ContractLawyer wrote:
He should have handwritten on the bottom of the form: "The term "Official" as used herein is limited to scheduled press conferences and events within the stadium." He then should have initialed this statement and signed the form.
If USATF objected to his insertion, it may have started a dialogue on what other events they considered "official". He could then have added these events to the definition.
If USATF did not object, he could have worn Brooks outside of the stadium and press conferences, and if anyone complained, he could have shown them a copy of his contract.
+1 Absolutely.
I've done that with contracts I've signed and know other people who have done it that way. Perfectly legal. He really should have done that, except he wants to create a permanent improvement that will benefit other athletes in the future. Of course the other athletes could also modify their contracts, but they are too afraid to upset the federation.
A petition lol you kids kill me
John Clendon wrote:
reader of the forums wrote:The sport existed long before Nike came into the picture, and it would exist after it.
How many of the main sponsors from the '70s, '80s, and '90s do you still see sponsoring events and athletes? Mizuno cut way back, adidas and asics yes, but overall corporations that don't produce something related to running really don't sponsor anymore.
Exceptions like Hy-vee.
Brooks, Puma, Adidas, Asics, etc
Wait until you take your 12 year old to compete at the USATF Junior Olympics and two guards at the front gate won't let him in because he isn't wearing N!ke gear. You don't have an extra $150 to buy N!ke spikes and uniform at the kiosk by the entrance.
Its clear few have read the document.
It says nothing about wearing official gear outside of official designated events.
Meaning competition,team athlete parades,interview sessions,team photography, team functions and podium awards. 5% of the time.
You wear what you want when you train, lounge, eat and travel , 95% of the time.
This is nothing different than past years. Any athlete that has traveled with the national team knows this and thats why you don't see them jumping on Nick's grandstanding.
Over the years the shoe companies know the US team will have team uniforms and highlight their own shoe sponsored competition shoes as to stand out.
If Nick wanted to fight the good fight for the athletes the battle would we to be paid for making the national team, making the final and increased value for medaling. When the deals are cut for sponsorship by the USATF a set amount "percentage" off the top should be set aside to compensate the athletes who make teams. No guaranteed formula exists now to benefit athletes for any of the deals.
how many times is "official" in full "official" quotes used in that bizarro doc. What on earth is an "officia" small-o-event?
Trouble is this doc on its merits seems wishy-washy-harmless.
What makes it d@mning is the follow up letter Nick got from USATF saying to only pack Nike or non-branded gear.... they didn't say "make sure you bring your Nike USATF stuff." They said ONLY bring your Nike USATF stuff.
That, combined with "official" undefined events, is why this is a cluster.
Rear before you write wrote:
Its clear few have read the document.
It says nothing about wearing official gear outside of official designated events.
Meaning competition,team athlete parades,interview sessions,team photography, team functions and podium awards. 5% of the time.
You wear what you want when you train, lounge, eat and travel , 95% of the time.
This is nothing different than past years. Any athlete that has traveled with the national team knows this and thats why you don't see them jumping on Nick's grandstanding.
Over the years the shoe companies know the US team will have team uniforms and highlight their own shoe sponsored competition shoes as to stand out.
If Nick wanted to fight the good fight for the athletes the battle would we to be paid for making the national team, making the final and increased value for medaling. When the deals are cut for sponsorship by the USATF a set amount "percentage" off the top should be set aside to compensate the athletes who make teams. No guaranteed formula exists now to benefit athletes for any of the deals.
Actually, it might be you who hasn't read the document. Try to keep up.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/273698298/Max-Siegel-USATFMax's letter adds on conditions not found in the Statement of Conditions.
From Max's letter:
"These obligations include wearing the uniform at all official functions AND IN OFFICIAL AREAS...." (capitalization mine)
Now, aside from wondering what an "official" function is, you have to wonder what an "official" area is. The hotel? Anywhere a group of USA athletes might congregate, like a restaurant?
How can an individualized letter contain additional restrictions that aren't included in the original agreement?
I also find it fascinating that on the Statement of Conditions, the volume of details outlining the section about uniforms (C) far outweighs any other section; Conduct, Drug Testing, etc.
How can the World silver medalist be left off?
How can a Govt force its athletes to wear a certain marketing uniform...wait USATF is not the Govt so how can they do that? They hold the keys with a swoosh behind their ear?
Strange days indeed when America's best 800 meter runner in Championship history can't compete or is not chosen for reasons other than running...but because he chooses to warm up in or wear a brooks logo over a nike logo?
I can see the discussion now,
Symmonds "so your saying I have to wear Nike even when I take a poop or I can't compete at the World Championships despite being the best runner in America?"
USATF "pretty much Potato-Boy" (reference to being from Idaho)
Symmonds "so your saying I can't wear any brooks logo's while at the World Championships or I can't compete despite them providing the checks that feed my family and allow me to train?"
