ouch...a bit harsh on Paula

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 31 Aug 2004, 14:24

This is from what looks like to be a new secondsout weekly feature column called 'More Alzheimer's'. dunno who writes it... it says conducted by Anthony Evans (who i dont believe would write this)

some of the points are valid...but surely there is a more decent way of expressing yourself:

'BOTTLE JOB' PAULA RAD-QUIT IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE
Enough of this 'brave Paula' tripe! Britain's Olympic marathon entrant Paula Radcliffe is nothing short of a spoiled, arse-wiped disgrace to British sport and the Union Flag.

The 30-year-old, who QUIT LIKE A DOG after getting passed by three other runners in last weekend's Marathon event in Athens, compounded the disgrace by not only by miraculously 'recovering' sufficiently from her alleged 'heat induced exhaustion' to enter the 10,000 final - but ALSO QUIT IN THAT EVENT, TOO!

If Radcliffe had any pride or decency, even a kernel of Olympic or British spirit in her, she'd have WALKED across the finish line if need be.

Her rationale was that, with zero chance of winning a medal - laying fourth in both events - there was no point in continuing. Radcliffe's rationale speak volumes about arrogance and bratishness. As SecondsOut's founding editor MARK BUTCHER pointed out to me, this is shameful SLAP IN THE FACE to every other athlete who had busted their asses even to make the Olympics, much less make the final and finish fourth!

In boxing terms, 30-year-old Ms Radcliffe is an on-top fighter, a bully, a punk. Like Mike Tyson, she's got so used to wiping the floor with her competitors she can't handle it when they show courage and fight back. As soon as other runners begin to overtake her, Paula bottles it.

Almost as bad is 'there, there dear' mentality of the British press, the same press who are quick to rubbish any excuse, injury or withdrawal from a fighter - who prove themselves the bravest of the brave just for competition in the Hardest Sport of All - while heaping praise on gutless losers like Radcliffe.

Worse than the press, though, is the public, who have voted her on Sky News as the fourth most popular British athlete of the Games. What about all the athletes who ACTUALLY FINISHED their events or, heavens, EVEN WON?

And, yeah, seeing as you asked I am kinda surprised pull-out Paula didn't withdraw from the Sky News poll when she realised she wasn't gonna finish in the top three...

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 31 Aug 2004, 14:37

to be honest i agree with it. Radcliffe only dropped out after she knew she wouldnt have won a medal. suddenly its brave paula, the gallant determined British loser, who gave up. What about the other two British lasses in the race who did finish. not a word from radcliffe about them. all this crap about how the conditions were so hostile, it was an uphill course etc isnt that what aclimatisation is all about?. Well it was the same for all who took part. including those who did finish.

what was all this crap about feeling "devestated"?? and sitting in floods of tears ffs its only a sport. no one lost their lives. lets get some sense of perspective here. cant quite work out why we should feel sorry for her. so lets get a bit of acknowledgement for those who did acheive what they set out to do. not some silly wee self centred lassie, who when she realised she could win, refused to play anymore.

Roberto Duran famously quit agains Ray Leonard. "No Mas" he said. it took Duran a long long time to become accepted again, really only redeeming himself with an amazing display against Davey Moore some 3 years later. No matter how great a fighter Duran is considered now, his career will always be blighted by the fact that when he realised he couldnt win against Leonard, he quit. Well Radcliffe quit too. and she should be remembered for it.

it reminded me a bit of the fight between ray robinson and joey maxim. the fight was fought in 103 degree temps. robinson couldnt answer the bell for the 14th due to heat exhaustion, having collapsed in the 13th. everyone put the blame for Robinsons defeat down to the heat. but as maxim famounsly quoted "it was hot for me in there too"

So lets acknowledge both Liz Yelling and Tracey Morris who managed to finish in 25th and 29th respectively, after all 'it was hot out there for them too'.

