http://marathonmeb.com links to this article: http://spikeduppsychedup.com/2011/07/30/meb-keflezighi-signs-endorsement-deal-with-sketchers/ (which is sourced from Darren Rovells twitter)
What is sad is that Nike couldn't keep Meb with all his credentials but endorses drug cheats like Gatlin and Merritt (Remember Marion Jones). Isn't he one of the favorites to make the 2012 Olympics?
I imagine Skechers will do a big press release early this week. Pretty common for publicly traded company to let the news leak on Friday before the close of the market then do a big press launch the following week.
Meb is getting some really bad advice, no matter how much this deal is worth. He is attaching his Olympic medal and NYCM winning name to a cheap, knock-off shoe company with no business pretending they're a real athletic brand. I feel sorry for him.
How do we know for sure that Meb has signed a deal with Sketchers? If Nike allows a former American 10k holder, Olympic Silver Medalist, and NYC champ to sign with Sketchers without matching the offer. If he has signed with Sketchers it reflects badly on Nike.
daddy big bucks wrote:
Nike has a reputation of dropping athletes as they come to the end of their career.
And other shoe companies don't have the same tendencies? Maybe Nike shafted Meb, but for all we know maybe Meb expected too much. It's easy to forget, but ultimately pro sports are a business and maybe both parties made business decision that were best for them.
Assuming Meb and Nike didn't come to an agreement and he signed with Skechers, isn't it odd that he didn't get picked up with Adidas, Puma, Brooks, Saucony, or Asics? It makes me think Meb simply chased the biggest deal. Nothing wrong with that, but I think signing with Skechers speaks volumes to his motivation, as I'm guessing at least one of the other shoe companies would have made some sort of reasonable offer to have Meb represent their company.
Why is this such a revalation to so many , you are not paid on history but what you can do today. Athletes slow down , younger runners get faster.
Meb had unrealistic value in his last round of negotiations with shoe and event deals.
To keep revenue alive he had to do something. At the end of the day , nobody really cares , he will retire after a couple of years and life will move on.
Last I checked Meb is still winning races and 2 top 6 World Marathon Majors.
June 2011 San Diego Half marathon win over Martin Lel (2nd in London this year)
6th in NYC Marathon just last November
5th in Boston behind Ryan Hall with an injury
NYC Marathon Champ less than 2 years ago
Those performances were recent.
holy cow wrote:
for all we know maybe Meb expected too much
I agree. This feels like a replay of the discussion about Boston's failure to "invite" Meb this year. Meb may have legitimate arguments about where he deserves to be ranked in the world of competitive running, but in the marketplace, his endorsement of a running shoe or participation in a race is still worth less than Oprah's.
Kevin52 wrote:
Avocado's Number wrote:Interesting that Rovell was the source of this info, since he was the author of a notoriously ignorant and offensive article about Meb's victory in the NYC marathon:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/33587668/Marathon_s_Headline_Win_Is_EmptyYea, well... you're talkin' CNBC... longtime home of the rabid Dolberman and Madcow.
Rick Santelli of CNBC started the Tea Party movement in Feb 2009. How is it possible you've forgotten this?
Just 30 months from conception to ruining the world economy. Impressive...
How much did GE pay in taxes last year?
Poster child for tax reform.
Yeah, talk to me about DEBT CRISIS when I paid more in taxes in the past month than those swine all of last year.
hmmmm wrote:
this is like lance armstrong signing a deal with huffy
+1
be thankful stupidity doesn't hurt.
Ebenezer wrote:
Rick Santelli of CNBC started the Tea Party movement in Feb 2009. How is it possible you've forgotten this?
Just 30 months from conception to ruining the world economy. Impressive...
I saw him training in mammoth over the weekend. That is all. :)
I'm not completely sure, but I heard that Nike dropped him because when it came to the end of his contract, Meb asked for a outright ridiculous amount of money for an contract extension. I also heard, he's turned down many companies and races because it seems like no one can, or wants to, match his price. I have a feeling he thinks he has the same marketability as Haile Gebrselassie.
(warning epic grave dig)
Also, the fact that he didn't get an offer to run boston earlier this year can be interpreted two ways:
1. He is just getting older and doesn't have much appeal to race directors.
OR
2. No one wants to put up with trying to negotiate with him.
I wrote that piece on Spiked Up, Psyched Up. Still trying to get more info on the signing. Stay tuned.
TheyCallMeStrider wrote:
2. No one wants to put up with trying to negotiate with him.
No one wants to put up with trying to negotiate with HIS BROTHER. That's my understanding that his brother/manager is greedy.
Plenty of accomplished athletes have gone through the same experience with Nike.
Here's the Skechers Announcement this morning:
"Currently in development, the new performance running and training footwear will debut for Holiday 2011."Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/b1821557/skechers-announces-endorsement-deal-with-former-nyc-marathon-winner-and#ixzz1Tmg2qluw
bluemt95 wrote:
Here's the Skechers Announcement this morning:
http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/b1821557/skechers-announces-endorsement-deal-with-former-nyc-marathon-winner-and