Rupp's parents in the hole for 45 large! To turn pro?

One can't help but speculate that the decision has already been made- this is Rupp's last track season as a Duck, and the PR spin is beginning in order to bring the fans along to this *fait accompli* over the next six months.

This just in wrote:

This is no different than young golfers, tennis pros, or gym kids...the parents go into debt with the hopes of a big payoff when they get good enough to earn money as a pro athlete. Galen is lucky he has had the opportunity. I'm sure his parents are not worried about getting that money back. If they have a second mortgage, they aren't really out the 45 large, they are just making a monthly payment until Galen pays back the principal for them.

Part of their debt appears to be related to his brother Colin. As it says - $45,000 in debt and facing hefty tution bills from the University of Portland. The article seems to imply the $45K si all related to Galen and perhaps it is, but unless it went into a special account for Galen I think it might be a little difficult to trace with certainty the costs.

That being said, golf pros and tennis pros are mentioned in this thread. Zach Johnson who won the 2007 Masters started his career by selling shares in himself. The return came when and if he became successful. If (my caveat) the Rupps had decided it was best for Galen to continue on his running career without going to Oregon than they could have gone this route - selling shares in Rupp. As it turned out they decided to go to Oregon and the Rupps spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $20-25K I believe to pay back costs which would allow Galen to compete at the NCAA level. Without finding the exact rule in the NCAA rulebook I can presume this would be illegal.

They have decided to support their son. More power to them. I do not think they are "impoverished" by taking out a $45,000 second, but I am sure they are pinched a little. They must have penciled this out and in the end decided to take the money so I have a hard time feeling sorry for them. It is a choice they made, much like the choices my clients make during their marriages which drive them to financial ruin once the divorce begins.

"The Rupps pay Salazar $200 a month for coaching services."

Is this a typo?

1. Why is he waiting to go pro? It's not like he doesn't have the big paycheck waiting for him and it's probably not going to get any bigger just smaller if he gets hurt. What the scholarship? Isn't $100,000/year enough to pay for school?

2. Isn't he being selfish? Waiting to go pro while his parents foot all the bills just so he can hang out with his buddies that are a great bunch of guys or whatever that article said.

3. Why is he going to Europe if he is focused on competing for his school? I wasn't aware that Europe is part of the NCAA.

Serious? wrote:

1. Why is he waiting to go pro? It's not like he doesn't have the big paycheck waiting for him and it's probably not going to get any bigger just smaller if he gets hurt. What the scholarship? Isn't $100,000/year enough to pay for school?

2. Isn't he being selfish? Waiting to go pro while his parents foot all the bills just so he can hang out with his buddies that are a great bunch of guys or whatever that article said.

3. Why is he going to Europe if he is focused on competing for his school? I wasn't aware that Europe is part of the NCAA.

I'm not a spokesperson for Galen Rupp, but I'll answer your questions.

1. Perhaps he will go pro after this season of track. With a US collegiate record he can command a nice little contract which Nike will offer and Alberto's coaching can justify. Going pro before might have resulted in a smaller contract - just like a NBA or MLB player, have some outstanding results just before your contract is up and then watch the money rain down. He was good before - US junior records - but now he is making his mark at the NCAA level and hit a Olympic "A" standard, so it made sense to wait awhile.

2. Not sure how going to school and running for the Ducks is being selfish when perhaps the contract he could have recieved before this season might have been say $50K a year. Plus he had made a mark, albeit a small one at the NCAA level, but I'm not sure how it is selfish. Is there some unwritten rule that you must turn pro before your parent's foot the bill for coaching, travel and what not? if so there are a lot of selfish high school athletes out there who get private coaching and travel to camps every summer for football and basketball instead of turning pro (this argument lacks some merit in light of recent age restrictions by the leagues but the point is made).

3. He goes to Europe in the summer. School is out. Runs unattached. Australia is a better question and frankly I have a hard time with that one, but it must have passed muster with the NCAA rulebook, so what are you gonna do?

1. He has $100,000 (an offer last year) on the table and they say he will get about that when he gets out. It will take a long time to make up for the $100,000 he lost by whatever contract he gets over and above that.

2. See number 1 and him making his parents pay all his bills when he can do the same thing and make $100,000 is selfish.

3. Do that when you have the big contract not when you are "focused" on school and competing for your school.

I was under the impression that Rupp's family was loaded -- like mega rich?

The "rich kid with the altitude tent" sentiment from dyestate must have been exaggerated.

Serious? wrote:

1. He has $100,000 (an offer last year) on the table and they say he will get about that when he gets out. It will take a long time to make up for the $100,000 he lost by whatever contract he gets over and above that.

2. See number 1 and him making his parents pay all his bills when he can do the same thing and make $100,000 is selfish.

3. Do that when you have the big contract not when you are "focused" on school and competing for your school.

Where in the article does it say - "He has $100,000 (an offer last year) on the table and they say he will get about that when he gets out. It will take a long time to make up for the $100,000 he lost by whatever contract he gets over and above that."?

It doesn't. Article says (I've now taken some time to read it) "Salazar said Rupp HAD (my emphasis) an offer to go pro after high school that would have paid him $100,000."

