Craig is exactly who they want representing the brand long term - although for Nike they probably have a ton of built in incentives or something to ensure that they aren't just paying him to sit around after 2024. He is one of the genuinely nicest people out there, is a lot of fun to hang out with, races really well, and engages with fans. Only a small handful of runners fit all four of those traits. It is part of why this sport is so hard to sell to the average person.
Enemy of the Podcast wrote:
Good for him for getting that MBA as insurance but signing a 9-year contact and assuming he fulfills it there's little chance he gets much use out of that MBA when he enters the workforce at age 36.
His presence has neither enhanced not detracted from my experience as a fan. It would be nice to see him make a USA team. Has he considered the steeple?
1) He has the potential to be a one million dollar per year guy as a financial advisor.
2) Even if Craig Engels is not a power hitter in financial advisory world, often those with M.B.A. fail up, get promoted to management.
3) Real estate agent.
4) Mortgage broker.
5) XC and middle distance coach then Athletic Director. See those with M.B.A. failing up.
Is it a Kirk Cousins ... wrote:
Enemy of the Podcast wrote:
Good for him for getting that MBA as insurance but signing a 9-year contact and assuming he fulfills it there's little chance he gets much use out of that MBA when he enters the workforce at age 36.
His presence has neither enhanced not detracted from my experience as a fan. It would be nice to see him make a USA team. Has he considered the steeple?
1) He has the potential to be a one million dollar per year guy as a financial advisor.
2) Even if Craig Engels is not a power hitter in financial advisory world, often those with M.B.A. fail up, get promoted to management.
3) Real estate agent.
4) Mortgage broker.
5) XC and middle distance coach then Athletic Director. See those with M.B.A. failing up.
How many of those didn't put in a day of work in those fields prior to age 36? I can see #3 or #4 but not the rest.
Poon Shooter wrote:
flyingfrog wrote:
I could see him as some sort of rep after his running days, his demeanor and personality make him ideal for a rep position. Who wouldn't want to go have a beer with this guy?
Yawn. Maybe if he didn’t love beer so much he would have made the team.
Yeah that beer belly cost him a spot
I never thought the Joe Dirt look and personality would be in. But here we are. God help us all.
Love Craig but jfc gotta be a better tactical genius.
Also who gets a Theater degree at Ole Miss lol get real. The govt actually backs and secures those student loans...?
Holy hell.
WTF is everyone smoking? This has to be one of Nike's DUMBEST decisions. The guy was seriously thinking about quitting the sport and you sign him to a long term contract? He's already shown to have issues with motivation. I could understand a short term contract, but Nike is going to get burned by this 9 year deal.
And Engels is BAD for the sport. Sure, some low testosterone high schoolers like him because he has a mullet and a mustache, but he is doing NOTHING to bring new fans to the sport. Joe Dirt scares them away. He lives in a van and clearly has an alcohol problem. Not exactly my idea of a role model.
Remember when he celebrated early and then got SMOKED by a 3:38 guy?
zikes wrote:
WTF is everyone smoking? This has to be one of Nike's DUMBEST decisions. The guy was seriously thinking about quitting the sport and you sign him to a long term contract? He's already shown to have issues with motivation. I could understand a short term contract, but Nike is going to get burned by this 9 year deal.
And Engels is BAD for the sport. Sure, some low testosterone high schoolers like him because he has a mullet and a mustache, but he is doing NOTHING to bring new fans to the sport. Joe Dirt scares them away. He lives in a van and clearly has an alcohol problem. Not exactly my idea of a role model.
Remember when he celebrated early and then got SMOKED by a 3:38 guy?
Clueless
Given his personality, the theater degree is and will be more useful to him for the stage presence and comfort with the limelight than the MBA, which actually teaches nothing whatsoever.
Enemy of the Podcast wrote:
Is it a Kirk Cousins ... wrote:
1) He has the potential to be a one million dollar per year guy as a financial advisor.
2) Even if Craig Engels is not a power hitter in financial advisory world, often those with M.B.A. fail up, get promoted to management.
3) Real estate agent.
4) Mortgage broker.
5) XC and middle distance coach then Athletic Director. See those with M.B.A. failing up.
How many of those didn't put in a day of work in those fields prior to age 36? I can see #3 or #4 but not the rest.
Swoosh exec job waiting?
zikes wrote:
WTF is everyone smoking? This has to be one of Nike's DUMBEST decisions. The guy was seriously thinking about quitting the sport and you sign him to a long term contract? He's already shown to have issues with motivation. I could understand a short term contract, but Nike is going to get burned by this 9 year deal.
