Leo Manzano: " I do feel I should have gotten a higher paying contract after my initial contract was up."

This post is a xenophobic as it gets. You realize Nike is a GLOBAL company.

Here it is: Leo is not good looking. He's short, has a large head for the rest of his body, and has done some things that could be considered odd---licking himself. This is superficial as hell, but it's true. The buying public look to stars who break records (Rupp), good-looking athletes (Symmonds) or both (Eaton). Leo, although an outstanding runner, would only market to a niche. Therefore his contract was not as generous as he had hoped. Nike knows its marketing and they determined the value that Leo would bring and product he'd move. The silver medal definitely helped but that is not the main contract driver.

The Olympics are extremely nationalist, it is not just athletes against athletes, but nations against nations. Nowadays, when an athlete wins a global championship or even a WMM, the first thing they do is look for their nation's flag to display their national pride. I have been fortunate enough to represent the USA and when I represented my country, it was a big-big deal to me. It is a big deal for every athlete from every country. I fully understand Leo wanting give some props to his ansestrial homeland (I get that), but I have a problem with divided loyalties and most American's do. In the minds of most Americans, you were sent Leo to the Olympics to represent us, not Mexico. Mexicans are also very proud people, they have a lot of American citizens representing them at the Olympics. Most of their softball and swim team is made up Mexican-Americans, some of whom can't even speak Spanish, were born and raise completely in the U.S. and I don't recall any of them doing anything to show their American heritage.

I follow a blog unrelated to running and it was the main topic of discussion the day Leo presented 2 flags. With that said, I know Leo is a proud American and he is also proud of his Mexican heritage as well and perhaps he was caught up in the moment, but that act cost him. Large corporations don't like risk, they don't like it when an athlete or anyone who endorsers their products getting too far off script...that is a fact.

Btw, your statement, "most people in the world today have a trans-national identity"; that's not true. Perhaps you could have said many people or a lot of people.

Trackcoach ... the "script" you speak of is a joke. And as for nationalism, it's something that a lot of people buy into for five minutes when the Olympics are on, but the other 99.9 percent of the time they are following other loyalties, not the least of which is brand loyalty.

jjjuusstt MMEEE wrote:

I would say that Leo is definitely more marketable than Galen. I actually find it very difficult to watch a Rupp interview. I almost feel bad for him. He is a great runner for sure but I cringe when I watch him interviewed.

Leo, on the other hand, is refreshing and does great interviews. He is also amazing with the fans for sure. He has the ability to connect well with both the rapidly growing Hispanic community as well as the white community.

Rupp isn't marketable but the NOP brand is super marketable. They sell so much NOP stuff online, especially when they offer promotions, like autographs from Mary Cain or Galen Rupp. I have non-runner friends who have almost bought their stuff just because the logo is so awesome.

I'm starting to think all track needs to be more popular is a bunch of teams with awesome logos. Several non-runners in Seattle today complimented me on my Brooks Beasts shirt. If Brooks sold Beasts-branded stuff they'd probably make a good amount of money.

key word . . . almost

The deal with Manzano is Nike doesn't consider an upside in the investment with him.

Those runners they pay get paid only by potential to be a big star for a few years and if they don't look like they will get to the top they cut back the investment.

Like when Jim Spivey who was a Bronze medalist at World Championships got his contract cut at the same time. And switched to Asics.

Performance is rewarded in all their contracts but salaries are based on the hope that they can promote a real star that will help them look better and improve their business.

That's life and everyone knows life has never been fair.

wejo wrote:

It's my understanding Galen is one of the highest paid Nike distance runners yet you all are comparing him to Leo who got his contract cut.

Do we know that Leo got his contract cut? We know that his contract expired after the Olympics. Nike did make him an offer for a new contract. The linked article doesn't say that it was less than Leo's previous contract. It just says that it's less that what Leo expected.

normal person. wrote:

yep, and winning a Silver Medal means your shelf life is clearly up. and what was your point Duck?

Incredibly dumb.

malmo wrote:

Someone had it right when they said "we have become a nation that is addicted to being offended." The internet has become a junior high lunchroom.

That and slacktivism pretty much sums it up.

Is NOP gear really that marketable? I have never seen anyone wearing it--not a highschooler, not a sub-elite, not a mid pack runner. Perhaps I am just not seeing it. The logo is rather unfriendly--creepy in fact. Looks like some sort of secret society crest.

Doping Expert wrote:

That and slacktivism pretty much sums it up.

I learned something new today. For someone who prides himself for having a broad working vocabulary, even neologisms, that's saying something.

Nike does not need to support any specific athlete. they are the sole sponsor of USATF, Nike is the sponsor of PRE Classic.

Once a Niker wrote:

While I too can't see it as a big issue (and warranted given his background/history), it brought national media attention and some muckrake along with it for Leo.

No it didn't, unless you count the World Famous Message Boards as national media attention

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