DK2112 · Post by **DK2112** » 31 Aug 2004, 14:46

I agree with it all, she is a disgrace.

adamiw · Post by **adamiw** » 31 Aug 2004, 14:55

yes, i'm not saying he isn't right...but he's gone a little over the top IMO

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 31 Aug 2004, 15:19

maybe if she lost some weight it would help.......

by the way, whats the deal with the pop socks for the 10 000 metres? my granny is 84 and she wears them. she cant run a marathon either

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 31 Aug 2004, 15:45

exactly what I've been saying since her events. I was tempted to make a thread about it, but didn't. What a DISGRACE she is.

Sonia O Sullivan (silver medalist in previous Olympics) got lapped in the 5000 metres. She knew she was going to lose but DID IT ANYWAY. Radcliffe pulled out when she could have kept going. This is a quitter to me. the british media was disgusting "oh poor paula" "its a sad day". you'd think an asteroid was on its way to earth the way they were going on. SHE QUIT! QUIT QUIT QUIT!

I was loving every second of it though.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:06

I believe that anyone who thinks this is a total disgrace needs to get some serious perspective. It's only a race. Nobody died and there were no humanitarian atrocities.

Just a few points about the article;

Paula Radcliffe, up until a few years ago was a perennial runner-up. I've no idea how many races she's run before she eventually progressed into the world class athlete she is now. She did not quit because she can't take defeat. The suggestion is totally ludicrous.

She didn't recover to run the 10,000 metres. Anyone with half a brain could see from a very early stage in that race that she hadn't made any sort of recovery. In my opinion the decision to run the 10,000 had a lot to do with the attitude of people like the author of this article. She was basically shamed into taking part in the race, which was actually quite disgraceful.

British spirit? Since when was it British to have a pop at someone who is clearly in distress? Whether or not you think it's right or wrong for her to be in that condition, that's what she was, distressed. Maybe kicking someone when they're down is the new British spirit.

This is journalism at it's very worst. At best it's trying to be controversial for publicity's sake. At worst it's a third rate article, by a talentless hack with a grudge against other sports. Perhaps the old saying about a thousand monkeys and a thousand typewriters is true.

As for my personal opinions on Paula, and that race, here goes;

She knew what the conditions were going to be like, yet she still ran. The reason the other Brits finished was that they didn't run at anything like the pace Paula did, they were in it just to survive and do their best, Paula ran for gold.

Once she realised that this was never going to be possible (and it was clear to me that gold wasn't an option after only a few miles) she should have slowed down and finished the race. But what would people have said then, would she have been branded a loser for not getting a medal for us?

Regardless of why she did it, the decision to run the 10,000 was madness. There is no way she could be competitive after running such a large part of the marathon.

The reason she was distraught was because she'd just had her dreams crushed. Only those of us that have had a similar experience can imagine what that's like. To work and hope for something for so long, to get yourself into a position where everything you want is within your reach, and then see your dream taken away, with no chance of it coming back, is something that should be pitied. Those of you that disagree are entitled to your opinions, but consider how you'd react before you slate her.

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:19

What a relief to here someone echo my thoughts. I was beginning to think everyone liked her!

She first annoyed me when she was up in an atheltics stadium stands with a banner protesting against a Russian athlete who she thought was using nandrolone or something like that. Maybe she knew for certain but I thought it was incredibly self righteous to stand up and do that against a fellow competitor. Radcliffe's an athlete not a member of an athletic governing body.

Regarding the marathon. I sympathise with her a little here as it must be frustrating to not be able to reproduce anywhere near top form. I can even tolerate her dropping out and crying (only just). But to then go to a press conference/interview the next day and conduct the whole thing with that pathetic whimpering voice and cry was unforgiveable.
Maybe there was too much expectation on her but she is very fair skinned and should have realised there was a strong posssibility of it affecting her.

As for Brendan Foster. That annoyed me in equal measure. He commentated on the Japan athlete with these words "she's not the best marathon runner in the world, she's the best marathon runner in hot weather in Athens on this course today." or words to that affect. Such a huge amount of disrespect from a supposedly impartial commentator I can not tolerate. Radcliuffe did not have a devine right to that title and someone should remind him.

