TrackShark just released that they learned that Bianca Knight of Texas has turned pro!
For those who might not have followed the NCAA Meet, Bianca is a freshman for Texas who broke Veronica Campbell's indoor collegiate record in the 200m with a 22.40
So I guess someone thinks that she will be in Beijing and snatched her up early.
Which agent/shoe company got to her? Renaldo Nehemiah? Ray Flynn? Mark Block? Charlie Wells--no wait a minute--Charlie's banned...
Jos Hermens? John Regis?
Will Brooks try to be one of the big boys? NOT! They wouldn't know a sprinter if it hit them between the legs...
Don't know any details yet. I'm watching TrackShark for the news..
dont you have some arcade game skills to be sharpening? :-))
Mark Wetmore has her. The manager need to stop during this. This kid is too young. There aren't many Allison Fleix or Veronica Campbells around. Look at the number of athletes that turn pro , 90% of them don't ever finnish college, after three or 4 years the shoe companies cut their contract. Look at the sprints, the same people are there every championships. No she won't make the Olympics.That little 3 or 4 hundred thousand dollars is nothing once he gets 20% and uncle sam gets 40%.
It seems to me that it is a good move for her. She's beyond the NCAA in terms of competitive status. The NCAA is great for most top runners as a developmental environment, but Bianca has gone beyond it. This way she can focus on preparing for the international level of competition. You say that she won't make the Olympics, but she may have other thoughts about that.
Last year only 4 US women ran faster outdoors than what she just ran indoors (22.40). That 22.40 has to be worth 22.20 or so on an outdoor track in good conditions. The only person in the world who ran faster than that is Allyson Felix.
Anyways, why presume that she won't be even better this summer than she is right now? I would not bet against her making the Olympic team nor earning an Olympic medal.
If she was beyond the NCAA, then she should have been able to come back in the finals of the 60 and place better than third after having the top time in qualifying
beyond the NCAA? wrote:
If she was beyond the NCAA, then she should have been able to come back in the finals of the 60 and place better than third after having the top time in qualifying
That's an unfair objection considering what she had to compete in the day before.
2 rounds of the 200m on Friday (set the collegiate record)
1 round of the 60m on Friday (fastest qualifier)
3rd place in the 60m final (after running two 200's and a 60m on Friday). Not even Rubin Williams did well because of the same reason. Plus, they're not 60m sprinters. She's more prone to have success at the 200 then the shorter sprint.
She also split 52.3 on the 4x400m relay after running in the final of the 60m.
Not many sprinters in the history of the sport at the collegiate level accomplished what she did over the span of two days.
STOP THE INSANITY!!!
beyond the NCAA? wrote:
If she was beyond the NCAA, then she should have been able to come back in the finals of the 60 and place better than third after having the top time in qualifying
She should have waited until AFTER the NCAA outdoor meet. To leave her team high and dry in the middle of the year shows a lack of respect, appreciation and class on her part. Those pro offers will still be there 3 months from now.
Actually it was a great move if it's really true. To take the money now, only 3 months before the Olympic Trials in Methville adds to the publicity of this youngster. We are still waiting for a credible professional news daily or wire service though. So far only a groupie website with volunteer citizens have spewed rumors.
I honestly think she should have stayed in school at least another year. The pro side of track is tough and I'm not sure she is ready to step to theat level. I also dont see her making the team for 2008.
IMHO I think there needs to be some type of restrictions on leaving school early and that the Agents need to take a stand on it. this is gettting out of hand. NCAA track is already suffering enough, and now all the good athletes are trying to cash in after one fast race,or jump. I feel bad for Bev and Texas, I think the athletes now are exploiting purity of the sport at the college level.
How do you want to do that? With the Players Association that doesn't exist? How much hype was there in 2001 when Webb had a fair shot of making the US team for Worlds as a HSer? They showed the 1500m live on ESPN. We're a sport in which young talent are permitted (and encouraged) to compete with the best in the world, if they can.
Bob Mathias is a legend for winning the Olympic decathlon as a HS senior. And now the sport is professional. So if you have the ability, strike while the iron is hot. And Webb and Allyson seem to be doing just fine.
It's free market forces at work. If a person is at the level of performance that companies want to invest in them, that person should have the right to so benefit.
Let's not turn student athletes into indentured servants. The college sport system is amateur enough without having to entrap via legislation those handfull of track athletes who are presented with the option to go pro.
All the naysayers are forgetting one thing. The sole purpose that people go to college is to get a job. For some people, it takes 8 years to get that job if they want to be a doctor. Others 6, 4, or maybe 3 if they are really smart. But for some, it doesn't take much. King James is one example. He didn't even need college to get his job, and Bianca Knight is in the same boat. If I could only go to college for less than a year and get a job like she just got, I would take it in a heartbeat.
Very good and smart move on Bianca's part.
guesses on base salary?
umm wrote:
All the naysayers are forgetting one thing. The sole purpose that people go to college is to get a job. For some people, it takes 8 years to get that job if they want to be a doctor. Others 6, 4, or maybe 3 if they are really smart. But for some, it doesn't take much. King James is one example. He didn't even need college to get his job, and Bianca Knight is in the same boat. If I could only go to college for less than a year and get a job like she just got, I would take it in a heartbeat.
Very good and smart move on Bianca's part.
I doubt it. The type of money she will be making is NOT 'set for life money' and could easily run out after a few years. Maybe, like Alyson Felix did, she will stay in school (just not run for it) and get her degree. To not do that would be foolish.
Great for Bianca. The next person to turn pro is likely to be Chanelle Price. That girl destroyed the indoor 500 record and she could make the Olympic team this year in the 800. Nike or Reebok better offer now or the Price is gonna double soon.
Olympic year or not....I assume she was on a full ride- the black community needs to understand the value of an education. This quick fix money mentality is silly.
ugh.... wrote:
Olympic year or not....I assume she was on a full ride- the black community needs to understand the value of an education. This quick fix money mentality is silly.
As IF one cannot attend school without being on the university track team. With the money from the contract, she can pay for her own education, pay taxes, and either buy real estate or make investments in other areas.