I've always idolized Geb myself. Grew up as a poor dirt farmer and became the best runner in the world. Took down world records left and right, won gold medals. He did the double at World Juniors when George H.W. Bush was in the White House, and is still winning. In his spare time, he has a wife and four kids, and manages a multi-million dollar business empire, providing jobs to hundreds of people. And he's a cool dude!
I'm a huge Pre fan too!
[quote]PDXTrack wrote:
If Pre had been alive in 1980 - I doubt the boycott would've happened - or actually, that he would've "crossed the line" and found a way to go. And he would've made the team.
Doubtful. He knew marketing pretty well - and would've been paid handsomely by Nike (probably via stock at first) for him to be one of their frontmen - in terms of face to the consumer.
How would Pre have prevented the boycott? Having a sit-down with President Carter and persuading him not to retaliate against the Russian invasion in the Middle East?
How do you know that Pre "knew marketing pretty well"?
son. i knew steve prefontaine. i ran against steve prefontaine. you don't know steve prefontaine.
Maybe Pre would have ended up like Marty Liquori - but doubtful. Liquori was ranked #1 in the World at 1500m and 5000m and got Silver behind Yifter at the 1977 World Cup 5000m. He won 3 straight NCAA miles and 14 national titles. He was a successful runner, businessman, broadcaster and now jazz guitarist. He is a fine example of a runner from that era who succeeds at everything he does. http://www.garycohenrunning.com/Interviews/Liquori.aspx
PDXTrack wrote:
If Pre had been alive in 1980 - I doubt the boycott would've happened - or actually, that he would've "crossed the line" and found a way to go. And he would've made the team.
Doubtful. He knew marketing pretty well - and would've been paid handsomely by Nike (probably via stock at first) for him to be one of their frontmen - in terms of face to the consumer.
Aloha Warrior wrote:
How would Pre have prevented the boycott? Having a sit-down with President Carter and persuading him not to retaliate against the Russian invasion in the Middle East?
How do you know that Pre "knew marketing pretty well"?
I didn't say Pre would've prevented the boycott, I simply said it wouldn't have happened - he definitely had the ability to organize people, or at least get a group together to form a unified front - and was at least charismatic enough to hold people's attention.
BTW - The Soviet Union (not Russia) had invaded Afghanistan (not the Middle East)
Based on what I saw when I was a kid, and what I learned about his life (not from the movies, but from very close friends of his) - he was a marketing natural in many ways. Getting elites to wear free product, using the product himself, working with people of all abilities and backgrounds without issue....he was a grass roots type of guy who also had charisma.
Oh, and to "bitter pill"...PLEASE stop typing "statute" in reference to a STATUE....I thought the first time was a typo, then you did it two more times.