A Duck wrote:
[quote]jhjgfxgf wrote:
I assured them I'd heard of them on TFN, Runnerspace and Flotrack as well.
Try and think about it from their side.
Flotrack is far worse than this site, I wouldn't tout them as the end-all of track sites.
A Duck wrote:
[quote]jhjgfxgf wrote:
I assured them I'd heard of them on TFN, Runnerspace and Flotrack as well.
Try and think about it from their side.
Flotrack is far worse than this site, I wouldn't tout them as the end-all of track sites.
rojo wrote:
ryan foreman wrote:C'mon people. Letsrun made an admirable but failed attempt at trying to be Woodward and Bernstein here. The Oregonian is nothing but a gossip rag these days. Oregonian writer Ken Goe's blog site essentially is telling the world, 'the Oregonian has given up reporting news but here is a bunch of links to other sources that you may want to read'. Them picking up the Letsun story is nothing Letsrun should be proud of. Good advertising maybe but that is it.
I was at the Trials in the East Grandstand and got a good look at the Nike "VIP" section and saw the entrance to it. It was nothing more than what you see in the picture. A bunch of seats separated from the rest of Hayward Field seating. There was just an usher to look at tickets or passes. Obviously Nike doled out a bunch of tickets within the company for these seats and Nike employees could trade or giveaway these tickets as they saw fit. Obviously Block was likely friends with various people who got these tickets.
Not clear what it means to be banned from the sport but Letsrun doesn't show anything to suggest Block violated that ban.
Maybe if Block got his pass directly from Knight or senior executives at Nike there would be a story but Letsrun doesn't show that.
In short, there is nothing to see here. Move on.
Mr. Foreman,
Even if one ignores the entire Nike aspect of it, there is something wrong here.
The fact of the matter is a very serious doper - a guy who doped a double world champion - is traveling to meets all around the globe despite having a 10 year ban. If you don't think that means he's almost certainly still involved in the sport, then I think you simply don't think logically. The tweets that have come out are priceless.
Regina Jacobs to her credit moved on and sell real estate.
Mark Block may be a decent human being but he needs to do similarly as he should not be working in the sport and needs to find a new job.
As for Nike, was I trying to imply a huge conspiracy that Nike is secretly funding a doping program with Block, Jeter , Jason Richardson, etc?
No I was not. When people have suggested stuff like that to me about shoe companies in the past, I have always shot it down and said "That would be idiotic from a liability standpoint."
I was rather implying that to certain people at Nike company the fact that this guy doped isn't a big deal. In their minds, tons of the sport used to do it. Lots of guys from the 1970s and 1980s did it and didn't have to pay a price so why should he?
This sentiment is prevelant all over the place in track and field. Go to any college and people will say about a top 10 list "Oh that one was from he spent the summer in Germany and came back huge." People know it. They know what former coaches used, etc.
To me, past doping and current doping are way different.
Do I believe that important people at NIke knew he was in that box and didn't say anything? Absolutely. This isn't some small fish. This is the husband of a former double world champ is was agent to a current world champ.
This isn't just some anonymous guy who is a friend of a Nike summer intern.
The sentiment we want to take on is the one of "Oh it's not that big of a deal." We don't want Nike and USATF tolerating doping at all.
It would be like allowing Bernie Maddoff to come watch somebody ring the NYSE bell.
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OK , Rojo , While we applaud you bringing this to our attention its not the main conflict of a doping ban. Sitting in the Nike sky box eating on the buffet line and drinking micro brews with nike fat cats and USATF officials constitutes stupidity on Nike's behalf. The people in the know that would have recognized Block would be Cap himself or other promo staff.
The real issue as you filmed was Block's access to the athletes practice track. If Im correct his violation ban is related to doping not sky box crashing. The access pass to the athletes is troublesome if it was officially credentialed.
If you really want to pursue investigative journalism find out about the credential and how he got it , through Nike , meet organizers or "borrowed" from one of his staff members. If was loaned from one of his staff members then his agency would be in direct default and would loose their ability to represent track and field athletes. Dig deeper if you can.
contra dickion wrote:
Congrats on crucifying Carmaleta Jeter, who had little control over the matter. But hey, her name rhymes with cheater.
Just wanted to point out again how funny this is, this guy has a funny way to say cheater.
Tommy2Nutts wrote:
Wow, the comments below the story says it all. Oregon is bought and paid for by Nike. Apparently they can do no wrong and how dare anyone question why a drug dealer can find seating in the Nike box.
POD.
A Duck wrote:
You haven't spent enough time with elites.
