Appropriate Deadspin take down piece on what a joke of journalist abrahamson is and how he is an "Olympic lackey."
Appropriate Deadspin take down piece on what a joke of journalist abrahamson is and how he is an "Olympic lackey."
Mundus Vult wrote:
Egun,
I will skip over your ad hominem attacks since we both know that I could care less about what people think of me anymore. And, yes, I know exactly who you are.
Instead, let me take on your last and only argument that "Nike has propped up running in this country for decades . . . ."
Nike has "propped up running in this country for decades" in the same way that the Berlin wall kept East Germans "safe" from the West for a few decades. Nike has more money than everyone else. Everyone gets that. That doesn't mean, however, that they should continue as Emperor of Track Town. If you are judging Nike solely on how they have helped develop the sport over the past 20 years, they are--on balance--doing an average job (at best). Their running shoe sales reflect this. Nike hasn't connected the millions of hobby joggers to the elite side of the sport. They haven't built events that have mass appeal (except, perhaps, NXN). Their brand image doesn't resonate with the youth market in the same way as New Balance and Brooks do. And, the strong arm they use to rule continues to drive people away from the Iron Swoosh.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Nike wall, there are all manner of companies, coaches and events that are doing Track and Field better than Nike. Other entities with different ideas and different approaches to Track and Field are thriving. Small companies are finding ways to connect with niche runners. Non-traditional running shoe companies are attracting Olympic athletes. Grassroots events are bringing track back into the limelight. Track and Field is somehow growing despite the impediments of the governing body. Think about that for a moment? Most people involved in Track and Field see the Nike backed governing body of Track as an impediment to growing the sport.
It is long past time for the wall to come down.
To be clear, that's all people want: for the future of Track and Field to be determined by more than Stephanie Hightower and Nike's money. No one is saying that Nike doesn't belong in that future. They are just saying that Nike shouldn't get to dictate it through the mouthpiece of the governing body.
Mundus
I loved your analogy. It really makes people think.
It's sort of like Putin. The Russians love him but is he good for the World?
Valerio wrote:
Appropriate Deadspin take down piece on what a joke of journalist abrahamson is and how he is an "Olympic lackey."
http://tinyurl.com/pxlt2co
You mean the toilet of internet sports journslism is critical of something. Shocking (probably jealousy)!
If anything, Alan is connected to Sony Pictures and the Hollywood TV/Movie industry having been with the L.A. Times for such a long time. But I don't think Alan would intentionally bias himself towards the Entertainment Industry and sub-industries involved in the production of sports shoes/apparel using slave/prison labor.
Alan is the best writer of all time.
pants on fire wrote:
why is Alan required to answer anything on letsrun, and he he is a journalist doing an opinion piece. This is why your post is a bunch of nonsense. What is the name of your consulting firm? Has this consulting firm ever been hired by Nick S or Brooks or any business that has had a conflict with Nike/Nike Industries. Why are you using the Letsrun forum to communicate with Alan Abrahson, when some easy research you could find the address of his publisher. Why do you suspect Alan is being paid by USATF , and you won't ask the USATF legal about there specific payroll.
My firm has never done any business with anyone in the running shoe industry.
And, to be frank, I am using the most popular message board in the running community to communicate with Alan because he has refused to answer the question privately.
Alan is not required to do anything. However, until he does, there will be continued questions as to the independence of his editorial opinions. Their timing alone is striking. He has released articles four times on the same day as USATF released press releases on controversial subjects. All four of his articles backed the governing body.
I don't know Alan. I don't have a problem with Alan. I do think that is fair for his readers to know if he has been paid in any way by USATF.
After Alan's last editorial, I thought it was time to bump this thread and see if he will finally respond.
Mundus Vult Decipi wrote:
After Alan's last editorial, I thought it was time to bump this thread and see if he will finally respond.
Of course he's paid by the USATF! He used to have a USATF logo on his site.
https://web.archive.org/web/20160220165517/http://www.3wiresports.com/The article is amazing:
Hiring dopers is okay 'cause you know he wasn't doping.
USATF is giving a WHOLE $25,000 to podium at the Rio games! $10,000 to get on the team. That is one tiny step above the NCAA athlete poverty program.
The point of a relay competition is not completing a relay.
Oh, and Addidas athletes cause problems.
Good job Alan.
Mundus Vult Decipi wrote:
Alan,
I know that you read these boards. Would you mind disclosing whether or not you have ever been paid by USATF in any monetary form? Are you one of the USATF Brand Ambassadors?
This is a genuine question. Please answer your critics once and for all.
Thanks,
Mundus
You think that some zhid who has a job via ethnic networking is going to admit what he really does, who's behind him, his connections, his motivations? Nope.