't come through when it counted.

Every race counts.

A useless platitude. Webb himself clearly feels (or felt at the time) that he fell short that year. In retrospect, it turned out to be his best year, and he did some pretty great things. Just not as great as Lagat.

Very good article about Webb. One of the best track articles I've seen in years. Webb is the GOAT US miler.

Bernie L wrote:

I do appreciate that it was Webb's best summer and that he is a very popular figure on this site. I just think it's hilarious that for the ONLY summer in recent memory when an American was PROVABLY the best mid-distance runner in the world, they went ahead and claimed that a DIFFERENT American was the best mid-distance runner in the world.

This

Bernie L wrote:

I do appreciate that it was Webb's best summer and that he is a very popular figure on this site. I just think it's hilarious that for the ONLY summer in recent memory when an American was PROVABLY the best mid-distance runner in the world, they went ahead and claimed that a DIFFERENT American was the best mid-distance runner in the world.

1) Webb was clearly way better than Lagat up through August. It's not debatable. Outdoors in 2007, Webb beat Lagat 3 times and lost once.

2) While the point of the season is obviously to win the gold medal, I think ti's worth noting that Bernard Lagat won just 2 of his 7 1500s in 2007 (In the 5000, he won 2 of 3 but the third was a 13:12 9th place finish after Worlds) It's also worth noting that the man ranked #1 in the world that year by Track and Filed News was Danile K Komen who didn't even make the finals of Worlds.

3) Even if Lagat was better on the whole (that year and for his career), what's wrong with writing about Webb? Our audience is primarily comprised of people born and raised in the USA. The vast majority of them relate better to a guy who was born and raised in the US- the HS record holder who was on Letterman in HS way better than someone who was born at atltitude and competing for Kenya in the 2004 Olympics while an American citizen.

Webb is the fastest American born athlete EVER in the 1500/mile (if you convert his mile to the 1500). US distance fans had been rooting for him for 6-7 years by the time 2007 rolled around. For him to briefly live up to the hype and for us to recall it is more than appropriate and yet you are mad that we arent' writing 6,000 + words on Lagat who had been an American for all of 3 years at that point.

I love Bernard Lagat but the fact that he's so popular and was so accepted her is truly a testament to the greatness of the USA.

Wow what a backhanded compliment.