NXN has jumped the shark

Leon Cornell Jr. wrote:

I don't particularly care about the team concept. Yes it's important at the state championship level but on a national scale? Really doesn't mean that much. We all know FM has a lot of depth and they will probably never lose until a Pri school recruits and beats them in that unethical fashion.

We all would like to see a national champ. IMO Nike prob' thought they could force FL out of this game and be the lone race. It may eventually happen but as of now I don't think it's a positive for the sport.

I agree with this. That race yesterday was a novelty, nothing more.

Epic Fail wrote:

Leon Cornell Jr. wrote:

I don't particularly care about the team concept. Yes it's important at the state championship level but on a national scale? Really doesn't mean that much. We all know FM has a lot of depth and they will probably never lose until a Pri school recruits and beats them in that unethical fashion.

We all would like to see a national champ. IMO Nike prob' thought they could force FL out of this game and be the lone race. It may eventually happen but as of now I don't think it's a positive for the sport.

I agree with this. That race yesterday was a novelty, nothing more.

Good, then send your kids to Footlocker to get their shoes, the ref's there will know alot about the sport of running. Hope it all works out for you.

I am not promoting Footlocker the business. I hate their stores and vulture employees. But nike IMO makes crappy footwear. Nike has more money to throw around at an event and that muddy slop fest with man made obstacles was the best they could come up with? The kids that make FL are already excited about the sport and are there to run, not be entertained.

the bigger question wrote:

The kids that make FL are already excited about the sport and are there to run, not be entertained.

This is true about NXN, too. These kids who make NXN are serious about their running and performances. They wouldn't be capable of qualifying if they weren't. And having coached a team that has been there, I can say that the race is far from an afterthought, and the experience of the weekend is one that the kids enjoy - and yes, there are swooshes everywhere but they are not brainwashed with Nike Nike Nike all the time.

The course is an issue though - it is a huge wildcard. Wasn't there a race 3-4 years ago where there was a huge pileup of kids in the first 600? When the course causes things like this, you're basically guaranteed not to have a race that fairly determines who the best is.

put the shoe on the other foot wrote:

Good, then send your kids to Footlocker to get their shoes, the ref's there will know alot about the sport of running. Hope it all works out for you.

I could care less about the companies that sponsor the races. It is the actual race that matters. The fact that NXN does not represent real high school cross country is what bugs me. Most kids run at courses like Holmdel, Van Cortlandt, and Mt Sac all year. Footlocker's course has proven year after year who the true best XC runners are in the country.

It's really simple. The sport needs the best kids to compete against each other on one day to see who is the best - to declare the champion. That existed for years with Footlocker, but now Nike have muddied those waters. They wanted to host Footlocker and couldn't so, like a bully, they have muscled their way in. The kids are the pawns in this losing out.

FL was doing half the job. They could have added the team aspect, as aspect that exists on EVERY level in EVERY championship from middle school to World Cross, but they refused. A championship event is incomplete without an individual AND team champion. Nike CORRECTED their error in adding individuals.

FL has been exposed as nothing more than an EXHIBITION, not a true CHAMPIONSHIP.

As far as an event being a commercial schill opportunity, FL takes full advantage. What is more obvious, a bunch of swooshes or an immense inflatable phallus in a referee shirt?

half a meet wrote:

FL was doing half the job. They could have added the team aspect, as aspect that exists on EVERY level in EVERY championship from middle school to World Cross,

Uh, the Olympics?

Oh no you dint wrote:

half a meet wrote:

FL was doing half the job. They could have added the team aspect, as aspect that exists on EVERY level in EVERY championship from middle school to World Cross,

Uh, the Olympics?

Fact check: Cross Country is not an olympic sport. When it was, there was a team aspect.

just post her interview. why did she have to say "Maybe" when the guy asked if she would be back next year? you could hear the collective silence lol.

i wonder if her comment hints at some knd of injury or strain she suffered on the course?

