Nicky is not getting on the podium in 2015 or 2016.
He's making noise now because that's what you do when you get SLOWER.....
#Goucher
Nicky is not getting on the podium in 2015 or 2016.
He's making noise now because that's what you do when you get SLOWER.....
#Goucher
If he's to be successful, Symonds needs to rally some other non-nike USA stars behind him. That, more than anything, would take the power away from USATF. I could see other outspoken athletes rising to it. Would Symmond's team are Loxom stand with him?
Teammate*
Fattened Calf wrote:
If he's to be successful, Symonds needs to rally some other non-nike USA stars behind him. That, more than anything, would take the power away from USATF. I could see other outspoken athletes rising to it. Would Symmond's team are Loxom stand with him?
Loxsom is on his first senior world championship team. he's got a lot to lose, unlike Nick who's been at every WC/Oly event since like 2007 and doesn't likely have a lot of medals in his future. For Loxsom to take the risk of getting kicked off the team would be idiotic. He also has nowhere near the following that Symmonds has. Symmonds has the potential to change the sport. Loxsom has a ways to go before he can make changes through just social media.
IF USATF(FIFA #2) stands their ground he will sign. He is Kara Goucher #2.
He is an attention whore. He is a coward and he is just trying to puff his chest.
wejo wrote:
The letter by USATF is interesting:
1) It says they can pack non-branded apparel. If that is the case then I don't see why they can't pack Brooks apparel. If there is a team photo or something he should be in the team gear. But if USATF is saying "it's ok to wear non-branded apparel (at some tiems)" then they are saying "you are not required to wear Nike apparel at all times" so Nick is going to have way more leverage to wear Brooks apparel.
2) What has happened at events in the past? I assume no one has cared one iota what anyone has worn outside of the day of competition. Day of competition, from once he gets to the track to once he leaves he should be wearing the team uniform. I think most people agree with that. It would be like if some basketball player tried not wearing the NBA uniform because it wasn't his sponsor.
3) Isn't this really only about what he wears at practice? They can't tell him what to wear in the hotel. No other sport does that. If he's at a USA practice on the USA dime, should he be wearing Nike gear? I wonder what team USA basketball does? That may not be a perfect analogy as it is a team sport, but I assume there most people wear the team gear and not their own shorts right? Running is different as Nick will have his own coach, etc , coaching him. And he could easily as some have pointed out not show up for the team practice and practice on his own right?
What do other athletes do?
USATF totally overstepped in telling him what to wear outside of practice. That is ridiculous. This isn't a communist country where they can control what athletes wear on their free time.
Nick knows he has to wear Nike at the meet so this is about practice and his free time.
4) The BONUS gatorade bottle is so ridiculous. That is the most patronizing part of the email.
5) Nick is great at getting publicity. I mean that in a positive way. At the same time, he did point out the absurdity of USATF overstepping what should be the boundary.
The letter could be "here is your USA gear. You are expected to wear it at all official team functions which means official team practices, the meet, and a team picture." The way their letter reads, he can't wear Levi jeans in the hotel.
I assume Nick could still go practice on his own.
Your first three points are interesting. You should have a couple multiple-time Team USA athletes (including Nick) describe the norms for Team USA camp and for the meet environment itself.
Amidst all the analysis, it's important to keep in mind USATF provides all transportation (including necessary visas), room, board, local transport, practice facility, apparel, medical, etc at these events.
I'd like to see how athletes feel about their Team USA experiences. My guess is that you would not have a hard time finding athletes for various brands to go on record.
yorkie wrote:
Nick has turned into that crazy ex-girlfriend. He reaped the benefits of being a Nike athlete all those years and didn't complain...but after he got dumped (or wasn't presented with a new contract that he felt his "brand" was worth), he pisses and moans about it all the time. Do you think if he wasn't a Nike athlete based in Oregon, he would have as much love and exposure from the Oregon faithful that made him a fan favorite? I mean, KD was a Nike athlete that was killing in the 2000's and wasn't getting the same treatment he was. This isn't so much about athletes rights, this is all about Nick, as he's turning into the Donald Trump of track and field.
(Full disclosure - wear both Nike and Brooks shoes for throughout the week, and own Nike and Berkshire Hathaway stock)
Well put. Many fans like both brands. It was Nick who put himself in the position to hate. It seems like yesterday he was tweeting out pictures of thanks to Nike for the forklift pallet of Nike gear and fuelband etc that packed his garage.
It seems Nick needs to create a fight.
I'm actually glad he is doing this though, few of the track athletes have either the guts, juevos, or money to take a stand and speak out -- he is however part good guy, part narcissist, part immature philanderer, part dick, and part amazing guy, and a MFing 1:42 guy.
I'm sure his advisors have told him the risks, and they're small for him, he gets more press for his pretty face, he gets laid more, Brooks will love him forever.
It's win-win-win, Brooks wins, Nick and little Nick get more attention behind the scenes, and it can only help other athletes.
So Nicks a hero here.
The great irony is that he, a Brooks athlete makes himself look like Prefontaine and the first road racers to take (Nike) prize money and end "shamateurism."
Leagle Eagles, how could there be a possible Class Action Law Suit here??