And Engels is BAD for the sport. Sure, some low testosterone high schoolers like him because he has a mullet and a mustache, but he is doing NOTHING to bring new fans to the sport. Joe Dirt scares them away. He lives in a van and clearly has an alcohol problem. Not exactly my idea of a role model.
Remember when he celebrated early and then got SMOKED by a 3:38 guy?
not that hard to look at
with Nike backing him and putting him in the "safe to glow" category, he will get to sauce hard and get to that 3:28-29 realm
hobbs is with adidas
cole is with nike, and now craig signs a good deal.....they are betting on these two guys being the new face of americas 1500m...and well you gotta run sub 3:30 to be top dog so prepare for some serious burrito eating from these two.
bannnnned i got wrote:
zikes wrote:
WTF is everyone smoking? This has to be one of Nike's DUMBEST decisions. The guy was seriously thinking about quitting the sport and you sign him to a long term contract? He's already shown to have issues with motivation. I could understand a short term contract, but Nike is going to get burned by this 9 year deal.
And Engels is BAD for the sport. Sure, some low testosterone high schoolers like him because he has a mullet and a mustache, but he is doing NOTHING to bring new fans to the sport. Joe Dirt scares them away. He lives in a van and clearly has an alcohol problem. Not exactly my idea of a role model.
Remember when he celebrated early and then got SMOKED by a 3:38 guy?
not that hard to look at
with Nike backing him and putting him in the "safe to glow" category, he will get to sauce hard and get to that 3:28-29 realm
hobbs is with adidas
cole is with nike, and now craig signs a good deal.....they are betting on these two guys being the new face of americas 1500m...and well you gotta run sub 3:30 to be top dog so prepare for some serious burrito eating from these two.
Craig E. likes his beers. He's skinny-fat, about 12% body fat. If Craig E. immediately cuts his body fat in half I will be suspicious.
We don't know the details of the contract. Unconditionally 9 years seems a bit unlikely.
Engels is certainly good enough to have decent chances at representing the US at Olympics and similar events for several years to come. And he is so marketable that even if he gets only 5th at trials most of the time he'll be among the US elite and that's probably sufficiently visible for Nike.
IMO we're witnessing how a talented athlete transitions to a YouTube. The focus on his arrival at the Trials was his mustache. He has fans and followers. But his talent has peaked. Nike and Track and Field is not done with him. But his talent has peaked. His last performances on the track appeared to me he was done. But he's still marketable. Welcome Hocker.
You'd have to be an idiot not sign a guy like Craig Engels. The man is beloved.
I read the article. It says long term contract. I don’t see where it says 9 years. Maybe he’s been with Nike for 5 years and the next contract is 4? Nike doesn’t do 9 year contracts for anyone- especially if you aren’t a medal threat.
hippofriend wrote:
Enemy of the Podcast wrote:
How many of those didn't put in a day of work in those fields prior to age 36? I can see #3 or #4 but not the rest.
Swoosh exec job waiting?
He and Cilantro can have adjoining suites.
Hard to believe Engels' contract is guaranteed for that length. He would be 36 when that contract expired, which is far older than the age when most track athletes retire. Chris O'Hare just retired at 31. Centro, who is near the end of his career, is 32. Unless Engels has Bernard Lagat's longevity, highly unlikely, I am assuming it's just some kind of step deal -- i.e. renewable in installments.
When he was on David Melly’s podcast recently, he said he had been in some early discussions with Netflix to do a show but ultimately nothing came of it. I’d like to see him do some sort of YouTube series with his RVs and training. Would be great.
Les wrote:
Hard to believe Engels' contract is guaranteed for that length. He would be 36 when that contract expired, which is far older than the age when most track athletes retire. Chris O'Hare just retired at 31. Centro, who is near the end of his career, is 32. Unless Engels has Bernard Lagat's longevity, highly unlikely, I am assuming it's just some kind of step deal -- i.e. renewable in installments.
* Many M.L.B. contracts are partially to 100% guaranteed.
* Many N.B.A. contracts are partially to 100% guaranteed.
* The vast majority of N.F.L. contracts are not guaranteed. Most N.F.L. contracts do not mean much. If N.F.L. management want to get rid of most players, most players are removed from team and not owed a dime. NIKE did not get this big without having good business sense. Most likely Craig E. has a near worthless contract. Why would NIKE give Craig E. a Kirk Cousins type contract?