I'll give you one real life example. I ran into a bunch of elites last year at a restaurant before the Payton Jordan. I didn't recognize them by face, but could tell they were probably there for the meet. I asked them their names (Aussies) and sad "yeah, I know your names, from the track websites," one of them said (and you can apply his Australian accent here) "Not that sh*t hole Let's Run.com, then?"
I assured them I'd heard of them on TFN, Runnerspace and Flotrack as well.
Try and think about it from their side.
Wow, you've really "spent time with elites"!
Truth:
IF you recognized them by name but not face, it's way more likely these second-stringers get two words on them from LetsRun, not T&F News. That's why they come here. To see their own names.
well done brojo's keep up the good work.
I was sponsored by Nike for 4 years and i haven\'t bought anything since my contract ended. They look after sponsored athletes very well it must be said. However, they are just part of the systemic corruption in our sport and their labor practices are to be ashamed of.
So please keep your investigative journalism going strong. There is a lot to be uncovered.
OK Brojo's lets stay inpartial if you want to be credibale journalists. By far the most important part of Nike's statement is the first line: "Mr. Block was not an invited guest of Nike." But it is the part you leave off your front page headlines. Why? Report the story rather than sensationalize it and leave personal feelings r agenda out of it.
Maybe Nike is lieing and maybe they aren't, but unless you can prove they are or show substainial evidence that they are (which you haven't), then you need to realize as journalists that what they are saying just may be true.
Instead of going after Nike here, it may be better if you focused on Mr. Block as he is the convicted cheater and person who is banned (that is clear), work on seeing at what level he is participating in the sport when he shouldn't be. Have you found out the stipulations of his ban or talked with crediable witnesses who can verify his breaking of these stipulations.
Is this story about Mr. Block breaking his ban or about your hatred of Nike. If it is about Nike, you have yet failed to prove any wrong doing. And Nike's explanation is plausable.
Critical Thinking wrote:
OK Brojo's lets stay inpartial if you want to be credibale journalists. By far the most important part of Nike's statement is the first line: "Mr. Block was not an invited guest of Nike." But it is the part you leave off your front page headlines. Why? Report the story rather than sensationalize it and leave personal feelings r agenda out of it.
Maybe Nike is lieing and maybe they aren't, but unless you can prove they are or show substainial evidence that they are (which you haven't), then you need to realize as journalists that what they are saying just may be true.
Instead of going after Nike here, it may be better if you focused on Mr. Block as he is the convicted cheater and person who is banned (that is clear), work on seeing at what level he is participating in the sport when he shouldn't be. Have you found out the stipulations of his ban or talked with crediable witnesses who can verify his breaking of these stipulations.
Is this story about Mr. Block breaking his ban or about your hatred of Nike. If it is about Nike, you have yet failed to prove any wrong doing. And Nike's explanation is plausable.
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Im not sure why the continued talk about sky box crashing has any relevance to the real issue at hand. I agree on your opinion about chasing Nike unless they are guilty of getting Block a credential. Note to Brojo , seeing Block emerge from the Nike sky box should have been "smoke from the fire" start of your investigation. We call this following a lead in reporting.
I repeat the violation at hand is the credential issued to have access to athletes at the practice track. I would demand a review of issued credentials to see if Block is on the list. Next step under what area was it issued , coach , agent , parent , press , guest of the meet , then who submitted it , Nike , athlete , his agency , USATF , meet director etc.
My guess is his agency passed it on to him not under his name. I would say with a little work this could be proven and his continued work with athletes would show he and his agency in default of his ban. Press USATF to what are the repercussion's of this and if you are stonewalled then you may have your source of how the credential was issued. See how this works ! Go for it !!
webby wrote:
http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2012/07/sports_agent_banned_from_track.htmlNot a satisfying response, and probably not their last. Congrats again to LRC for breaking the story.
Nike spokeswoman Mary Remuzzi said late last night in a written statement:"Mr. Block was not an invited guest of Nike. Gaining entry into the Nike box is an informal process and we plan to review our protocol for access for future events."
"We did not intend to send any broader message about our position on doping. Nike does not condone the use of banned substances."
Yes, congrats Letsrun for breaking the case of nothing where no crime was committed.
Was Kennedy assinated from the Nike VIP box. !?
Did OJ fake the moon landing from the Nike box.
or a'm I neiave
Blastoise wrote:Yes, congrats Letsrun for breaking the case of nothing . . .
