Idiot Who Is Typical wrote:
It would be nice to hear what Simms and Leo were offered and found unacceptable. That's never mentioned.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, insiders have told me that rates have gone down drastically in the past few years.
The stories go like this:
1. Other shoes companies started offering less, and sponsoring fewer athletes, looking for more bank for the buck in their marketing dollar. So Nike was able to offer less. I.e., other companies forced down the base rate for athletes, so Nike adjusted to the market, further pinching athletes budgets.
2. Before that, Eaton and Wheating's agents got companies in bidding wars, as they finished out eye popping NCAA careers (Eaton with 3 straight Hep world records, and Wheating with first 800/1500 double in 30+ years etc.). Although it was no fault of their own, and to their credit that they earned what they could -- what anyone would do -- small minded agents and athletes have blamed this on Eaton and Wheating and some ill will is held against them. (This is how sadly neglected out sport is financially from all sides, participants are sometimes like immature angry children fighting over scraps (you know who you are those of you who express inappropriate and immature bitterness -- like you'd be giving back some of what your agent won you.)
3. Because of this other companies decided NOT to bid on Nike athletes, figuring that no matter how much they bid, Oregon athletes would automatically go Nike (this is not the case, but so is the perception. Other companies should be upping their bidding until they win an Oregon athlete -- which would make it better for all athletes. Instead the other companies have made it worse for all athletes.
All companies are at fault for underfunding the athletes.
USATF is guilty of underfunding the athletes.
USIOC is underfunding the athletes.
We've become a nation so dominated by our greedy team sports (do we really need a frickin NBA season that sucks every last dollar out of the sport by running into late June and having questionable officiating "forcing" 7 game series???)
All in all, our country treats our Olympic heroes shamefully.
It is a travesty that Manzano is not sponsored, and that his and all athletes sponsorship opportunities are limited by IAAF rules.
As Nick Symmonds pointed out last week -- in the UK Dart Throwers make millions off of...throwing Darts -- and are allowed to have multiple sponsor logos on their shirts.
As for Leo, I thought it was a questionable decision to carry that Mexican flag.
Being a Californian, it didn't offend me, it made me worry for him.
We see them in every family owned Mexican restaurant, so they are no big deal to most of us.
But still, the dude should be sponsored and celebrated.