To all of you who are saying Nike is simply in this to sell shoes...well if you've never been to the event, see how Nike treats all of the teams, seeing how much they promote the sport, then you need to keep quiet. I don't doubt for one second that Nike partially uses the event to turn the athletes into brand advocates. Every shoe company does that. Under Armour does it in high school football. Adidas and Nike do it in basketball. Same goes for adidas, Under Armour and Nike in college football and basketball...hence why there are so many horrible jerseys out there these days (i.e. Oregon and Maryland). It's part of what they do. Footlocker does the same thing with their event. If you've ever been to Footlocker XC, you'll know that the Footlocker logo is plastered everywhere. It's a good event, great for the sport and I hope it continues on, just like NXN. I understand the disdain about the course yesterday. It was disgusting and horrible to race in and I don't doubt it ruined the races of many athletes, but all the athletes had to race in the same conditions, so it really doesn't matter at the end of the day.

Nike supports this sport more than anyone (USATF, NYRR, all the college combined, etc.). If it wasn't for the MILLIONS they pour into the sport every year, this sport would be nearly dead (i.e. boxing). Nike sponsors so many athletes and supports so many events. Yes, it helps the bottom line to throw marketing money at things, but at the end of the day Nike supports our sport more than anyone.

bguy232ss wrote:

http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/8967-Sarah-Baxter

just post her interview. why did she have to say "Maybe" when the guy asked if she would be back next year? you could hear the collective silence lol.

Right, that was awesome.

Good for Sarah Baxter!

Nike needs to drop the individual part, focus on teams, and find a better course for the runners.

Footlocker used to allow the top runners from Nx to attend the Nationals, until Nike screwed that up. It was a much better arrangement.

If they could work it out, meaning Nike needs to work it out, as FL already did, this could be much better for the kids, by allowing them to attend both meets when they're qualified.

Sad State of Affairs wrote:

Nike needs to drop the individual part, focus on teams, and find a better course for the runners.

Footlocker used to allow the top runners from Nx to attend the Nationals, until Nike screwed that up. It was a much better arrangement.

If they could work it out, meaning Nike needs to work it out, as FL already did, this could be much better for the kids, by allowing them to attend both meets when they're qualified.

I agree with this.

Footlocker for individuals. Nike for team. Case closed.

boulderisbolder wrote:

Nike only cares about making $$$.

And this is a problem because....?

Nike pays for 44 teams and dozens of individuals to travel to Portland, puts them up in a really nice hotel, feeds them, clothes them, treats them like royalty, and gives them access to their running idols. That's rougly 400 plane tickets, 1200 nights lodging, and 3600 meals. (3 or 4 nights, I can't remember which.)

I went to the race to cheer on my old high school team, and guess what? I got in free, because Nike doesn't charge for the event. I had course access and was able to go anywhere I wanted and cheer for my guys. It was amazing. I even bumped into Alan Webb, Rupp, and Solinsky. All for free.

And the course? The first time I was there, I thought, "This is a mess." But after running 2 NCAA D2 championships on flat courses that can hardly be called cross country, it's refreshing to see a really challenging race. And I can't speak for the rest of the field, but the guys from my school absolutely loved the course.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, Nike does more for our sport than any other group in the world.

neanderthal dream wrote:

Nike pays for 44 teams and dozens of individuals to travel to Portland,.

Don't forget to subtract out the kids from Ohio (THE WINNER AMONG THEM) who have to pay their own way because our high school athletic association is still living in the 50s and have no problem taking away opportunities especially from poorer kids in the misguided name of fairness.

half a meet wrote:

FL was doing half the job. They could have added the team aspect, as aspect that exists on EVERY level in EVERY championship from middle school to World Cross, but they refused. A championship event is incomplete without an individual AND team champion. Nike CORRECTED their error in adding individuals.

FL has been exposed as nothing more than an EXHIBITION, not a true CHAMPIONSHIP...

Your post seems really stupid. FL has always had a team aspect and it is one much more closely aligned with your sacred World Cross than is Nike's. When nations compete at World Cross do they take an all star team from each nation (ala FL's all star team from each region) or do clubs come to compete with intact teams (ala NXN).

I am sorry that you are as stupid as you apparently are. Seems sad really.

bguy232ss wrote:

http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/8967-Sarah-Baxter

just post her interview. why did she have to say "Maybe" when the guy asked if she would be back next year? you could hear the collective silence lol.

Wow...that was awkward for Nike. How does her team look coming back next year? Unless they are among the best out West, I'd think that she may decide to change things up and put the final stamp on her high school XC career by going to FLN and seeing if she can win in historically impressive fashion.