CHESEREK SIGNS WITH SKETCHERS

I'm not surprised by this news, as Edward came by the hotel I work at in the LA area with what I assume was his agent, and used a Skechers corporate rate to pay for the room that night, and went to a meeting the following day.

Moo Goo wrote:

He is just another African to 99.99% of the population and 99% of the runners. Nike wasn't going to pay Galen Rupp money for him.

So you are saying that when it comes to Nike it pays to be white? Sounds about right for this ethically bankrupt company.

This is a common tactic that Nike has used to torpedo competitors - bid up the value on an athlete or concept they don't really want, force competitors to tie up limited resources in dead-end athletes or concepts (see Nike's brief venture in trail running, which tricked Hoka into tying up huge chunk of their budge there, then Nike bails). This deal would be chump change for Nike, but now Skechers is tied up with a minimally marketable athlete for years.

One star does go to Nike like he is supposed to and then all the Beaverton minions have to post how this is a bad deal for Skechers.

So you thought Chris Layne would do what he normally does and follow Capriotti's instructions. But Ches somehow found out the real numbers and knew the Skechers deal was better. Then, the agent could not do his normal illegal deal. Wow, we feel for you.

Get mad at the athlete and sue Ches like you did Boris or something.

Do you people not have work to do or is this officially part of your job?

storagewars wrote:

This is a common tactic that Nike has used to torpedo competitors - bid up the value on an athlete or concept they don't really want, force competitors to tie up limited resources in dead-end athletes or concepts (see Nike's brief venture in trail running, which tricked Hoka into tying up huge chunk of their budge there, then Nike bails). This deal would be chump change for Nike, but now Skechers is tied up with a minimally marketable athlete for years.

What? So 3mil is going to tie up Skechers? Plus they already have the running technology and running resources, which was established with their partnership with Meb.

Please. The Meb line will continue and evolve, and now Ed will come in to establish a track/road running shoe line for Skechers. They will put every last one of their resources into him just like they did Meb, and, to me, that is better than wasting money on several different athletes who don't pan out.

Nike is not selling running shoes best on their american athletes. They are selling running shoes based on their FOREIGN athletes. Mo, Kipchoge, Dibaba, etc. Meb is helping skechers sell running shoes more than Rupp is helping Nike sell running shoes. Meb is a house hold name, especially after winning the Boston marathon.

If Ed can win, and capture america's heart like Meb did, Skechers is going to make a fortune and really blow up. If he fails, then they only invested 3 mil, and they still have the Meb line. However, if the shoes they make for him are top quality, his placement in races will not matter. As long as he is running in the shoe, it will be a win-win for Skechers.

I like Nike, but that does not mean I'm going to be opposing to a brand that is making quality running shoes.

Edward aspires to be a Geneticist and is currently preparing to attend UCLA grad school.

inthepdx wrote:

I am guessing he is going the roads route because it would be extremely difficult to make the Kenyan team in Track. He doesn't have US citizenship yet so I am not sure if it's financially viable to focus on Track for the time being. Running roads, nationality doesn't matter as much.

The US road circuit is almost exclusively tied to USA only champs, which is why the US Army Kenyans are cleaning up on the roads.

If King Ches can't become an American until 2021 this doesn't leave him a whole lot of road options.

Unlike Meb & the Black Cactus (and their fan base), King Ches is NOT American and will not have near the fan base with hobbyjoggers that Meb has.

harry wales wrote:

inthepdx wrote:

I am guessing he is going the roads route because it would be extremely difficult to make the Kenyan team in Track. He doesn't have US citizenship yet so I am not sure if it's financially viable to focus on Track for the time being. Running roads, nationality doesn't matter as much.

The US road circuit is almost exclusively tied to USA only champs, which is why the US Army Kenyans are cleaning up on the roads.

If King Ches can't become an American until 2021 this doesn't leave him a whole lot of road options.

