Yesterday, CNBC.com Sports Business writer Darren Rovell posted an article under the banner Marathon's Headline Win Is Empty. His point? That Sunday's New York Marathon winner, US citizen Meb Keflezighi, is not American enough.
Rovell takes the position that, since Keflezighi is a naturalized American who moved here with his parents in 1987 as a 12 year old, he's a "ringer":
Nothing against Keflezighi, but he's like a ringer who you hire to work a couple hours at your office so that you can win the executive softball league.
Even though the man has lived here 22 years, and he earned his citizenship just like untold millions before him, he's a "ringer"?
That's bad enough, but Rovell's dismissal of Keflezighi's naturalized citizenship is nothing short of reprehensible: "Keflezighi's country of origin is Eritrea, a small country in Africa. He is an American citizen thanks to taking a test and living in our country."[emphasis mine] This sentiment is a blatant insult to every naturalized American citizen ... and to most native-born citizens as well.
I'm sorry Rovell, but your Dobbsian Beckism is showing. I suppose that Keflezighi wasn't "American enough" when he won the Men's Marathon Silver Medal in the 2004 Olympics, right? Should we send that medal back to the Olympic Committee because the winner just wasn't a "real American"?
The only comfort I take in this story is that every single comment about the story on CNBC.com expresses disgust at Rovell's opinion:
Mr. Rovell, you sir are an idiot. The last American to win the NYC Marathon before Meb was Alberto Salazar, who was born in Havana. Oh I guess he's not American either. I really hope you didn't research this at all. Geez, wonder why nobody watches CNBC?
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He's technically an American like you're technically an a$$hole.
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Please allow me to paraphrase....liberally..
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free..."
"But don't expect me to ever call them American...Especially if they're black...I'll consider the Cuban guy (the birthplace of the last 'American' to win the Marathon)."
Bigot.
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There's basically 2 scenarios here, neither of which reflect all that greatly on Mr. Rovell:
The first is that he was totally ignorant to Meb's history, that while he was born in Eritrea, he wasn't raised in Italy, then America, and that all his schooling and training came here. Which would be surprising, given that it's one of the main parts of the job to research this stuff.
The second is that he was informed of Meb's history, but either chose to ignore it because it didn't fit with the article he had in mind or because he actually believes what he wrote.
Shocking stuff...
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The comments go on like that for four pages (at present). Hopefully, they'll help Rovell see how awfully un-American his opinion really is.
I honestly don't know how Rovell's ignorant and offensive commentary made it past an editor. You might want to make your own opinions on this item known at SportsBiz@cnbc.com. Be polite but firm, please.
** I did a search for a diary on this subject and found nothing. Sorry if it's a repeat.
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UPDATE: Tip o' the hat to Morgan Sandlin and m4gill4 for this additional choice comment on the story:
How does fleeing famine and civil war at the age of 12 make one a "ringer"?
None of these so-called "American born" runners donned a USA singlet on Sunday, choosing instead to wear the colors of their corporate sponsors. Only Meb wore "USA" across his chest. This says tons more about how American he is than any of your drivel above.
Indeed.
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UPDATE 2: Rec List? Woot! Thanks.
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UPDATE 3: A further chapeau tilt to Reaniel for Rovell's quasi-apology
I said that Keflezighi's win, the first by an American since 1982, wasn't as big as it was being made out to be because there was a difference between being an American-born product and being an American citizen. Frankly I didn't account for the fact that virtually all of Keflezighi's running experience came as a US citizen. I never said he didn't deserve to be called American.
All I was saying was that we should celebrate an American marathon champion who has completely been brought up through the American system.
This is where, I must admit, my critics made their best point. It turns out, Keflezighi moved to the United States in time to develop at every level in America. So Meb is in fact an American trained athlete and an American citizen and he should be celebrated as the American winner of the NYC Marathon. That makes a difference and makes him different from the "ringer" I accused him of being. Meb didn't deserve that comparison and I apologize for that.
An admission that his "opinion" -- like so much racist cant -- is based in ignorance of the subject matter.
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UPDATE 4: The Best Comment yet:
A boy moves to a new country, struggles to learn a new language and culture, learns to run while there and goes on to be one of the most accomplished distance runners of his generation - all along side his 10 brothers and sisters who have all gone on to graduate from college and lead successful, productive lives. This is Meb Keflezighi story, and if this is not the embodiment of the American dream then nothing is.
I am honestly appalled by this blog post and as such this will be the last time I choose to read it, as I do not want to contribute in any way to the success of someone who is so painfully ignorant.
You have done a disservice not only to yourself but to marathons and to sports in general. You add absolutely no value to the world of sports or the world at large when you fall into the narrow-minded trap of dividing people into "us" and "them". Shame on you.
As an American and a marathon runner I am - and will continue to be - very proud of the accomplishment of MY countryman, Meb Keflezighi.
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UPDATE 5: Thanks to commenter ThisIsMyTime, here's the video of the final 2 minutes or so of the race. The part at 1:12 really hits home, so to speak.