Everyone has enemies. Even well-liked people like Howard Stern, Michael Jordan (I remember all the letters to SI calling him a ball-hog), and Oprah. Most of the running mags are usually filled with positive uplifting stuff about runners, and, with the exception of the now-routine rap on American male distance runners, they don't have a lot of criticisms in there. Lest you somehow got the impression that life is all wine and roses for me here in Danbury, CT, read on. These are comments from the people out there who don't like me. I only wish I had saved the one I got after Thanksgiving in 1996 in which the author called me a pussy (and this was at the high point of my career). Imagine what he must be thinking now. Entries are edited for bad words and, per advice of my attorney (my wife), I have eliminated email addresses and full names.
From A USATF official reacting to a letter I wrote to Runners World Daily.
Joe:
Two questions, regarding your letter on RWD, are you saying that Chris Clark should NOT be on the Olympic team? If so, why didn't you say it? Second, with the involved parties (the athletes, the race, the sponsors, USATF, etc.), what was a better selection procedure? Numerous factors/considerations went into the procedure matrix.
The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials are obviously different than the Track Trials for two main reasons. One, the OMT is a singular event with one winner; the Track Trials has numerous events and champions. Two, the OMT has substantial prize money; the Track Trials do not. The two Trials are not the same and thus, in the vernacular, one size does NOT fit all. Finally, how do you think the entire 2000 U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials (pre and post-race) would have played out based on your worldview?
Before you answer, consider all parties (the "winner", the race, the sponsors, USATF, the media, the sport, etc.).
The sending party never revealed their full name. Probably from my mother. (FYI: Lynn Jennings had a personal web site for a while.)
From: lars
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2000 1:56 PM
To: dude@joelemay.com
Subject: web site
Lynn Jennings' web site "a big flop"? Perhaps she was more focused on making Olympic teams and winning championships than trying to keep up with a website (although a website IS just the thing to tell the world "I... probably would have done well at The Games"). If you spent as much time and focus on racing as you appear to do on your silly website .... well, you do the math.
Sincerely,
Just another athletics fan
my response:
I spend a lot of time training. My web site has been up and active during good times and bad, and I never said I probably would have done well at the games. I did say the US would have had a better chance of one person doing well at the games if they had sent more athletes.
If it's silly, why are you reading it?
You are a bit whacky in your thinking that you, Morris or KK deserved to run in the Olympics. If YOU would have run better in the trials, you would have gone to the Olympics. If KK would have REALLY wanted to run for the good old USA, he would have not run at London, holding out all hope he would be made a US citizen in time for the Trials. (HE WAS, MAGICALLY) Instead, he banked his talent for the big $$$, which is his choice, but we all know where his loyalty lies. That was obvious by his choice. Dave Morris - I haven't heard a good excuse yet for his performance at Pittsburgh. Quit dreaming, Joe. Rod had a bad day at the Olympics - he was sick -, but you and Dave had your bad day and so there it is. KK - he just blew it because he is greedy. Talk to the wall - it sounds like you need to more often. Maybe it will talk back and slam some sense into you. Train hard and prove yourself, and quit spouting off like YOU deserved to go to the Olympics. Pathetic. Rock on.
my response:
I agree with you on the Khalid thing. That's more a comment on the rule that you have to run in the trials marathon to be on the team. Pretty much no one had any complaint about that particular rule, but what if we had selected a two-man team in Pittsburgh? I say what's the harm in adding a third athlete as long as you're not displacing anyone else?
Yes, I do feel a little silly arguing that I should have been included on The Team, given my performance in Pittsburgh, and when I first left that town on that May weekend, I said it's just as well that they changed the rules this way. My point is, though, given the unpredictability of the marathon, three is better than one, and the rules have always been designed to maximize US participation until now.
Lars again, on my car getting broken in to:
What kind of moron leaves golf clubs in a car when said car is parked in NYC? Aren't you a Princeton graduate? You must be one of the legions of Princeton grads who can compute some esoteric math problem without paper but who are clueless about life. Are you still pretending to be a national class runner, Joe? What a joke.
lars
my response:
another "blame the victim" guy. I have a right to park my car in NYC without getting ripped off. Someday you'll probably be a victim of a crime, or a get screwed over in one way or another. maybe then you'll feel differently.
and lars again...
I notice you don't mention why you are still pretending to be a national class runner. Do us all a favor and bow out. You might mention the same thing to Mark Coogan. Re the car theft: common sense is the watchword here big fella. I have the right to walk around in high crime areas at midnight by myself. Do I do it? No. Use your brain. Or has it been fried by too many mediocre races?