This or dodging Paulino looks like the explanation. It’s of course absurd because there’s no world in which competing in one Diamond League/Continental Tour Gold meet is the most lucrative for his athletes. Does Nike consider reductions for Mu if she doesn’t hit her competition quota this year as well?
This reminds me of when Mike Tyson ended up underneath Don King. The amazing athlete, now under the corrupt crooked bad guy. I was a big fan of both Syd and Mu. Now they run for dirty Kersee. It's like watching supermodels go into porn.
What happened to boxing after Tyson and Don King? Not the big sport it was before. Now it's all about UFC. I feel like the same thing is going to happen to track. The poor organization, corruption, and dirty business is blowing up the sport. The money is going to end up somewhere else.
What a joke.
It's like watching supermodels go into porn.
Best line of my internet year...
for the antidote to all this grim professionalism, just go here - it will cure what ails you... back to the simple JOY of running and racing...
just to put a little finer point on it - i THINK i heard announcer say this was her 27th race of the season - TWENTY SEVENTH - see what you hear - see if you can see anyone smiling and having fun...
Follow the #DiamondLeague on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondleagueTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/diamond_leagueInstagram: https://w...
I did say that to guys on our staff conference call this moring, "So the stars are supposed to run for hardly anything just because it's their hometown and Kersee is getting a little money?"
And they were like, "Yes in this case because they hardly race to begin with and already make a tone in endorsements."
Angela Bailey, a two-time Canadian Olympian who competed one season at UCLA, testified Wednesday at the Canadian drug inquiry in Toronto that she left the school because Bob Kersee, the women's track coach at the school, "was...
PS. At a minimum, given how many Salazar drug related questions we've given people like Rupp over the year, we should ask them if they were aware of the accusations in the past and if it concerned them. The answer we'd likely get is pretty easy. When I asked that question of a young NCAA star looking at the NOP a few years back, the answer I got was simple. "No it didn't really concern me. I know I'd never dope. It's one of the top groups in the world and I want to be a part of it." Kind of like how David Torrence went to Aden. And when he saw something he didn't like, he came home.
This post was edited 37 seconds after it was posted.
I always found these accusations quite odd because she never actually said he even offered her drugs or talked about any specific negative experience she had with him or his group. From what I recall, it was just that his workouts were so hard that she speculated there's no way the athletes could get through them without drugs. The reasoning felt kind of hollow and circumspect to me...
Why is Ato Boldon Tweeting this? I would really have preferred to have read a statement from SML.
So much for the matchup between Marileidy Paulino & Syd. I was looking forward to it. Kersee drives me nuts with his not allowing his athletes to compete. I'm a big fan of Syd and find this very disappointing.
It's certainly weird. She has a huge social media following. It's pretty telling she's making it clear it's Kersee's decision. There's no mention of an injury or anything. She posted herself training with her brother in the last 24 horus.
On the event website, they have this description on the startlist with it being the first event shown:
"In perhaps the most anticipated professional debut in the 400 since... well, since forever, Sydney faces a tough field that includes the reigning Olympic Silver Medalist Marileidy Paulino. After Sydney's last outing in 50.68 (btw, over hurdles), we collectively hold our breath whenever she laces up. Here we go."
On the homepage, they have Sydney and Mondo pictured with Sydney as the first name on the marquee.
To be frank, this is an embarrassing and selfish decision by Kersee, and it should piss off American track fans in my view.
"To be frank, this is an embarrassing and selfish decision by Kersee, and it should piss off American track fans in my view".
WTF!
Yeah!, it's disappointing that two of the world's most talented runners will not be competing. We can all agree to that, but no one on this thread has a clue as to why Bob Kersee made this decision, and or Athing and Sydney. It could be many things, nonetheless, Bob Kersee is one of the most accomplished track coaches in the world and if he feels his athletes aren't ready to compete...they aren't ready to compete...PERIOD. To make the above statement is idiotic and lame. this is BIG TIME track and field, not some high school regional meet. Being fully prepared both mentally and physically is paramount to performing on the world stage this upcoming summer.
It's you that is selfish and you that should be embarrassed for making such an shallow minded comment.