We need to support Nick, but in the end when all is said and done, Nick you need to do the best for yourself!
Let's show our support by supporting Nick and other athletes by purchasing RunGum
The core wrote:
wejo wrote:The letter by USATF is interesting:
1) It says they can pack non-branded apparel. If that is the case then I don't see why they can't pack Brooks apparel. If there is a team photo or something he should be in the team gear. But if USATF is saying "it's ok to wear non-branded apparel (at some tiems)" then they are saying "you are not required to wear Nike apparel at all times" so Nick is going to have way more leverage to wear Brooks apparel.
2) What has happened at events in the past? I assume no one has cared one iota what anyone has worn outside of the day of competition. Day of competition, from once he gets to the track to once he leaves he should be wearing the team uniform. I think most people agree with that. It would be like if some basketball player tried not wearing the NBA uniform because it wasn't his sponsor.
3) Isn't this really only about what he wears at practice? They can't tell him what to wear in the hotel. No other sport does that. If he's at a USA practice on the USA dime, should he be wearing Nike gear? I wonder what team USA basketball does? That may not be a perfect analogy as it is a team sport, but I assume there most people wear the team gear and not their own shorts right? Running is different as Nick will have his own coach, etc , coaching him. And he could easily as some have pointed out not show up for the team practice and practice on his own right?
What do other athletes do?
USATF totally overstepped in telling him what to wear outside of practice. That is ridiculous. This isn't a communist country where they can control what athletes wear on their free time.
Nick knows he has to wear Nike at the meet so this is about practice and his free time.
4) The BONUS gatorade bottle is so ridiculous. That is the most patronizing part of the email.
5) Nick is great at getting publicity. I mean that in a positive way. At the same time, he did point out the absurdity of USATF overstepping what should be the boundary.
The letter could be "here is your USA gear. You are expected to wear it at all official team functions which means official team practices, the meet, and a team picture." The way their letter reads, he can't wear Levi jeans in the hotel.
I assume Nick could still go practice on his own.
Your first three points are interesting. You should have a couple multiple-time Team USA athletes (including Nick) describe the norms for Team USA camp and for the meet environment itself.
Amidst all the analysis, it's important to keep in mind USATF provides all transportation (including necessary visas), room, board, local transport, practice facility, apparel, medical, etc at these events.
I'd like to see how athletes feel about their Team USA experiences. My guess is that you would not have a hard time finding athletes for various brands to go on record.
Many athletes have gone on the record. People like Jenny Simpson, Brenda Martinez, Duane Solomon etc...and all have pretty much told Nick to leave them out of it. They appreciate what USATC provides them. Training centers, travel, medical, insurance, and the list goes on.
Only people like Nick, Lauren and Kara (and some no-name) athletes speak up against the evil Nike. Fact is, this is all about them and not about "athletes rights".
Nick has tried to get on The Bachelor. Failed at Ninja Warrior. Wrote a book. Created RunGum. Wake up people, Nick is about Nick. Attention. Look at his Instagram and Twitter page. Photos of himself.
Nike isn't going anywhere. Neither is USATF. When Nick goes away so does the drama.
hypebeast wrote:
These people need to shut up. If Nike was getting such a 'song' of a deal, the other major companies would've stepped in and driven the bid upwards.
I would normally agree with you but it's hard to say. Nike sponsors Max Siegel's racing team which is a huge conflict of interest. I'm not sure if they even bid out the Nike deal.
If James Harden is worth $15 million a year for adidas, I think $20 million for USATF is a bargain.
Good.
Nike and adidas have pretty much ruined the sport visually. Every race features half the field in Nike colours and the other half in adidas colours. It's no fun to watch. It's certainly a bigger issue in terms of spectatorship than doping is; when the spectator base doesn't know who the athletes are (e.g. as is the case in track) it only muddies the water when everyone is wearing the same thing.
Club colours. Sponsor logos. Go there.
Nick probably realises that his performance isn't going to get him to the final or place reasonably well in the final. He's using this to get him out of beiijing without a DNS (cos he has ducking) but a DNS for 'wanting to do the sport right'
Thank you Nick! This nonsense has to stop. Remember the runners at Prefontaine forced to wear the swoosh?
Heck, they are even making kindergarteners to wear the swoosh for certain soccer clubs.
(Name redacted) "is an official "Nike" club and as such, all players must wear Nike uniforms."
Total BS!
Ted Stevens Olympic Amateur & Olympic Sports Act - 36 U.S. Code § 220522(a)(14)
"An amateur sports organization is eligible to be recognized, or to continue to be recognized, as a national governing body only if it...
(14) does not have eligibility criteria related to amateur status or to participation in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, or the Pan-American Games that are more restrictive than those of the appropriate international sports federation"
My guess is that the IAAF does not require athletes to wear Nike gear at practice leading up to the world champs. My guess is that section 220522(a)(14) applies equally to the World Track & Field Championship. Therefore, according to that letter sent to Nick, USATF has more restrictive eligibility criteria than those of the appropriate international sports federation. Therefore, Nick wins in binding arbitration pursuant to § 220522(a)(4).