The guy's article at the top is a bit over the top but I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment.

Rant over.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:28

glittermonkey wrote: She knew what the conditions were going to be like, yet she still ran. The reason the other Brits finished was that they didn't run at anything like the pace Paula did, they were in it just to survive and do their best, Paula ran for gold.

so at best its unrealistic at worst its extremely bad preperation

Once she realised that this was never going to be possible (and it was clear to me that gold wasn't an option after only a few miles) she should have slowed down and finished the race. But what would people have said then, would she have been branded a loser for not getting a medal for us?

No. that would have been a 'plucky, gutsy' performance worthy of some admiration. the ability to continue to run even after she knew the ability to win was past her. isnt that what the olympic spirit is supposed to be about?

The reason she was distraught was because she'd just had her dreams crushed. Only those of us that have had a similar experience can imagine what that's like. To work and hope for something for so long, to get yourself into a position where everything you want is within your reach, and then see your dream taken away, with no chance of it coming back, is something that should be pitied. Those of you that disagree are entitled to your opinions, but consider how you'd react before you slate her.

The vast majority of people in the woirld will never have thier dreams realised no matter how hard they work and hope. they will never have the talent to travel the world, be idolised and make an awful lot of money in the process. they live in a real world where it means getting up at some shit hour to go and do a crappy dead end job just to pay the bills. Strangely enough I dont hear them going on about shattered dreams. but they still get out there and do it. they are worth more "pity" than some molly coddled athlete selfish enough to give up when the going gets a wee bit too hard for her. in my, and i would pressume the overwhelming majority ot other peoples, jobs there are times its shit. there are times that it would be fantastic to just say 'fornicate it, ive had enough' and walk away. just stop and go home. but we dont

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:28

Matchfixer wrote: She first annoyed me when she was up in an atheltics stadium stands with a banner protesting against a Russian athlete who she thought was using nandrolone or something like that. Maybe she knew for certain but I thought it was incredibly self righteous to stand up and do that against a fellow competitor. Radcliffe's an athlete not a member of an athletic governing body..

It was Olga Yegarova, whose prior to the Athletics world championships tested positive (by huge amounts) for EPO. She would have got a certain banning but for a technicality issue with her second sample. Also, if you remember Paula was with 6 other athletes (from different countries) protesting against Yegarova. The crowd booed her throughout and during the playing of the anthem (when she won the gold).

I don't think you can blame her for this, Yegarova is not only a cheating rival to her, but made sure that a clean athlete wouldn't win. The athletic governing body had done nothing about it, so why not complain.

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:34

stujones wrote:
Matchfixer wrote: She first annoyed me when she was up in an atheltics stadium stands with a banner protesting against a Russian athlete who she thought was using nandrolone or something like that. Maybe she knew for certain but I thought it was incredibly self righteous to stand up and do that against a fellow competitor. Radcliffe's an athlete not a member of an athletic governing body..
It was Olga Yegarova, whose prior to the Athletics world championships tested positive (by huge amounts) for EPO. She would have got a certain banning but for a technicality issue with her second sample. Also, if you remember Paula was with 6 other athletes (from different countries) protesting against Yegarova. The crowd booed her throughout and during the playing of the anthem (when she won the gold).

I don't think you can blame her for this, Yegarova is not only a cheating rival to her, but made sure that a clean athlete wouldn't win. The athletic governing body had done nothing about it, so why not complain.

I didn't know she'd actually failed and got away on a technicality. Fair enough I suppose but if I was an athlete I'd stick to running and let the law take care of her. There's probably so many athletes out there who are cheating it seems ridiculous to pick on one. Half the field could have been on drugs. And from a neutral point of view whose to say Paula wasn't?

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:38

Matchfixer wrote: And from a neutral point of view whose to say Paula wasn't?

i think if i was her id be changing my chemist then

ThirdPartyView · Post by **ThirdPartyView** » 31 Aug 2004, 16:39

glittermonkey wrote: No. that would have been a 'plucky, gutsy' performance worthy of some admiration. the ability to continue to run even after she knew the ability to win was past her. isnt that what the olympic spirit is supposed to be about?

