| toro |
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Wondered who has seen this article in CNN Money: http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/news/economy/olympic-athletes-financial/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3 A lot of references to track athletes who just scrape by financially but are world class athletes. |
| C/M Runner |
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Just read this article but previously knew of the predicament. Adam Nelson has been pretty vocal on how USATF needs to change their model, particularly in terms of sponsorships. http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/412-Adam-Nelson/video/610987-Adam-Nelson-talks-sponsorship-logos-need-for-change |
| coach d |
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The people running the Olympics sports from USOC down to USATF and sponsors should recognize that this is a MAJOR reason why there is a drug problem. As the compensation is extremely top-loaded, the financial advantages from using drugs and the financial penalties for not using them and performing 2% lower are both extremely high. |
| ttc |
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The best way to make money in running? Be a high school sensation, who gains awareness, like Webb, Ritz & Hall. Yes, each has had huge pro success. But I get the idea they would've still made nice $$ for a while with mediocore pro careers. Meb was w/o a sponsorship for a while. That wouldn't have happened with those 3. |
| Lyndon LaRouche |
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Indeed - what is the downside of getting caught? You retire. Which would have happened anyway without a breakthrough... |
| toro |
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I don't know if the financial disparity is the big cause of the drug problem. If there were more money for the second tier athletes it may lead to even greater drug usage as more people would see the financial incentive to do so. If it remained amateur there would be less drug use. The issue is that these sports simply do not generate much interest and revenue. |
| coach d |
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I think if I was good enough to be Kelli White (not quite good enough to make much money without drugs and decided to cheat), I would be stashing a bunch of my money in the Cayman Islands, and if the testers got close, just tell them to F off. See Daniel Komen, who suddenly vanished from the scene as soon as there was an EPO test. Compare with the NBA, which is obviously a very successful model. Lebron, Kobe, and Superman all make a LOT more than the NBA minimum--I think Steve Nash at age 38 just signed a $27 million deal--but the NBA minimum for 0 years experience is almost half a million dollars. I think if there could be a "professional class" (with standards) for track and field so that people outside the top 5 in their event could actually live, there would be much less temptation to dope. |
| toro |
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For one, the NBA is successful because they have a product that people want to watch. Since you are talking drugs, their system is pretty weak. If a track athlete tests positive for steroids they get a two year ban and then a lifetime ban if it happens again. First violation in the NBA is 5 games (in an 82 game season). 2nd time gets 10 games. 3rd or any additional - 25 games. This is for positive tests during Reasonable Cause Testing, whatever that is. http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=NBA/NBPA_Anti-Drug_Program_Prohibited_Substances So what they do is say that they have a drug policy but make it very hard for any player to get really penalized for taking PED's. And have you heard of any headlines of NBA steroids suspensions? They haven't taken the PR hits that track keeps taking. I am not saying that track is doing the wrong thing, I just dodn't think you can point to basketball as a model of success for track to follow. |
| Moe's Tavern |
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LL, Not so, because many of the companies (Motorola, McDonald's, Texaco, Lowe's, etc.) that could sponsor our athletes would sue for a return of funds if an athlete tested positive. The shoe companies won't because they understand the systematic doping.
Indeed - what is the downside of getting caught? You retire. Which would have happened anyway without a breakthrough...[/quote] |
| YPARunner |
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Didn't know Brian Sell was working at Lancaster Labs.. that's where 2 of my friends work! |