I wonder why Nike is "reviewing the protocol for access to future events" in response to a case of nothing.
jhjgfxgf wrote:
Quality comments:
"Seriously Allan, what is your obsession with Nike. 90% of your stories is directed at painting Nike in a negative light. From the non story of their use of property during the trials to this story. It's starting to get embarrassing how you can't find anything else to write about. See if you can find it in you to write about the billions of dollars Nike pumps into the state of Oregon through its employees and corporate taxes. The thousands of jobs that it creates or the fact that without Nike, both Oregon and Oregon State would be the equivalent of Utah and Utah State on the collegiate sports scene. Instead, Nike and Phil Knight has provided both school with the assets needed to compete and excel. And to those at OSU, please keep in mind that Pat Casey would be coaching Notre Dame right now if Phil didn't step in to pay part of his salary.
Allan, you seriously come across as a idiot with a chip on your shoulder."
Translation: Nike does some good things so bad things they do should be ignored.
Um, not really. You can still do good things without doing bad things. This "translation" is stupid.
Awesome job, Letsrun. You're a consistent anti-doping voice, and it's paying off.
this brief statement by Nike PR is not enough. More questions need to be asked.
addressing the issue without real answers is not sufficient. The people want to know.
Are there three distinct Nike seating areas or one that is divided into three sections? If Block was in one of these sections it must be with other managers, usatf officials and Nike marketing. Rojo, can your sources confirm this?
Block should not have been there, but he was not kicked out or reported. Nike's statement only comes after Letsrun report.
Nike PR indicated:
"We did not intend to send any broader message about our position on doping," the statement says, despite having someone with a 10-year ban from track and field in their midst. "Nike does not condone the use of banned substances."
How will Nike react when/if Lance Armstrong is banned by USADA?
really?????? wrote:
jhjgfxgf wrote:Quality comments:
"Seriously Allan, what is your obsession with Nike. 90% of your stories is directed at painting Nike in a negative light. From the non story of their use of property during the trials to this story. It's starting to get embarrassing how you can't find anything else to write about. See if you can find it in you to write about the billions of dollars Nike pumps into the state of Oregon through its employees and corporate taxes. The thousands of jobs that it creates or the fact that without Nike, both Oregon and Oregon State would be the equivalent of Utah and Utah State on the collegiate sports scene. Instead, Nike and Phil Knight has provided both school with the assets needed to compete and excel. And to those at OSU, please keep in mind that Pat Casey would be coaching Notre Dame right now if Phil didn't step in to pay part of his salary.
Allan, you seriously come across as a idiot with a chip on your shoulder."
Translation: Nike does some good things so bad things they do should be ignored.
Um, not really. You can still do good things without doing bad things. This "translation" is stupid.
NIKE THEMSELVES HAVE SAID HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE. WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE STILL HOLDING ON TO THIS?
TLW wrote:
What a joke. Gaining entrance to the elite VIP of Nike is an informal process? Are you fu.cking serious? What a joke of a response. The response makes me angry. Do they think people are stupid enough to buy this?
This is true...my grandparents were in the Nike VIP tent. They didn't even know anyone who works at Nike. They simply knew a USATF official.
From my understanding the Nike VIP tent is only for Nike employees..even though most probably were. I think there were lots of families too.
sagdfgsa wrote:
TLW wrote:What a joke. Gaining entrance to the elite VIP of Nike is an informal process? Are you fu.cking serious? What a joke of a response. The response makes me angry. Do they think people are stupid enough to buy this?
This is true...my grandparents were in the Nike VIP tent. They didn't even know anyone who works at Nike. They simply knew a USATF official.
From my understanding the Nike VIP tent is only for Nike employees..even though most probably were. I think there were lots of families too.
meant to say: the tent ISN'T only for Nike employees.
I think the fact that this is getting so much attention is a joke.
My eyes say Jeter fits right in with Block and Balco.
This is an utter and complete pile of malarkey. Did you see how quickly the security guard accosted Rojo at the end of his clip? You don't get allowed into the NIKE VIP tent at the US Olympic Trials unless they grant you access. Mark Block had that access.Brojos, check the ISPs on these guys, $20 says they are NIKE insiders. Please continue to follow up on the NIKE story, there is lots to be uncovered here.
sagdfgsa wrote:
TLW wrote:What a joke. Gaining entrance to the elite VIP of Nike is an informal process? Are you fu.cking serious? What a joke of a response. The response makes me angry. Do they think people are stupid enough to buy this?
This is true...my grandparents were in the Nike VIP tent. They didn't even know anyone who works at Nike. They simply knew a USATF official.
From my understanding the Nike VIP tent is only for Nike employees..even though most probably were. I think there were lots of families too.
Jeter rose to international star AFTER she separated from the guy, maybe it's just me but if she was on drugs back then should't she be slower now...