Open Letter to Alberto Salazar

We don't know each other, and have never met.
(Though I've seen you run!)
But I'm going to speak to you as if we've been lifelong friends.
In this case, however, I'm speaking to you because you need some good advice.
Quick!

What happened yesterday in Albuquerque was wrong.
And you were the cause of it.
Thus, only you have the ability and the opportunity to turn this fiasco around.
As Nike says, Just Do It!

We all know what happened.
It's been all over Twitter, T&FN Message Board, Let'sRun MB, and probably several other sites.

The Women's 3000 was won by Gabriele Grunewald in a slow 9:23, but with a stinging last lap kick.
She beat 2 of your star runners, Shannon Rowbury and Jordan Hasay.

In doing so, "Gabe" had a bit of contact with your 2 stars.
But come on, Alberto, you've been there and done that.
Have you never seen contact in European races, or even in races run here in the United States?
Contact that was far worse than what Grunewald did, and that was never appealed or even considered for appeal?

First, let's face some facts.
Jordan is a nice girl, with a great deal of talent.
But she's not in the same league as 4:00 and 4:01 1500 gals Rowbury and Grunewald.
She lost to Abbey D'Agostino over the last 109 meters of the BU Mile, even though ahead of her by 1.11 seconds at the 1500 point!
(And lost to Mary Cain as well!)
It took her 42 seconds to run the last 218 meters in her recent 2 mile!

So being beaten, and beaten soundly, by Shannon and Gabe shouldn't turn you into a raving lunatic.
(Which, sad to say, is how you behaved after the race!  Reminds me of how Mary Slaney reacted after her "contact" with Zola Budd in 1984.)

1. You approached Jerry Schumacher (Ryan Hill's coach) because you felt Hill affected Galen Rupp's race the same way you felt Grunewald affected Hasay's race.  Witnesses say someone had to pull you back from physically confronting him....or worse!
2. You filed an appeal, first screaming at the judges (witnesses said).
3. When that failed, you filed a second appeal.
4. You won.

But did you?
Is this the way to win races?
Is this the "genius" at work that people like Mary Cain speak of?
Is this how you deal with losing?

Alberto, you need to turn this around.
Today!
We know your loyalty to Nike, to your athletes, and to the greater good of our sport.
But this time you went too far.
Yes, you!
Not Gabriele Grunewald.
Not the USATF administration.
Not Nike.
Here's my advice, Alberto.

Go to the USATF Appeals Board, or whatever it's called, and tell them you want to withdraw or renege on your appeals.
Tell them you were wrong to have done so in the first place.
Tell Nike to back you up on this.
Make sure that Gabe Grunewald is declared the winner of the 3000 meters, and that she will run in Sopot.

Then go to Jordan and explain to her what racing against professionals is all about.
(No, Jordan, it's not like Collegiate or High School running.  You're in the "Big Show" now!)

Finally, go to Gabriele, and tell her you're sorry for whatever emotional or psychological damage you've caused her!

Then gather your athletes--those who are to race today--and wish them luck!

You would teach a good lesson to that high school girl you train.
After all, she respects you, and thinks you're "cool".

Be cool, Alberto.
Just Do It!