Jakob vs Parker Valby: Who’s more marketable?

Foreignrrd wrote:

big daddy ajunt wrote:

Jakob, not so much in US, but around the world he's viewed as the top mid distance track runner.

He always shows up.

He is always in contention.

He always controls the race (even in a loss).

His brothers, Dad, new wife, youth training make for a good story. (Even the ugly parts)

He makes both thoughtful and entertaining quotes for the media.

He is also reasonsbly handsome.

Valby outside US has not done enough yet to be a pro track star.

She's pretty, but not pretty enough without her sport to become a model or social media personality.

She can be very strong now, however, in US market for build up to '28 and for the 16-25 age group.

None of that really matters. But kudos to him.

There have been a ton of foreign runners that have set world records and been consistent, hardly any of them have been marketed. Lots of them wouldn’t even be in the sport if not for additional government subsidies.

Of course, you have your Usain Bolt and Mo Farah exceptions.

Norway is similar to the state of Maryland in both population size and GDP. It’s a small economy. Domestically, there’s just enough juice to squeeze out from Norwegian companies who have the most to gain from being his brand partners.

Once he has to get international sponsorship, his marketability changes drastically. Not because of him, but because most of the marketing is driven by US-based companies because US consumption drives world habits.

The bar for an American is significantly lower.

If Proctor & Gamble wanted to market soap or some hygiene product, Valby, even whilst having accomplished little internationally, might still be their best bet.

McRunnin wrote:

Kvothe wrote:

Both are incredibly marketable, but Valby's image could probably move more product. Jakob could probably bring more people out to a meet though.

Agreed. When marketing an upcoming Diamond League meet, Jakob will be and should be one of the headliners.

When marketing a product, it’s more complicated. It depends on the type of product and the target market.

One thing in Valby’s favor for product marketing is she is building a reputation as a runner who exceeds expectations and delivers in the biggest moments. She not only won NCAA championships, she broke NCAA records while doing so. She not only made the Olympic team, she finished second in the 10,000 and outkicked Karissa Schweizer at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Jakob, on the other hand, is building a reputation as someone who repeatedly fails to win the biggest race of the year in his primary event that he otherwise dominates. Three years in a row he‘s been heavily favored to win the global championship 1500m, and three years in a row he’s failed.

If I’m trying to market a product, I’d want to pick an athlete who exceeds expectations because I’d want people to associate my product with reliable performance and exceeded expectations. If Jakob was a rep for my product, I’d fear people would associate my product with disappointing performance when it matters most.

Kickers usually win wrote:

McRunnin wrote:

Agreed. When marketing an upcoming Diamond League meet, Jakob will be and should be one of the headliners.

When marketing a product, it’s more complicated. It depends on the type of product and the target market.

One thing in Valby’s favor for product marketing is she is building a reputation as a runner who exceeds expectations and delivers in the biggest moments. She not only won NCAA championships, she broke NCAA records while doing so. She not only made the Olympic team, she finished second in the 10,000 and outkicked Karissa Schweizer at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Jakob, on the other hand, is building a reputation as someone who repeatedly fails to win the biggest race of the year in his primary event that he otherwise dominates. Three years in a row he‘s been heavily favored to win the global championship 1500m, and three years in a row he’s failed.

If I’m trying to market a product, I’d want to pick an athlete who exceeds expectations because I’d want people to associate my product with reliable performance and exceeded expectations. If Jakob was a rep for my product, I’d fear people would associate my product with disappointing performance when it matters most.

Who would you be trying to market a project to?

Come on. You’re implying that Vallby is a better runner than Ingebrigtsen. Ingebrigtsen is the best in the world compared to Valby’s NCAA 5000m and 10000m records that are about one and two minutes off the WRs. Ingebrigtsen got 4th in the Olympic 1500m, but then Valby didn’t win the 5000m.

Your last paragraph is ridiculous. What expectation do have for her upcoming 3000m? The women’s Olympic 10000m was the race that mattered the most for Valby, and she wasn’t competitive.

big daddy ajunt wrote:

Kickers usually win wrote:

His family dysfunction should be private and a lot of people are married. I never click the threads about his father. Sports are about the here and now, and most people don’t care about what he did as a youth. It’s always “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” and Tuohy is a good example.

Well no. That's why in the past year, the discussion around him is centered on his family, long training history with his father, conflict with his father, recent wedding AND his results. His sponsors and pr agents drive much of this discussion. Once you reach a certain star level, specific results don't matter as much anymore (as long as you are still relevant).

I only know about these elements, because I am a world track fan, and have been reached by the media/marketing complex.

Jakob of course is big in Norway, but he is also useful all across Europe for marketing purposes.

Take Stef or Lebron. They still make excellent spokespeople without having won anything lately. Heck even Tiger still most marketable golfer. Note Mondo and Jakob are also single name athletes for track fans.

Tuohy also has a great story. Will be nice if she wins something as a pro, but she will always be a known and useful brand rep, just based off her hs and ncaa career.

Foreignrrd wrote:

big daddy ajunt wrote:

Jakob, not so much in US, but around the world he's viewed as the top mid distance track runner.

He always shows up.

He is always in contention.

He always controls the race (even in a loss).

His brothers, Dad, new wife, youth training make for a good story. (Even the ugly parts)

He makes both thoughtful and entertaining quotes for the media.

He is also reasonsbly handsome.

Valby outside US has not done enough yet to be a pro track star.

She's pretty, but not pretty enough without her sport to become a model or social media personality.

She can be very strong now, however, in US market for build up to '28 and for the 16-25 age group.

None of that really matters. But kudos to him.

There have been a ton of foreign runners that have set world records and been consistent, hardly any of them have been marketed. Lots of them wouldn’t even be in the sport if not for additional government subsidies.

Of course, you have your Usain Bolt and Mo Farah exceptions.

Norway is similar to the state of Maryland in both population size and GDP. It’s a small economy. Domestically, there’s just enough juice to squeeze out from Norwegian companies who have the most to gain from being his brand partners.

Once he has to get international sponsorship, his marketability changes drastically. Not because of him, but because most of the marketing is driven by US-based companies because US consumption drives world habits.

The bar for an American is significantly lower.

If Proctor & Gamble wanted to market soap or some hygiene product, Valby, even whilst having accomplished little internationally, might still be their best bet.

McRunnin wrote:

objectiveobserver wrote:

No it isn´t an accurate assessment because you omitted he won 3 golds in the 5000m and broke "unbreakable WRs". You seems to have learned from Armstronglivs who has made it to the purpose of his life to paint Jakob as an utter failure.

A more accurate assessment would be: He is the best ever 1500m to 5000m runner on the track; super shoes or not. And he proves over and over again.

I’m not suggesting Jakob is an utter failure. Earlier, I wrote, “When marketing an upcoming Diamond League meet, Jakob will be and should be one of the headliners.” That’s not a statement that would be made about an utter failure.

Obviously Jakob has had a successful career. Pointing out his disappointing performances in the biggest moments of his primary event doesn’t mean his whole career is a failure. It just means he has disappointed in the biggest moments three years in a row.

Yes, he has won three consecutive global championships in his secondary event, and he deserves credit for that. So, if we include those in the mix of his biggest moments, then it’s fair to say he’s 3 for 6 in his biggest moments the last three years. That’s a 50% success rate. In other words, he’s been hit or miss. I wouldn’t want a product I’m selling to be associated with hit or miss in the biggest moments.