Did Nick Symmonds make a mistake?

No posts for a few hours. Seems irrelevant now. See you next year, Nick.

Bad Wigins wrote:

When has the US not dominated the m400?

The most recent Olympics in 2012. (The above sort of loses its effect when confronted with facts, eh?)

Poster above who said life is cheap in Asia and Cap is on this got a good laugh out of me.

Sometimes I wonder if, even for hyper-competitive professional athletes, it's subconsciously comforting to find a reason to allow yourself to avoid the head-to-head battle of straight competition.

Symmonds making his stand from the US instead of doing what many have suggested and making his stand in Beijing, still getting to run his event, almost reminds of Solomon taking the US nationals 800 out at world record pace or whatever it was and dying--both were ways of avoiding the race, right? And both guys still get a nice pat on the back from a lot of people.

Seriously, look at the jitters these gods of the sport show on the starting line. It's a lot for anyone to take on, even multi-gold winners. I just wonder about the psychology of all of this.

I'm probably wrong here, but it's just something that crossed my mind. What if there is a very small part of at least some elite runners that doesn't really enjoy the anxiety and pressure of racing, at least not until the very end when the race is almost over?

Two weeks ago when everyone was yammering about this, I said "In two weeks this will blow over like a fart in the wind." Hmmmmm

SP83 wrote:

Totally made a mistake. No one is really talking about this anymore. Would have made a better statement to challenge the policy in China while a member of the team, if anyone told him what to wear in his free time. No one hassles him he gets to run and its business as usual. Someone does hassle him and he gets to make Nike look absurd for telling a Team USA athlete what to do in their free time and most likely still gets to run.

I agree. I think he should have voiced his opinion, run "under protest" if you will, but he should have been in the race.

Right now he's Don Quixote fight windmills.

Had Nick gone AND medaled, people on Letsrun would be arguing for weeks if not months that his result was tainted and he only medaled because Amos and Aman weren't in the final.

SP83 wrote:

Totally made a mistake. No one is really talking about this anymore. Would have made a better statement to challenge the policy in China while a member of the team, if anyone told him what to wear in his free time. No one hassles him he gets to run and its business as usual. Someone does hassle him and he gets to make Nike look absurd for telling a Team USA athlete what to do in their free time and most likely still gets to run.

Not sure it was a mistake, because it is getting talked about. It was mentioned on the NBC telecast, so that means those at the elite level are talking, it must have made for some talk at USATF headquarters. I'm sure Lananna is talking about it in respect to the potential pro-league (he even addressed uniform sponsors at the NC). I think Symmonds made his point.

Now, was it the best way? Probably not, because it mostly hurt himself. And as you said, he could have gone to China and then made a stink about it.

He could still trump everyone. Run a great time PR anytime now, and he will:

(a) Been totally in the spotlight this summer. Made his point.

(b) Avoided the hassle of Beijing and the certainty of what he could actually do (unlikely to medal I think).

(c) Launch a thousand threads about wouldacouldashoulda, which in terms of marketability is basically the same as actually being at the games.

Symmonds soothsayer wrote:

Nick would have made the final from the first semifinal, but only because of Aman's DQ. Nick would have run from the back of the pack and finished fifth, depending on the faltering of other runners that didn't play out as four of them finished strong. Nick would not have advanced from the second semifinal with Rudisha leading slowly.

What a ridiculous fantasy analysis.

Do you even realize you a speaking of a magical world where Symmonds runs the race like a ghost, in no way affecting it? Run the race again with Symmonds in it and there is no reason to think that Aman gets DQd.

Right - only I wish he took it a step further. If you read the 'statement of conditions', shoes, watches and sunglasses are exceptions to the team uniform rule. What do you suppose the reaction would have been if he had shown up at an official function with a pair of Brooks sunglasses - roughly styled in the manner of the ones Elton John used to wear. You know, the really really huge ones - perhaps he could have had some made that had 'Brooks' light up in 6 inch LED's at the top.

The statement of conditions also states that it's Nike's 'competitors' apparel that is prohibited. With that said, Nick could have had some shirts made with the 'Run Gum' logo on the front, a picture of the front cover of his book on the back, and no one could have given him a bad time about it - since Nike makes neither gum nor books ... ;-)

Missed opportunities, in my book ...

