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ATHLETICS:Even with an African-American president, America is far from a post-racial society, writes IAN O'RIORDAN

IF THERE’S one thing that gets America talking, it’s the debate about being American. Essentially, this is a debate best avoided, unless you want to risk being accused of stereotyping, racism or, as Kurt Vonnegut once concluded, end up ashamed to be called one. I certainly had no intention of going there either until I read a series of stories in the New York press this week about Meb Keflezighi (pronounced ka-FLEZ-gee), who last Sunday became the first American winner of the New York Marathon in 27 years.