I thought it was something to the effect of 'You either win, or you die trying' (or whatever that Ancient Greek Olympic athlete's tombstone said)... ;)

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 31 Aug 2004, 17:08

I think she should get a boob job!..

. it won't help her win the marathan but at least she'll look better when she quits!... 8)

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 31 Aug 2004, 17:19

neil r wrote:
Matchfixer wrote: And from a neutral point of view whose to say Paula wasn't?
i think if i was her id be changing my chemist then

Ha Ha! - She's certainly not on speed or whizz!!!

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 31 Aug 2004, 17:29

neil r wrote:
glittermonkey wrote: She knew what the conditions were going to be like, yet she still ran. The reason the other Brits finished was that they didn't run at anything like the pace Paula did, they were in it just to survive and do their best, Paula ran for gold.
so at best its unrealistic at worst its extremely bad preperation

I don't think that her preparation could have been any better. But yes, to run for a medal was naïve and unrealistic. But as i've said further on, how would she be thought of if she'd have paced herself a bit better and settled for finishing somewhere in the middle of the field?

neil r wrote:
Once she realised that this was never going to be possible (and it was clear to me that gold wasn't an option after only a few miles) she should have slowed down and finished the race. But what would people have said then, would she have been branded a loser for not getting a medal for us?
No. that would have been a 'plucky, gutsy' performance worthy of some admiration. the ability to continue to run even after she knew the ability to win was past her. isnt that what the olympic spirit is supposed to be about?

You may have called it "plucky" or "gutsy" but i doubt that those sentiments would have been shared by the media.

neil r wrote:
The reason she was distraught was because she'd just had her dreams crushed. Only those of us that have had a similar experience can imagine what that's like. To work and hope for something for so long, to get yourself into a position where everything you want is within your reach, and then see your dream taken away, with no chance of it coming back, is something that should be pitied. Those of you that disagree are entitled to your opinions, but consider how you'd react before you slate her.
The vast majority of people in the woirld will never have thier dreams realised no matter how hard they work and hope. they will never have the talent to travel the world, be idolised and make an awful lot of money in the process. they live in a real world where it means getting up at some shit hour to go and do a crappy dead end job just to pay the bills. Strangely enough I dont hear them going on about shattered dreams. but they still get out there and do it. they are worth more "pity" than some molly coddled athlete selfish enough to give up when the going gets a wee bit too hard for her. in my, and i would pressume the overwhelming majority ot other peoples, jobs there are times its shit. there are times that it would be fantastic to just say 'fornicate it, ive had enough' and walk away. just stop and go home. but we dont

Yes exactly, you, me, and the rest of the normal (using the term loosely) people will never get so close to our dreams. That's the point, it was so close for her, and that's why she broke down. Not because she's a born quitter, who can't handle being beaten. As for her being selfish, it's her body mate, she may be representing us as a nation, but it's up to her to decide when she's had enough. We've got no right to expect her to run until she collapses.

beduff · Post by **beduff** » 31 Aug 2004, 17:57

she is a disgrace fornicating cry baby :x i would of respected her is she walked the rest and at least finished

but instead she quit like a dog.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 31 Aug 2004, 18:10

I had to chuckle at a picture in the Daily Sport today, some joker had super imposed a Fun Size snickers into Paula's hands and underneath it said "Because sometimes you can't finish a full marathon"

Cruel but funny.

lamphey · Post by **lamphey** » 31 Aug 2004, 18:23

I agree with what the article says, if not the tone of it. It appeared to me she dropped out because her chances of a medal disappeared when the Ethiopian responded to Radcliffe's surge and started pulling away. She said herself that physically she could have continued, so wasn't at risk of collapsing or endangering her health.
There was a British cyclist a few days later who was a favourite but pulled out when he realised his chance of a medal had gone. He said something along the lines of "when the medal was lost, I thought fornicate it, I'm not here to make up the numbers". I wish Paula had said the same in her press conference or in the interview with Cram.

