why doesnt brian sell sign a legit contract and make legit money?

darkness wrote:

Not true. Rodgers was (semi) famous for saying that nobody who worked 40 hours per week could ever beat him.

I could be wrong, and maybe the man himself will set us straight, but I believe that by April 1975 (when he ran 2:09:55 for his first Boston win) he was already a full-time runner. I remeber weeing his training schedule leading up to that race and the World XC Champs from '75 and he was running 140-155 mpw most of the time. He even had one 200 mile week. My guess is that he was working part-time or not at all when he ran 2:09 and after that.

There was no money back then.

The ignorance displayed towards the financial aspect of running is astounding here. Only a few are making any real money from the sport. Brian Sell has the best deal he's ever going to see. The Hansons aren't paying him $100k -- they are guaranteeing he'll earn at least $100 the year after running a sub 2:11. That means if he only makes 60k they'll kick in 40k to make up the difference. If he makes 120k he gets no more (and he'll like it)

The Hansons are doing the right thing, with great incentives -- they should be applauded.

I have no idea why he wants to be a dentist, a profession that has one of the highest depression rates of all. No wonder - would any sane person want to be looking down patients mouths and noses all day long?

wa runner wrote:

No, take this scenario: Dan Browne cramped up. That's the bottom line. He ran too fast for too long and his body couldn't take it. Dan Browne couldn't take the pace, but Brian Sell could. That's why Sell is going to the Olympics.

The same thing goes for every other runner that didn't make the top 3. They weren't fast enough. You can argue forever that So-and-so has more talent, has accomplished more, but the bottom line is, Brian Sell beat them when it counted. No other argument holds up to reality.

I don't know why I have to spell this out, but too many folks jumped all over what I said in order to defend Sell. My point is that Sell had the best race and deserved 3rd place. Still, this was not the only way it could have played out. The marathon is very fickle, and there are several guys who could have taken the third spot if rthe race had unfolded differently. My point is not to take anything away from Sell, but to suggest that there is a very narrow margin between Hanson's looking like a great success, and the program bing cast in a very different light if Sell had finished outside the top and had left the program. I admire their approach and efforts, and am personally glad that the trials race was a boost for them, rather than what could have been a very disappointing result, given Sell's pre-race threat to quit.

Sell also gets free housing. How much does the typical person spend on housing? 30-50%. That's a lot he doesn't have to worry about.

You can run 120-130 miles a week and still work full-time. Hell, you could go 140-150 a week working full-time. I believe when Rodgers ran those few weeks up around 200 school was on break. I remember reading that somewhere. Work 8 hours, sleep 8 hours, that leaves you with 8 hours. Run an hour in the morning. Run an hour after work. Run to work. Run from work. If you don't have a gym nearby or shower facilities at work you can always take a hobo shower in the men's room. There are always ways to get things done.

Alan

Brian did not sign the contract that guarantees 100k. He may make that much after all is said and done but it is not guaranteed.

Brian owns his own home in Rochester Hills.

He does not receive free housing from the program and has not for about 2 and 1/2 years.

He makes good money when he runs well. He could make more in some contracts now that he has made an Olympic team but without the security he has in his current set up.

Brian has been guaranteed 6 figures the next 2 years. And yes all the security that goes along with it.

2 other athletes that have met the $100k guarantee have contacted the Hansens. No names will be mentioned until after their current deals are finished. Stay tuned for more info. The Brooks Hansens group will continue to get stronger.

Sorry HANSONS. I always spell it wrong.

Vigil doesn't simply consult in the same way Martin would. It's much more than that. Ask Terrence if you like.

Because he isn\'t that good. Sell has to make a living. Sell knows about life. Lennox Miller became a dentist in L.A., graduated from U.S.C.

Runningart2004 wrote:

Sell also gets free housing. How much does the typical person spend on housing? 30-50%. That's a lot he doesn't have to worry about.

I'd like that deal. Brian Sell bought his own house. Very nice of the mortgage company to do that.

I guess you haven't been reading the NY Times:

Dentists and suicide

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010420.html

This conversation sounds exactly like the D1 vs. D3 conversation... for adults.

Injury or not, great coaching or not, Brian Sell ran a tough race and beat guys that no one expected him to beat.

The Hansons have obviously helped Sell improve just as much as his success has helped bring attention to their program. Isn't that how all successful coach-athlete relationships work? Would Oregon or Bowerman been as famous if not for Pre? I'd say they got as much out of him as he got out of Oregon. Same for Sell-Hansons.

Also, May be there are some people out there who simply aren't that concerned with making as much money possible. In my opinion, there's probably a lot of pressure running for big teams like Nike, etc. If you don't produce results you're money might disappear real quick. I imagine the pressure from Brooks is quite less than more high profiel teams. If Sell didn't make the team and had a terrible race I imagine brooks-Hansons would still want him.

He works hard a deserves his success, just as much as any other athlete in that field last Saturday.

malmo wrote:

I have no idea why he wants to be a dentist, a profession that has one of the highest depression rates of all. No wonder - would any sane person want to be looking down patients mouths and noses all day long?

Possibly because dentists make quite a bit more money than runners and have just a tad more job security.

The reason he works there is probably because of the benifits. Medical coverage is a lot now days.

I think that Brooks was far more visible and supportive for their athletes than either Nike or Asics. I went to the post race party (along with 900 others) put on by Brooks. They gave away a Saturn Car and had goody bags for all of us. They allowed us to mingle with all of the Brooks executives and athletes. They treated their athletes and their supporters like rock stars. What special treatment did Meb receive? If you want to feel important run for Brooks.

Charlie Frantesger wrote:

I think that Brooks was far more visible and supportive for their athletes than either Nike or Asics. I went to the post race party (along with 900 others) put on by Brooks. They gave away a Saturn Car and had goody bags for all of us. They allowed us to mingle with all of the Brooks executives and athletes. They treated their athletes and their supporters like rock stars. What special treatment did Meb receive? If you want to feel important run for Brooks.

I believe Nike & Asics are supporting their athletes through cold, hard cash.

That does way less for the sport.

desert rodent wrote:

I believe Nike & Asics are supporting their athletes through cold, hard cash.

Yep and at the end of the day that is what matters.

Brooks like any other company is trying to pay its athletes as little as possible and get as much bang for the buck. They seem to have found a good avenue with the Hanson's program.

But Sell gets something in return. If he felt he could make more with someone else the door would be hitting him on the ass.