Jeff Wigand wrote:
Restraint of trade a no-no wrote:Symmonds must have already lined up an attorney. He has a strong case if he points out the business arrangement between Nike and USATF constitutes restraint of interstate commerce. US judges in all jurisdictions take that very seriously. His case could very well end up setting a precedent.
I don't think so. He would have to show that he is missing out on earning potential by not being allowed to wear his Brooks uniform at the official team training sites and press conferences, while all his Team USA teammates, many making more money than he does, have gotten along ok with these rules. Cas Loxsom supposedly has the same language in his contract with Brooks and he doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
Being forced to wear a national uniform produced by a brand that competes with your own individual sponsor at an international championships is an accepted practice at this point. If his agreement with Brooks forbids him to wear non-Brooks clothes at the Team USA press conference and training sites, then that's going above and beyond how that's been enforced. What if his contract didn't allow him to wear the Nike Team USA uniform when he races at the World Championships? The line has to be drawn somewhere and this is where it's been for a while. As mentioned earlier, USATF has been pushing it one way, with this "official" national team really camp at Monaco, and now Nick is pushing in the opposite direction.
USATF will not cave on this, so either Nick will or he'll be watching on tv.
That isn't how it works. The relative amount of money made by Nick versus the other team members is irrelevant. And just because it is an "accepted practice" doesn't mean squat in the eyes of the law.
pop_pop! wrote:
Restraint of trade a no-no wrote:He has a strong case if he points out the business arrangement between Nike and USATF constitutes restraint of interstate commerce. US judges in all jurisdictions take that very seriously. His case could very well end up setting a precedent.
Posted the anonymous poster who has no familiarity with the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act. USATF was granted a sports monopoly.
In case it hasn't been posted:
https://twitter.com/NickSymmonds/status/629357671976673280He got some gatorade bottles too. Woo hoo!
Posted the person who doesn't understand that law is a living, breathing entity that can change with time and even lower court judges can overrule laws they find illegal. Have you read and understand the Stevens Act? Show where it gives USATF a sports monopoly.
An Attorney You Can't Afford wrote:
Ted Stevens Olympic Amateur & Olympic Sports Act - 36 U.S. Code § 220522(a)(14)
"An amateur sports organization is eligible to be recognized, or to continue to be recognized, as a national governing body only if it...
(14) does not have eligibility criteria related to amateur status or to participation in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, or the Pan-American Games that are more restrictive than those of the appropriate international sports federation"
My guess is that the IAAF does not require athletes to wear Nike gear at practice leading up to the world champs. My guess is that section 220522(a)(14) applies equally to the World Track & Field Championship. Therefore, according to that letter sent to Nick, USATF has more restrictive eligibility criteria than those of the appropriate international sports federation. Therefore, Nick wins in binding arbitration pursuant to § 220522(a)(4).
This.
Finally, someone with a brain.
reed wrote:
Fattened Calf wrote:If he's to be successful, Symonds needs to rally some other non-nike USA stars behind him. That, more than anything, would take the power away from USATF. I could see other outspoken athletes rising to it. Would Symmond's team are Loxom stand with him?
Loxsom is on his first senior world championship team. he's got a lot to lose, unlike Nick who's been at every WC/Oly event since like 2007 and doesn't likely have a lot of medals in his future. For Loxsom to take the risk of getting kicked off the team would be idiotic. He also has nowhere near the following that Symmonds has. Symmonds has the potential to change the sport. Loxsom has a ways to go before he can make changes through just social media.
I'm not saying that it would be a smart idea for Loxom. In fact I'm undecided on the issue. My point is that in order for Symmonds to have any leverage in the situation, a good number of the athletes whose rights are supposedly being infringed, need to back him up and take a stand. Despite Symmonds' glorious physique, he alone wouldn't be able to put up any real challenge to USATF
Fattened Calf wrote:
reed wrote:Loxsom is on his first senior world championship team. he's got a lot to lose, unlike Nick who's been at every WC/Oly event since like 2007 and doesn't likely have a lot of medals in his future. For Loxsom to take the risk of getting kicked off the team would be idiotic. He also has nowhere near the following that Symmonds has. Symmonds has the potential to change the sport. Loxsom has a ways to go before he can make changes through just social media.
I'm not saying that it would be a smart idea for Loxom. In fact I'm undecided on the issue. My point is that in order for Symmonds to have any leverage in the situation, a good number of the athletes whose rights are supposedly being infringed, need to back him up and take a stand. Despite Symmonds' glorious physique, he alone wouldn't be able to put up any real challenge to USATF
He won't be alone. One good lawyer is all it takes.
Hard to believe there's folks on this board dissing this guy. This is the #1 problem in athletics and has been for the last 40yrs. The key flaw anchoring our sport to irrelevance. The athletes can't make a living. Even for the top talent that can generate their own income other than on the podium you have nonsense like this that serve only to slow these athletes up with senseless blackout periods. Think bowling has BS regs like this? Tennis or golf? Swimming? Skiing? Gymnastics or ice skating? None of them do because they're run like actual businesses.
Can't think of a single reason as to why fans of the sport would find the guy's stand foolish other than they dislike the guy on a purely personal level.