I couldn't help thinking back to the 1986 European Championships when Steve Jones was a similar red-hot favourite for the marathon gold. At the time, Steve and myself were team-mates on the Welsh team, so I had a particular interest in his race.
Steve set a blistering pace and by around the 15 mile mark had built up a lead of over TWO MINUTES and was well within world record pace. But something had gone wrong with his drink stations and for some reason which I forget he hadn't been taking on fluid. Basically, he 'blew up' and almost the entire field caught him. He crossed the finish line some 12 minutes behind the winner in obvious agony.
The reason he didn't pull out? "So many people have been so good to me, I had to finish for them". Foolhardy maybe, but that was Jones' mindset.

Then again, anyone who can stop for a shit halfway around the London Marathon as Jones did, and still win the race, gets my respect.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 31 Aug 2004, 18:58

Steve Jones, I've heard that he liked his drink (even when competing)! Doesn't he own a pub now?

Glad to see you mentioned him, there was a great athlete who this country should be proud of that has been forgotten.

lamphey · Post by **lamphey** » 31 Aug 2004, 19:37

stujones wrote:Steve Jones, I've heard that he liked his drink (even when competing)! Doesn't he own a pub now?

He was certainly fond of a pint.

To be honest, I have no idea what Steve is doing these days.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 01 Sep 2004, 03:27

I had a lot of sympathy for her after the marathon when she was obviously gone and had four miles to go. The outpouring of national mourning was well over the top though.

However, in the 10000m with eight laps to go or whatever, unless she is dying, there is no way she should have pulled out. Eight laps for me would be a cruel, harrowing experience

but for Paula Radcliffe, even when you are shagged out, it isn't very far. Even if she had finished two laps down on the field, she should have done so.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 01 Sep 2004, 04:54

for me its a lot of people who have never been in that position making a lot of assumptions....

The same people who booed Nigel Benn when after such an incredible career he pulled out against Steve Collins....

She didnt finish a race, so what, life goes on. Its not a disgrace...

And as for her stand on drugs, the russian failed the test, end of story!!!!!

that article is also factually wrong...

"Her rationale was that, with zero chance of winning a medal - laying fourth in both events - there was no point in continuing. "

ermm did you actually watch the race, she carrying on for several laps in the 10000m well off the pace....certainly not in 4th place

Chris the fighter · Post by **Chris the fighter** » 01 Sep 2004, 04:59

The only people I think can comment are people who have actually ran a marathon can pass negative comment. I haven't so I don't know how she was feeling or anything. The article by a boxer writer I usually respect was not balanced at all.
Radcliffe wears a Red Ribbon on her chest during races which says she
is prepered to have a blood test to check for drugs so I doubt she takes anything.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 01 Sep 2004, 05:46

Chris the fighter wrote:The only people I think can comment are people who have actually ran a marathon can pass negative comment.

Absolute rubbish. I pressume youve never fought for the world heavyweight title but you'll still comment on heavyweight boxers.

I would imagine that your probably not a poultry farmer but you know a rotten egg if you smell one. Likewise im guessing you dont keep many cows but you do know when milk is sour!

having a quick look, you yourself have made negative comments about Enzo Maccarinelli. so using your own criteria for passing comment, im guessing your a pro crusierweight. However your career as a cruiserweight must sometimes have to take a backseat due to the fact you must also be a promoter/manager, due to the fact youve made negative comments about allegedly too.

i see youve also offered some negative comment about john inverdale. so presumably when your not training/fighting as a cruiserweight or sorting out deals/scouting for talent/developing fighters or putting fights together as a manager/promoter or posting on here, you also do your fair share of television/radio presenting.

and finally i see youve critisised the WBA in the past. Your not expecting us to beleive you also run a governing body now do you and on top of everything else that you do you sanction title fights, arrange rankings, ensure rules are adhered too and issue licenses?

busy guy. surprised you got time to post on here.