"To be frank, this is an embarrassing and selfish decision by Kersee, and it should piss off American track fans in my view".
WTF!
Yeah!, it's disappointing that two of the world's most talented runners will not be competing. We can all agree to that, but no one on this thread has a clue as to why Bob Kersee made this decision, and or Athing and Sydney. It could be many things, nonetheless, Bob Kersee is one of the most accomplished track coaches in the world and if he feels his athletes aren't ready to compete...they aren't ready to compete...PERIOD. To make the above statement is idiotic and lame. this is BIG TIME track and field, not some high school regional meet. Being fully prepared both mentally and physically is paramount to performing on the world stage this upcoming summer.
It's you that is selfish and you that should be embarrassed for making such an shallow minded comment.
This is where T&F differs from other BIG TIME sports. Events should be announced far in advance and athletes should be scheduled and expected to compete far in advance. The public should be aware, interest should be generated and the expectation is that the athlete will show up, barring a real injury or illness. If the latter occurs, it should be public knowledge, especially if tickets have already been sold so to speak. Steph Curry doesn’t skip games because he’s “not ready to compete!” If you are scheduled to compete, you compete and do your best. I don’t care if Syd is not ready to break the wr again, and I don’t care if she might lose an off race to Bol or whoever. I’m sure she’ll be totally ready in August, but that doesn’t mean she can’t compete now. What’s wrong with this expectation? This is what it should mean to be a pro.
I did say that to guys on our staff conference call this moring, "So the stars are supposed to run for hardly anything just because it's their hometown and Kersee is getting a little money?"
And they were like, "Yes in this case because they hardly race to begin with and already make a tone in endorsements."
I don’t get this theory. If money was an issue, then why was Sydney entered in the race? Wouldn’t have the compensation details been settled before Kersee agreed to have her run?
Rojo, I ask you again: please reach out to Kersee to try to get more information for us.
Why are so many of y'all whining and crying? It's not you or your decision to make these athletes race. They will when they're ready. Spend less time on here and more time training so you can get to their level.
Why are so many of y'all whining and crying? It's not you or your decision to make these athletes race. They will when they're ready. Spend less time on here and more time training so you can get to their level.
I don’t know about you, but I’m training to break 4 hours in the marathon, but I’m a fan of the sport and would like to see the best athletes race more than just at the world championships.
"Bob Kersee, who coaches McLaughlin-Levrone and Mu in Los Angeles, described the pair’s reasons for missing the meet as 'nothing serious.'"
Great. So instead of one of the most anticipated races of the year -- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running the 400 in LA against reigning World/Olympic silver medalist Marileidy Paulino -- she's withdrawing from the meet and we don't even have a reason. And Athing Mu, who was never listed among the entrants to begin with, isn't running either.
Will SML and Mu race at all before USAs? If they're not running a meet in their hometown that their coach is promoting, I'm not sure what kind of meet they would compete at.
What’s the deal with so many American athletes and coaches allowing their athletes to compete so sparingly? They act as if each athlete has a tiny number of “race vouchers” in a year and don't want to waste them. I guess I must be old school thinking that a few more competitions help you to sharpen and develop any weak spots. And we wonder why T&F doesn’t grow in the US.
1) It's not so much disappointing she's not running because the meet will go on - it's disappointing to not be surprised that she's pulling out of the meet. It's like yep, of course - did anyone even 75% believe this was going to happen?
2) If you are New Balance, are you really happy with the return on this massive investment you have made with her? Her money relative to the size of the company is substantial and they were lucky last year Worlds were here because we got a US trials appearance and multiple appearances in Eugene because of that. But otherwise? We all know she's the best but other than the pure performance we have extremely limited exposure - even in Europe, very few moments of ever looking like she enjoys the sport and even the odd mental health concern social media post. Far better off with their crew of MD/LD girls who actually race and look like they are having fun out there.
3) This doesn't help the sport or the reputation of the worlds best athletes and our favorite topic - doping. When athletes are signed up then drop out just because the wind changes direction, it does and should raise legit questions. This is not implying anything with her - this is purely on a broader level because we have seen it before. So it doesn't help the sport and/or her reputation on multiple levels either.
