The story behind Will Leer & Nike

Someone needs to teach newly professional runner how to act professionally. It's chicken shit stuff that Leer was doing. Pro sports endorsement deals are the same through other sports...why should his be an different? Ultimately the blame is all on him for signing a contract he clearly didn't read or understand.

Maybe Nike not wanting to change his contract over the years was because for the most part he was not very good

Over the last year plus he should be thankful that anybody would be willing to give him anything with the "performances" he has thrown out there.

he might be shocked when he gets knocked out of the 1st round at the trials nobody really comes knocking on his door to sign him.

He thinks he is worth much more than he really is

His brand? What brand?

You place no blame on the agent? That's why you have an agent. That's why you pay an agent.

wow nike is so ugly, and to think they covered up Lance for years but as soon as it was going to get bad they kicked him to the curb and acted like they never new him.

if i was an pro athlete i would never ever try nike, all the reduction clauses, the slave wages and im sure you have to go to one of their "coaches" one that does hard PEDS and you sign your name on a never talk disclosure agreement (think kara goucher) or go to less PEDS and same deal

if you choose to not agree to certain things you will be punished like gatlin avoiding people in the 100m so they said well will bust you, now he knows the deal run here and there and everywhere and you can juice and you wont get busted

nike stood next to marion and lance until the end then dropped them fast as can be, nike stood next to gatlin till the end and quietly walked away and then boom he comes back and is with them again running faster than before...and not ducking anyone

glad to see will leer is trying to get out, Nike is the same ugly shit that the AAU was when jim ryun. Pre, and the others had to deal with back in the day

I don't understand why Leer didn't make videos or post reviews talking about the inferiority of nike products, or do symbolic burnings of nike gear or something? Seems like if he did, they'd have dropped him fast. It can't be good to keep an employee who no longer wants to work for you. To me if a top athlete like Leer is looking to get out of a contract, you either let him go or offer him a good deal. This kind of story is going to keep top athletes from signing with nike.

Because we would have sued his ass into the stone age, that's why

Thanks for the sharing the link.

Until athletes unionize they will continue to struggle as independent one-offs.

Nike is doing a good job protecting its interests - its about time athletes got together and formed some kind of org to protect themselves

The best thing that could possibly happen to track is for all the sponsors to leave, and take their child labor money with them. Then top runners can go back to being honorable amateur athletes who run part time for the joy of competition.

So the "truth" seems to be that Leer signed a contract, and the contract was upheld until the other party chose to terminate it?

Pretty boring story.

Another anti- Nike story by Ms. Barker. The wife of Dennis Barker. The coach of exclusively non Nike athletes.

That's the problem with most track and field sports reporters. They don't come from a point of objectivity and the media all love each other - so they don't hold each other accountable anymore. They're more or less in bed (literally in this case) with certain athlete groups or coaches. Chavez comes to mind. Letsrun fanboy turned reporter. Of course he rerweeted the one sided Barker story right away.

Yep. It's shocking. And whoever is screaming "they need to unionize" all union athletes are bound by contracts...exactly like Leer was.

Anduuuuuu wrote:

Another anti- Nike story by Ms. Barker. The wife of Dennis Barker. The coach of exclusively non Nike athletes.

That's the problem with most track and field sports reporters. They don't come from a point of objectivity and the media all love each other - so they don't hold each other accountable anymore. They're more or less in bed (literally in this case) with certain athlete groups or coaches. Chavez comes to mind. Letsrun fanboy turned reporter. Of course he rerweeted the one sided Barker story right away.

She asked for a response from Nike, they declined, you moron.

Anduuuuuu wrote:

the media all love each other

Not Ms. Barker they don't.

Don't be moronic. Of course union athletes are bound by contracts! The DIFFERENCE being they are designed to protect the ATHLETES.Nike's contracts protect Nike only. Get with the times.

USAMN wrote:

Yep. It's shocking. And whoever is screaming "they need to unionize" all union athletes are bound by contracts...exactly like Leer was.

And I'm assuming all you people who rip him for not knowing the contract details hired an attorney to review your employment agreement for your $40k a year office job you took after college?

Feldman wrote:

And I'm assuming all you people who rip him for not knowing the contract details hired an attorney to review your employment agreement for your $40k a year office job you took after college?

I've never had an employment contract. As an at will employee (and shoe endorsers aren't employees, they keep their day job of professional trackster regardless of shoe contract status), I've been able to quit a job anytime I felt necessary, with or without notice. Nice to give notice as some companies wont consider you for rehire if you don't.

I think that most of us would blame the agent that helped with the Nike deals for Leer and for Berian.

Really? So Steph Curry getting paid as relatively little as he does by Golden State because that's his contract is protecting him? Pro athletes also are bound by team options to extend their contract by a set amount. Same situation.

Jeff Albertson wrote:

So the "truth" seems to be that Leer signed a contract, and the contract was upheld until the other party chose to terminate it?

Pretty boring story.

Did you even bother reading the article or are you just choosing to be vague? The article has specific acquisitions as to why Nike would not terminate his contract and they were pretty damning.