NIKE vs. HANSONS--part II--The Marathon

In response to an earlier question as to why someone would run Birmingham over a faster trial....representing the US or participation/support in a US Champ is only a small part of the equation. Whywouldn't an athlete prepare optimally for 2004 by previewing course and conditions a year out? Is that too sophisticated for us? In addition, some of these guys have a personal stake as they helped design the course and were a part of the selection policy... I guess commitment and loyalty should not be a factor.

Loyalty my ass. That is a term they throw around in the army because it sounds good to outsiders. Loyalty to anything other than ones self is long gone.

With no disrespect to either Nike or Hansons I find it ironic that we have a WCAP that is using US tax dollars for support and they will have zero representation at another US marathon championship. Talk about lack of loyalty, I think that we have found it.

Let's be honest here. There is very little loyalty here on either side. In most cases, the athletes and the sponsors go where the money is. Before Nike pulled the plug on Athletics America in Michigan, most of the athletes were planning to leave anyway. Kyle Baker thought he was following the money and got screwed. He leaves Hansons for Athletics America just before the Olympic Trials, runs the trials, and finds out Athletics America is no more. Oops! Nike pulled the plug because after the Olympic year, the group wouldn't provide enough exposure for dollars that they were investing. It's simple economics. It's not called show friends, it's called show business.

The Hansons can be trusted because they're spending their own money and getting very little (monetarily) in return. They are running this program out of love for coaching and love for the sport. The only reasons I could see them pulling the plug on their program is either that they stop enjoying it or going broke.

Most " development" outfits -- including WCAP -- or gear co. "gift rosters" are "Olympic" dev programs. Most cut their sponsored runner rosters viciously right after the OG. Because on most national commercial levels, the Olympics is where the best exposure (read as: money) is.

The analogy is like Nike betting on horses...do you want a betting ticket for an out-of-the-money horse after the race is over?

That's how the world works. c'est la vie

McVeigh, from cybercafe in Chamonix France

"Alberto never ran faster than 2:11:40 in an OLY trials or games."

Hey Dirt, who the f*** are you? Are you breaking 2:12 in America now? No, because youd be KK, Alan Culpepper or nonexistent. Any way, the USA isn't putting 3 marathoners in the olympics because of your efforts, so go to hell.

And yes, I am saying you have no right to criticize. Go NIKE, go Hansons, go KK and AC, and screw the naysayers.