Did you know that Meb was the most searched individual on Google.....see for yourself.
http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?sa=X&date=2009-11-1
This is millions of people around the world googling Meb. Back up what you say instead of just making comments that have no truth behind them.......
Word on the street has it he will be running the Lincoln Marathon on May 1st.
Sorry but I'm not going to read through 5plus pages of posts, so this may have been posted before, but oh well...
It seems that Meb wants to run Boston really bad, but Boston really isn't interested in paying him to come run. Easy fix, pay the entry (I know general entry is closed, but there is probably charity spots available), and then slap it in the Elite Coordinators face by winning the race outright!
Meb doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. Have you seen his resume. He probably easily makes six figures just to show up for two to three half marathons. If he is going to run any marathon its got to be worth it for him and his sponsors.
Lazy Reader wrote:
Sorry but I'm not going to read through 5plus pages of posts, so this may have been posted before, but oh well...
It seems that Meb wants to run Boston really bad, but Boston really isn't interested in paying him to come run. Easy fix, pay the entry (I know general entry is closed, but there is probably charity spots available), and then slap it in the Elite Coordinators face by winning the race outright!
Great advice. Now, any major marathon knows they don't have to pay him to run. All they have to do is not make an offer and eventually he'll sign up and run for free. The race gets the exposure from having one of the best American marathoners ever and doesn't have to pay anything for him to start.
Meb is such an honest guy that he put it out there that he badly wanted to run Boston before the negotiations even started and Boston tried to take advantage of this and figured if we just string him along long enough he will come run for free. It all makes sense now. Shame on them to go about it that way.
Lazy Reader wrote:
Easy fix, pay the entry (I know general entry is closed, but there is probably charity spots available), and then slap it in the Elite Coordinators face by winning the race outright!
It has been posted and it's no less stupid in this iteration. He would ruin his bargaining position for any race once he did that.
Further proof that the ONLY thing that makes Boston relevant is their long history.. everything else is a 2nd rate sham.
EZ10Miler wrote:
Further proof that the ONLY thing that makes Boston relevant is their long history.. everything else is a 2nd rate sham.
+1
Yes indeed +2
As a FYI , The JH man that does the deals has being doing this longer than Mary or Dave. He has set the standard. London may have more money ( think NY Yankees type of athlete spending ) , NY the international draw and Boston the history. Each its own stage. We will never know the details of the lost deal if any.
Time to move on.
You make some good points. We like winning in America , bottom line , not second place or top american . Marketing of running athletes and their net to the bottom line is always in debate.
We as runners may like it and romance it , but does it sell more of anything to the general population ?
A comment to JH building the field for this years Boston. By all accounts it looks like they there were set with the elites ( most of the spring races tie things up in the fall prior ) and Mebs run or not run deal had other issues. It could be that Meb was playing one spring marathon off the other , waiting for his "reasonable offer". Athlete deal makers for the different events do talk amongst themselves as do the agents.
Nothing wrong with what Meb was doing but you play to long , money dries up , elite field becomes ideal for the race director formula , time runs out.
How can one play one spring to another if there was never an offer from Boston? Are we missing the point. If Boston had an offer you can speculate that might have been Meb's agenda. There was probably other offers on the table from other spring marathons but not as rewarding as getting a chance to win one of the history's traditional marathon. Especially if Meb is trying to set himself up for rest of his life by winning Boston. He probably could go and run sub 2:06 to 2:07 in London but it wouldn't have the same dividend payout 10 to 20 years from now. Yeah, it would add value the next few years but what about beyond his running. Isn't that was he has been doing the last 20 years he has been running. He is trying to make the best of his running so he can capitalizing way beyond his running days. Ask Joan Bonet, Bill Rodgers, Alberto Salazar and company.
I have an idea for Meb. Go for the Marathon American Record. You have it in you with your 27:13 and your PB in the half is 61 running solo in the middle of marathon build up. Just Do IT!
The Smartest Lets Run Poster wrote:
Word on the street has it he will be running the Lincoln Marathon on May 1st.
Why not West Wyoming?
Go for kk American Record Meb.
Thats the point , in talking with London , Meb mentions he is talking with Boston and or other events , its a part of the game , not all events make a offer. Events decide what works for them or not. Not knowing the real history of prior dealings between Meb and JH , its all speculation. If Boston was a primary focus in his career this deal can have been with a multi year package.
Its a whole new universe now than when the elites you mention where running. Post Elite life is no slam dunk , no matter how much of a nice guy you are or the events you have won or how fast you have run.
Let the Boston event go , window is closed. Like I said it may be the best thing for him to let the marathon pass for the spring. Trials will be hard and if he makes the team , Korea will be harder.
Its very unusual that Meb or any other athlete of his caliber to think Boston wasn't going to offer anything. I am sure he didn't expect no offer would be made from Boston. specially if they were telling his agent they were very interested in having him in the race.
Thanks for giving me and my buddies an opportunity to come race in Boston in exchange for your very own fellow American. It was Meb who beat my countryman Cheriyot in NYC in 2005 and 2009. Boston is now our favorite race. Next time please do the same with Ryan Hall too so I can bring more of my Ethiopian friends to Boston.
ya exactly,that's what BAA ASSES deserve.