The article says it is reasonable for him to get a $150-200K contract plus an additional $50K in incentives. Would seem to be in line with Webbs contract out which I think was $250K.

It is not selfish if your parents want to support your dream. I'm sure Rupp would tell you he would pay all of his training bills if he had the money. He doesn't since he goes to school. Passing on the instant $100K when you could get more by running even better is not selfish and say he had signed that contract and then with his injuries of the last few years he would have been attacked by you for getting the big contract. He can't win with you and others on this board (BTW - I'm not a huge Rupp fan. Nice what he has done, but the success while being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and I think he has some allergy issues is just one of those things that deep down bother me but that is for another thread).

Finally, you can go to Europe when you are focused on school - it's SUMMER BREAK!

Now after reading the article I can ballpark his parent's income in the upper five figures at least. Mother is a neonatal intensive care manager at Emanuel Hospital who makes mid-60s or so based on my knowledge of health care pay in the Portland area and his father is a respitory therapist who makes at least $35K a year which would actually put them in the low six figures. They are not impoverished unless they have a huge mortgage and a lot of debt.

Short right leg wrote:

I was under the impression that Rupp's family was loaded -- like mega rich?

The "rich kid with the altitude tent" sentiment from dyestate must have been exaggerated.

do those tents even work? if so, i'm going to save up and get one for sure!

So let me get this straight... 6000 for racing in Europe, 2400 for salazar as a coach, 2000 for trips to altitude, and 3k for equipment rentals... about 15000 a year, while his parents do not have to pay any of his college tuition, and he is not incurring any debt, his dad is a respiratory therapist (I looked up and got between 40k-55k as median salary) and they are impoverished? Ummm what? I don't know about anyone else who has had parents much worse off than this, but this really does not raise any sympathy, at all from me.

barakus wrote:

Short right leg wrote:

I was under the impression that Rupp's family was loaded -- like mega rich?

The "rich kid with the altitude tent" sentiment from dyestate must have been exaggerated.

do those tents even work? if so, i'm going to save up and get one for sure!

I think the whole team has altitude tents?

"We have worked on a spectrum of projects from hospitals and research facilities to horse stalls and team dormitories for a list of clients that includes the Nike Elite Running Team, the University of Oregon, and the United States Speed Skating Team."

This looks like a spin article to detract from all the criticisim Rupp and Salazar have received for several years, over his supposed non-pro status. Rupp's tactics in his collegiate running career have not received support or applause as a whole from the running community because of the special treatment and allowances that have been allowed him since he graduated from high school. This article is hoping to silece the criticisim and hoping for sympathy and support, which he has never received except for a FEW VERY vocal fans.

That amount of $45,000 are on the low side. When you add how much his parents pay for Galen's Breathe Rite strips, that amount almost doubles to $86,532!!

It is difficult to feel sorry for his parents being "impoverished." They are in debt because they choose to spend that money on him. Meanwhile, it isn't like they are paying for his tuition. If they want him to train and race like/with professional athletes, then yes, he should go pro. Otherwise, if they think he should get his college education or get the experience of running on a college team or whatever, they need to back off and focus on what they do need spend money on - his brother's tuition.

So you think that if he HAD the $100,000/year offer after high school it's no good now?

Yeah Europe seems to be a logical place for a summer break. Damn I wish my parents went in debt and sent me to Europe during the summers in college. But I wouldn't put my parents in that postion. I would take the $100,000/year job and I am sure Nike would cover those type of expenses as well as all the others listed in the article (coaching, other travel, housing, etc).

Quantum,

I was raised in a similiar situation. My parents felt that at the age of 17, I was no longer their responsibility. I have made a decision to do much better for my children.

My concern? I've see a large number of children of parents who struggled come out selfish, naive, sheltered, and even when all of the proper emotional training is applied, these children are surrounded by children of a more spoiled upbrining, which is an influence.

Not exactly pertaining to Rupp. I think he'll make it just fine. When you have Phil Knight pat you on the ass after a race, I think you're going to be OK.

Have Professor Garcia-Molina and Randy Miyazaki fund Galen's training. I spotted them taking pictures as media photographers at Sunday's Cardinal Invitational. Both are blisteringly rich, GM from Oracle, and RM from cable modems.

Uh, 45-55K is not a very big salary anywhere these days. Though Portland isn't as expensive as Palo Alto or even Seattle, it's not dirt cheap either.

Let's see, Mr. Rupp is making 45K-55K, owns a house in PDX, helps Galen with his running expenses, and their other son goes to a very expensive private university ... not "impoverished" but certainly not making it big either. Thinking someone is swimming in money at 45K-55K is hilarious, unless you're thinking this is the 1960's.

* I'd say 99.9 percent of the guys and gals on this board -- even the Rupp bashers -- would make the same sacrifices to elevate their running careers if they could.

** His parents could've possibly lessened their debt by sending son No. 2 to a state school like Oregon or OSU, unless UP is giving him a nice financial aid package. The European season is worth going to. I don't think he needs the high altitude training in New Mexico or as many trips overseas. They could probably reduce the debt to $20K-$25K if done right. It's a solid investment. Most people I know spend $30K or more on ugly, stupid, gas-guzzling SUVs.

Um. You forgot to add in Mrs. Rupp's salary. Two salary household.