If Symmonds doesn't regret missing these champions then he should retire immediately.

rupp-certified soothsaying wrote:

Symmonds soothsayer wrote:

Nick would have made the final from the first semifinal, but only because of Aman's DQ. Nick would have run from the back of the pack and finished fifth, depending on the faltering of other runners that didn't play out as four of them finished strong. Nick would not have advanced from the second semifinal with Rudisha leading slowly.

What a ridiculous fantasy analysis.

Do you even realize you a speaking of a magical world where Symmonds runs the race like a ghost, in no way affecting it? Run the race again with Symmonds in it and there is no reason to think that Aman gets DQd.

Oh yes, I realized this possibility, but it doesn't matter because in my magical world forecast, Nick runs from the back of the pack and doesn't affect the previous outcome.

We're still talking about Nick Symmonds, and those who say it doesn't matter are still talking about Nick Symmonds.

I agree that we are still talking about Symmonds, but who is we, really? A bunch of running fans posting on message boards? Is any of this going to put a dent in Nike's bottom line? No. Is any of this going to affect Nike's ability to get the big name college graduates under sponsorship? Seemingly no (heck, they even got Efraimson). Is any of this going to affect their hold on USATF? Doesn't seem like it--they even have the new IAAF president on retainer!

At most, what Nick is doing will get the language in the letter or whatever changed a little to be more clear. Whoop-de-doo.

He's probably sitting at home watching one of USATF's worst ever performances at a major championships and thinking he made the right call to point out inadequacies in the set-up and making a stand on more optimal working conditions for athletes.

Far Out West wrote:

Totally agree, he made his point, got in the NY times and still had time to sign the dumb document and go do what he is supposed to do...run against the world's best. Had to laugh when Leo Manzano posted a selfie wearing his Hoka polo while on his flight to Beijing. Was it not an "official" flight?

I saw that too! I was wondering about it but I didn't ask around about it. He hasn't taken it down so I guess it's not an official event.

do we matter, though? wrote:

...At most, what Nick is doing will get the language in the letter or whatever changed a little to be more clear. Whoop-de-doo.

I hope for far more. But first, changing the language of the letter (the Statement of Conditions, or SOC) isn't a small accomplishment; it isn't trivial and brings about potentially major difficulties for USATF. What does USATF have authority to do?

- To require wearing the USATF sponsor's logo during competition?

- To require attendance at official practice?

- To require wearing the USATF sponsor's logo during official practice?

- To prohibit unofficial practice? (with/without other sponsor's logo?)

- To require attendance at official press conference?

- To require wearing the USATF sponsor's logo during official press conference?

- To prohibit unofficial press conference? (with/without other sponsor's logo?)

Nick's claim is that he was damaged when USATF unfairly failed to name him to the team. Assessing the damages and the unfairness require assessment of USATF's authority in all these areas, and more. Not "whoop-de-doo" at all, IMHO. Very important issues for a lot of athletes and USATF, and Nick will be at the center of discussion for many years to come.

Interesting take.

Remember Nike added running not only from the back to his bag of tricks, and he is a tenacious guy who doesn't get psyched out or bonk.

My bet would have been for him to make the finals.

He's probably fishing or with family, or with hot girlfriend, totally ignoring these championships and enjoying his life.

Of all the elites on team USA, I have the most confidence that Nick Symmonds will have a successful LIFE away from track and field....

Zlatan wrote:

If Symmonds doesn't regret missing these champions then he should retire immediately.

Symmonds had a chance for gold, an opportunity he will not get again. Count on it.

Are you mentally challenged?

Nearly all of your idiotic questions are currently answered by the statement amd they are pretty clear.

Next year wont matter because it's the Olympics and the IOC had their own rules.

Nick's made up controversy could be cleared up in matter of seconds....oh wait. THEY WERE. And nick still refused to participate. His only damage is brain damage.

It's funny New Balance acted like a real company and sponsored the broadcast on Universal. It also knows how to market it's stars. Brooks is clueless and Nick is too.