Wheating Signs With..... Nike

It's Distance Running Stupid wrote:

It amazes me that the marjority of posters on this forum are complaining that one distance runner is worth so much more than the other. It's about the money. The only people that care about distance running are distance runners. If performances translated direclty into dollars, than AR and WR holders would be the highest paid athletes. That's not the case.

Remember, we love this sport, most people don't care.

There's a reason Usain gets all the money.

Most distance runners don't care about professional distance running. This is a fact! You can say a road runner (and there are millions of them) is a potential fan, but most road runners don't know any track and field athlete, they only know who they read about on a CONSISTENT basis in Runner's World and see at race expos.

Go to a local high school cross country team, ask them if they know who Andrew Wheating is, and see how many say they do. I bet it's less than 20%. Ask them if they know who Alan Webb, Ryan Hall or Kara Goucher are and probably 70% know who they are. Wheating will eventually be at the Webb, Hall & Goucher status, no question, but where Nike and other shoe companies miss the boat, and where the sport fails miserably, is giving high school runners and fans of the sport a way to connect to the athlete outside of simply watching them perform (which is a rarity in itself).

Honestly, unless Nike comes out with The Wheating (similar to what they did with the Kennedy spikes), Nike will never have strong enough ROI to justify what they are paying him. Runners don't buy shoes because their favorite runners wears those shoes. I've been around this sport a long time and have never met anyone who has done that. This isn't basketball. Unfortunately, T&F doesn't have equipment that you can buy, or apparel, or video games, etc., that keep a fan of the sport invested in an athlete. American runners generally don't care about professional track and field because the vast majority of the best American track stars head over to Europe to perform their best, and no major media outlet cares enough to follow them, profile them, write anything or video anything about them when they do set records. Unless the athlete's name is Bolt, Gay or Powell, the vast majority of the sporting world doesn't care.

Just received this from his agent:

ANDREW WHEATING AGREES TO ENDORSEMENT WITH NIKE

Former University of Oregon Standout will Remain in Eugene, Oregon

Boston (July 28, 2010) — Former University of Oregon star Andrew Wheating will continue his track and field career as a professional in Eugene, OR and will proudly compete for Nike, his management company announced today.

With a successful string of races in June and July that began with a double victory at 800m and 1500m at the NCAA Championships, then followed by personal best performances at 800m (1:44.62), the mile (3:51.74), and 1500m (3:30.90), Wheating punctuated an already stellar career at the University of Oregon. Wheating, originally from Norwich, VT, won five NCAA Championships, three PAC 10 titles, was an 8-time NCAA All American, qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games at 800m and is a finalist for the prestigious Bowerman Award, which recognizes the top male and female collegiate men’s and women’s track-and-field athlete of the scholastic year. He holds school records at the tradition-laden program of Oregon in the indoor 800m, outdoor mile and as part of the Distance Medley Relay.

The last time the Men’s NCAA 800m/1500m double had been accomplished was in 1984 by Joaquim Cruz, also from the University of Oregon. As for his run of eye-opening performances this spring and summer, Wheating is the fastest American Miler of the 2010 season, is the fourth fastest 1500m runner in US history and is the fastest 1500m runner ever from the University of Oregon.

"I can’t even explain how excited I am about staying in Track Town, USA, and about the chance to continue working with my coach at the same school that supported me as an undergraduate. Hayward Field has been a special place for me,” said Wheating. “Nike is a great partner in all the cool things happening in Track Town and I look forward to being part of its team as I continue to train and develop. I want to be a contributing member of the Oregon Track Club and chase my dreams in front of the fans who cheered for me while I was a Duck.”

Details of his agreement were not disclosed.

Facebook page for wheating:

www.facebook.com/andrew.wheating

Here's some proof for you that salaries are leaked by agents...

Read that story.

Does it say the 49ers announced the terms of the deals?

No.

Does it say the Athlete announced the terms of his money?

No.

Does it say the NFL announced the terms of the deal?

No.

Does it say the athlete's Agent announced the terms of the deal?

No.

These stories always say "sources close to the negotiations" reported.

Or some such.

Then, news organizations collect this data and use it, such as USA Today.

There is no law, or sports league that is legally obligated to announce what the players make to the public.

Track and field just doesn't have as many reasons, or sources for leaks.

I.E., just as inside of a company it is often company policy that you do not share your compensation with co-workers...it is none of their or your business...

It is none of our business what Rupp or Wheating actually make.

If in the past someone close to say, Webb, leaks general parameters of the deal and the sports/running press reports it...fine.

But, in track, it is the exception, not the rule, that loose terms of these deals are leaked...

When I was a high schooler and running for the state title kennedy was the man. You can be damn sure I noticed what shoes he wore (brand at least) and I went out and bought the same. Safe to say so did my teammates.

Maybe you are unusual?

If a high schooler has not seen a track and field news magazine or visited a message board in the last year, than perhaps they don't know who wheating is. That also means there ears don't work when at practice, because other guys surely talk about him.

Does every high school runner know who wheating is? Surely not. But I bet it's a lot better than 20% and if Nike does it's job it will be a helluva lot more than that.

How many high school runners are there? A few hundred thousand? If 20% of them are influenced to buy Nike shoes and running shorts because their idols wear them, then you have tens of 1000s of high school runners buying Nike.

I'm not sure if you are aware, but a large percentage of America (that's America, not just runners) knew who PRE was when he was a runner, not when the movies came out.

Exactly.

Ok , super star college miler has a great college career , will be loved as a Duck forever ( limited audience ). Runs fast post collegiate , gets a few track people excited , will break the american 1500 and mile record in the next couple of years ( means nothing outside the t & f world ) maybe dual it out with a iffy comeback of Webb. ( would make for nice press )

Wheating to transcend the dribbling froth of lets run.com fans will have to set a world record in the mile/1500 , win a olympic gold medal or start to date Paris Hilton.

The Stache wrote:

The only thing shocking here is how long it apparently took for Nike to get the signature on the line.

Good job hitting the big time kid, I hope you are gettin PAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDD now.

He could be getting paid $30,000 a year for all we know. With no benefits all he could ever hope to afford is a apartment and maybe a used car.

Poor guy didn't live up to his potential.

Wheating and Solinsky both had a great 2010.

Year of the big man.

2010 is a long time ago. If he doesn't make the Olympic team, that could be the end of him with Nike.

Next stop, Hoka?

yeahrightttttt wrote:

Poor guy didn't live up to his potential.

More like he peaked and lived up to his potential before turning pro:

3/13/10 mile PR 3:51.74

7/22/10 1500m PR 3:30.90

7/28/10 Wheating signs with Nike

8/13/10 800m PR 1:44.56

That's a great career, however, you slice it. He's still the 5th fastest American ever at 1500m.

He just peaked early and has had trouble getting back to that peak.

Too much racing for Oregon; 0TC making him 'stronger' but slower.

jkfrauddetection wrote:

Next stop, Hoka?

Skechers or Asics

7 footers cant run wrote:

jkfrauddetection wrote:

Next stop, Hoka?

Skechers or Asics

Nike again, w reductions.

His first Nike contract was massive, as two other companies bid him up.

Plus, he's Nike for life due to who discovered him...