Unlike Meb & the Black Cactus (and their fan base), King Ches is NOT American and will not have near the fan base with hobbyjoggers that Meb has.

Your thinking is flawed. He doesn't have the backing NOW. This is an investment for the future. They are investing in a seed, and they are going to water and nurture that seed from the ground up. So it is not about what will be accomplished now, but about what will be accomplished in the future. Meb is going to stay household for another 5-10 years, and by that time Ed should be established, hence the deal going for about 8 years!

This is a long term partnership, and a smart one. If ed is successful on the track, and his shoes become successful, then Skechers will take an even bigger leap into track and field.

Told you so.

He has not had a PR in 3 years.

What I find interesting is that given how long they have sponsored Meb and Kara, I have not seen a single specialty running store stock Skechers. I have run in several models and like them a lot, but I sourced them online and have been to several factory stores to demo the shoes. I'm not sure if they are trying, but no one that I have ever talked to in a speciality running store even cares to try and bring them in. If they did, it would set them apart for sure, but as most of you already know, Skechers doesn't make the bulk of their money on running shoes, it's their casual, affordable wear that brings the profit. If they can make inroads into actual running stores, my bet is that more runners would give them a try. Once you experience them in on your feet, you realize they are comfortable, well made, and perform well. The Razor is a top notch shoe.

NOP supertramp wrote:

Moo Goo wrote:

He is just another African to 99.99% of the population and 99% of the runners. Nike wasn't going to pay Galen Rupp money for him.

So you are saying that when it comes to Nike it pays to be white? Sounds about right for this ethically bankrupt company.

Reading into something that is not there...somebody just got triggered!

Apparently Nike lost all interest after a bone age study.

Ackley wrote:

He has not had a PR in 3 years.

Mo Farah hasn't had a PR in his primary events of 5000m and 10000m in six years, yet he has been pretty successful in that time.

Cheserek broke the NCAA indoor mile record by running 3:52.01 this past February beating Kyle Merber and Johnny Gregorek (US Olympian) in the process. That's kind of good.

I heard the number was 200,000/year. Also, i feel like he will go with HPW, they already have a few skechers girls there. Maybe it will become a full on skechers group

I think you're referring to the $250,000 incentive clause if he wins Boston, New York, or Chicago Marathons.

scorpion_runner wrote:

Meb is helping skechers sell running shoes more than Rupp is helping Nike sell running shoes.

Facebook likes

Mo Farah 1,128,446

Meb Keflezighi 123,287

Ryan Hall 93,947

Galen Rupp No official facebook page, no official instagram page wtf?

That is likely due to Skechers own marketing strategy. They have their own retail stores so they don't deal with running specialty shops or other sporting good retail stores. At least in Southern California, their home market. Online, it used to be very difficult if not impossible to find their running shoes anywhere but on the Skechers website, but that is slowly opening up. Running Warehouse carries some of the models as well as some other websites. You can usually get them cheaper via these sites then viathe Skechers website. I have used three models, GoRun, GoRun Ride, and the GoRun Forza and I like them. I trained in Asics for years, switched to Brooks 5 years ago and added Skechers in the last 4 years. Tried the Hoka One One Constant and Gaviota models as well and I think the Skechers shoes are very good. Skechers is a billion dollar company, they can afford Ches.

reeeeee wrote:

been around ya' know wrote:

Rupp was at 13:18 coming out of college. I don't see Cheserek going back to Kenya to compete. He has expressed a strong desire to stay here and compete for the USA. It may take awhile but that seems to be the desired goal. We'll see plenty of him in the USA.

Rupp had already made an Olympic team when he signed with Nike and was the favorite child of Cap/Alberto. Cheserek hasn't made any international teams and doesn't appear poised to through 2021. No way Nike would pay a guy who isn't going to compete at an international championship until 2023. The guy will be pushing 40 by then.

Wrong. Rupp was never nor is a favorite child of caps.