Robby Andrews Turns Pro

Let's hope Vig holds Andrews to the commitment to finish school.

I was disappointed that Razcko never did the same thing with Webb. Razcko himself did not have a degree, and I was disappointed he did not step outside of himself and insist (as Vig is doing) that Webb complete school.

Say what you will about the value or non-value of a college education, it is a rite of passage for American young people and most importantly, an experience that helps keep the pressurized running game in perspective.

Query whether Andrews will run the 1500 this year - long term (especially seeing his performance in XC this fall) his best event.

toro wrote:

Said Aouita- 3:46.76/3:29.46/1:43.86

Not to mention, 7:29/12:58/27:26

Missed Aouita, but that's still essentially the point I'm making. All time, only one or two people have ever done what Webb accomplished.

Absolutely terrible job of coaching by Raczko. Just hope Vig can get Webb to peak properly.

Did I read that right? Webb resigned from Nike? Has he signed with another Shoe company?

I believe WeJo meant re-signed. Puts it into better perspective ;)

Good points.

No finger pointing please , lets just stick to facts and how the business is "run" excuse the pun.

I dont think you get the point to be made that no "running" athlete makes or breaks a brand. No company has to have any athlete. Some may argue Bolts influence on Puma is important , it did give recognition to the brand , but I dont know of a single retailer who would say this is driving sales.

Ego's are a interesting thing in the shoe world and yes they may trump what you would like to be believe what is professional or not.

Conflicts ? Meets have budgets , fair value comes into play , agents all know the meet budget and who is getting what.

"Package deal" is not a correct term as you explain it. Athletes have a perceived market value , shoe companies have a budget , If the agent cannot get what he wants he simply works with another shoe company. There is no barter as you perceive.

A package deal may happen for a meet as an agent will ask to have other athletes come in on the coat tail of the super elite athlete. A director builds a meet around a few elites , they fill the "other" lanes to build a competitive field , they do survey each athlete on how they may balance the specific event.

coach d wrote:

aguesser wrote:

He probably meant it in the manner of "contractual", but as far as "making up" a word - this is a real word.

Kind of puts the know-it-alls in this thread in perspective. Also on the subject of "overracing", if you look up the results, you'll see that in Webb's best year--2007--Lagat raced more than he did, and all Lagat did that year was win 2 world championship golds.

Raczko got him to 3:46/3:30/1:43. Name ONE person other than Cram who has done that (and, no, Coe didn't, and Ngeny, El Guerrouj, and Lagat didn't either). The only thing Raczko did not seem to get was the concept in a long season of going back, rebuilding the base, building up, and peaking again--he never saw that competing in high school.

Coach you are right on with his range.

Difference is that Lagat has a coach that knows his limits and what Lagat needs to do to win at a world class elite level. Flynn was very involved in the race schedule , its the hangover from all the racing Webb did that he never recovered from , rather than thinking long term they thought for the moment and the money.

What ? wrote:

Raczko got him to 3:46/3:30/1:43. Name ONE person other than Cram who has done that (and, no, Coe didn't, and Ngeny, El Guerrouj, and Lagat didn't either).

Not sure what you're trying to say. Coe went 3:47, 3:29, and 1:41. So he was faster than Webb at two out of those three distances. Thirty years ago.

coach d wrote:

Absolutely terrible job of coaching by Raczko. Just hope Vig can get Webb to peak properly.

Maybe Raczko deserves more credit than he gets. The end results were pretty damn good with Webb.

I never really thought that till now when I saw Webb's times and thought how good they were.

wejo wrote:

coach d wrote:

Absolutely terrible job of coaching by Raczko. Just hope Vig can get Webb to peak properly.

Maybe Raczko deserves more credit than he gets. The end results were pretty damn good with Webb.

I never really thought that till now when I saw Webb's times and thought how good they were.

One suspects that Webb started listening to the wrong people in 2008.

It wasn't just Webb's times that were good. At his best, which was in 2007, he really ran some tactically perfect races, especially in his 1500-meter wins in New York and Paris.

It was a cross country meet

Now I don't know what you do for your five-percent, but this man has a whole plan, an image... we majored in marketing, and when you put him in just a running shoe contract, excuse me, you are making him common. He is pure gold and you're giving him "a shoe contract" when he deserves the big four -- shoe, car, clothing-line, soft-drink. The four jewels of the celebrity endorsement dollar.

Robby Andrews told Race Results Weekly last night that he's turning pro:

http://www.letsrun.com/2012/andrews-0313.php

The way I read that interview was that he was going pro but did not have any sponsors. I think he is making a mistake. Most guys that are trying to make it would do anything to be back in college and be part of a team. He just threw away his college career for a very small chance of making the 2012 team. I think he is getting very bad advice. Good luck to him.

Sinking ship...

I would get off board if I were Robby

Remember , market value is the key here.

What is the value of an 800 meter collegiate star in relation to other athletes in the market for events that have greater value.

Not to diminish his athletic ability but its limited today in the world arena. He is an investment for a shoe company , they are buying into his potential. Symmonds is battling for more sponsorship dollars , Robinson works full time etc. etc. , 800 meter running is a tough way to make a living off the sport.

He is still young , if develops his 1500 meter/miler skills he gains value.

Andrews apparently is not the perfect kid he presents himself as either.

There was a guy on Tracktalk who used to have nothing but bad things to say about Andrews. I can't remember what the beef was, but the NJ posters defended Andrews really very strongly. The kid stood by it anyway.

Didn't Webb go to George Mason after going pro? How is that Raszcko deal anyway? They probably worked out a deal where he was going part time for a longer period, instead of full time.