USATF "pretty much, so you want to be the best wear this swoosh, sign this unambiguous contract and the world will be yours" (reference to Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness)
Symmonds "**ck off"
Its not about keeping up its about sticking to the facts.
Actually Max's letter is not the official document and or a contract. Its a response. Please don't interpret dialog in the letter as a legal document.
Anyone who has made any of USA teams multiple times knows when and where you have to wear the team gear. The silliness of this will become apparent when athletes show pics from the practice track wearing their sponsors gear,lounging and walking about in athletes housing in their own personal gear, eating out in whatever they want to wear. Some may wear the team USA 24/7 but thats usually the 1st timers just being proud and excited.
Seems to me that we have the NikeTrack and Field Team not the United State Track and Field Team. I don't see why it's okay for the USATF to force any athlete into a contract to sponsor any company. If this is about the US team then *no* company's logo should be on the Jersey.
[quote]Rear before you write wrote:
Its clear few have read the document.
Or their user names! Hee Hee. I hope you rear your kids to read better. You must have saw this coming after you posted - in your rear view mirror. This should put you in line for rear of the year.
Sorry, couldn't help myself, the irony was overwhelming. Actually thought it was a really clever name until you fixed it. Ok, time for my meds.
first posted on track talk net
If USATF banned other Nike logoed stuff too- meaning wear nothing but Team USA issued gear. Would that be a clearer way to say this is not a ( restraint of trade or what ever the legal carp is) retail brand issue it is an issue of only representing Team USA?
A separate letter that Symmonds said he received several weeks ago from the USATF seems to include broader language. It mentions team functions “at the athlete hotel” and “during training.” The letter also asks athletes to “pack only Team USA, Nike or non-branded apparel” for Beijing. The word “only” is uppercased and underlined in the letter.
as is
The letter also asks athletes to “pack ONLY Team USA, Nike or non-branded apparel” for Beijing.
change to
The letter also asks athletes to “pack ONLY Team USA issued apparel or non-branded apparel” for Beijing.
BBC radio picked up on the story. It was the #1 story on their sports coverage.
This is a bit smelly. From what I've read here at letsrun....
1. USATF didn't offer other kit manufacturers an opportunity to bid on supplying kit to Team USA.
2. Allegations of USATF corruption, favouring slower n1ke athletes at the expense of the faster, non-swooshed.
3. Symmonds is bullied (witnessed apparently) when not wearing swooshy shoes for a coffee at a hotel.
4. USATF pen a contract with seemingly ambiguous intent. Why on earth use quotes with 'official'? Google 'scare quotes' (think bunny rabbit ear fingers), the only plausible reason for their use of quotes - they're not quoting anyone else's words.
5. When asked, rather than just clarifying what "official" team functions are, USATF kick the athlete off the team for the World Championships.
To the casual observer, it really could seems like USATF are representing n1ke and not the American athletes.
If the governing body doesn't look after it's athletes, it could seriously harm the sport in the US.
So when your grandchildren ask "who killed T+F?"
It may just have been USATF, in the boardroom, with the air max.
This is even making news in Australia:
Wow, now the whole world knows what USTAF is doing.
This is 100% correct, "Anyone who has made any of USA teams multiple times knows when and where you have to wear the team gear. ..." I commend Nick for refusing to sign an agreement he does not agree to, especially after his prior experience with Nike, but this is a Nick issue not an athlete rights issue. Have any other athletes shared similar experiences of being 'bullied' at Team USA events? Team areas are very clear; did you pass through airport style security? Do you need your athlete credential to be visible? Is every other athlete around you wearing their designated countries gear? Then you are probably in an official team area. These vary by event and location because every event is not organized the same, for example some full athletes village and some athletes dining hall, others meal vouchers and an athletes hotel. Remember the letter is a form letter sent out to anyone participating on one of the following teams,
http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/Team-USA-Events.aspx
Unfortunately, the vast majority of people are completely uninformed, but believe me the athletes know how it works.
This is not about sponsorship, it's about being apart of a team. Note: Evan Jager in ADIDAS and a non-branded headband,
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Evc8xDLuYho/hqdefault.jpg
as part of team Americas at IAAF Continental Cup.
Nick stands for a lot of great causes but I think there is a reason no one else has dropped off the World Championship team to stand with Nick. Congratulations Nick on the amount of media exposure you've gained through your lies, I hope it was worth your credibility. If you care so much about your brand, perhaps you should included their logo in your interviews and on your twitter profile. -
Great to know that if you want attention in the sport you can find all you want OFF the track. Sad day.
The letter to the athletes explicitly states to only bring non-branded gear along with the Team USA gear.
For real?? So once they'd signed the contract, athletes were not legally allowed to take any other branded kit with them to China? I find that seriously hard to believe. Is that enforceable? WTF
Or was it just a letter of recommendation, aside from the contract? Anyone got a link to this letter?
