NXN 2021 Canceled

zxcvzxcv wrote:

Nike makes decisions like this not to "virtue signal," but because the dollars and cents don't make sense to their bean counters. What do they get? Nothing but liability, since they'd be paying to bring them in,

Liability, really? Can you point me to a single case of someone being held liable for Covid spread? Heck, can you point me to a single case of someone in the United States being held liable for any infectious disease? Most of society is ready to live their lives again. If you think it's too dangerous to fly across the country for a cross country race, then stay home.

asdfghj wrote:

zxcvzxcv wrote:

Nike makes decisions like this not to "virtue signal," but because the dollars and cents don't make sense to their bean counters. What do they get? Nothing but liability, since they'd be paying to bring them in,

Liability, really? Can you point me to a single case of someone being held liable for Covid spread? Heck, can you point me to a single case of someone in the United States being held liable for any infectious disease?

Well, people have been convicted for intentionally spreading HIV, but I don't see how Nike has any liability in this situation.

Anti boosters ruining things yet?

The great Newbury park team will never get to shine at the national stage.

Newbury Park should attempt to qualify 5 runners to footlocker. They could win vs. any region.

Losers

zxcvzxcv wrote:

Unless footlocker has teams, it involves just 32 per gender, so far less risk than 500+coaches/parents. Nike makes decisions like this not to "virtue signal," but because the dollars and cents don't make sense to their bean counters. What do they get? Nothing but liability, since they'd be paying to bring them in, and arguably problems within the state rules concerning events as COVID positives increase in the fall in Oregon.

A small correction: Foot Locker is now 40 individuals per gender, not that it makes much difference. I would imagine State of Oregon restrictions figure a lot more prominently in the Nike decision than liability, though Nike's deep pockets might be greater cause for some liability concerns than I'm allowing.

I guarantee the Running Lane folks are dancing over this decision. Running Lane has a lot more desirable date for a national meet (though California won't think so) to begin with, and this gives them one more year of a solid foot in the door. I expect Running Lane will profoundly impact attendance at at least the Nike South Regional. Southeast, though not a date conflict, could see greatly reduced attendance as well.

Ultimately, California needs to change the date of their state meet if they want to be wrapped into national championship meets going forward. The unintended consequence of NXN shutting down is to put more pressure on the California cross country schedule.

Completely Idiotic... wrote:

They just held Hood to Coast - an event that dwarfs NXN in terms of participation and potential exposure - out there 4 weeks ago. This decision is completely, utterly idiotic.

Marine Corps marathon cancelled, but in 2 weeks the Chicago marathon, which is 1/3 bigger (45k vs 30k) and gets a ton more long distance travellers will go on. Its about the personal feelings of those putting on the event and not science.

Next weekend a massive beach music festival with 45k fans will go on in Southern California, which is riskier than both.

science: not letting the unvaccinated participate, board planes, stay in hotels

personal feelings: cancelling an event unless there is demonstrable proof covid is surging in the area faster than in other areas where major events are going on, or there is no hospital capacity in the area

saratoga girls are the best team in the country for the third year in a row

I really hope that this whole NXR charade (which is exactly what it is) turns out to be a disaster and teams don't bother to show up . . . the whole point of a Region is to advance to the next level, is it not? . . . whether it's high school region meet to State, a college region meet to Nationals, etc . . . . . . as a coach of a team that had a legitimate shot at NXN (and even better shot last year!!) there's no way in hell we'll be going to an NXR BS qualifier . . . it'll either be Foot Locker (if they are still having a National meet) or Running Lane (which is logistically doable for us). I'm so bummed out for our team right now, and even more bummed out this year because Nike decides to pull the plug on Sept 24, well after teams have designed their schedule and training for legit NXR qualifier meets.

dccg wrote:

not their liability if everyone travels to regionals on their own dime. Flying them and hosting them is different.

BINGO! Happy to see that someone gets reality and not some emotional "Won't anyone think of the children?!" argument. Nike doesn't want the liability for potentially creating a COVID super spreader event with 500 athletes and coaches packed into a hotel on their dime. If some Nike employees get the rona, they will not risk their employment by threatening suit against the company.

This is our world now. Blame whomever you like but, no company wants negative legal and PR consequences for creating an outbreak at a niche marketing event.

Posted in a XC Coaches Facebook group a little bit ago. Lots of thoughts about covidiot coaches (or maybe just one; check his Twitter account) making poor decisions vis a vis foot locker regionals (west is same day as this event) but oh well…

RXC UPDATE:

After hours of phone calls yesterday afternoon and evening, the date of RXC will be moved to December 4th, 2021.

In order to make RXC the premier high school cross country event of the year, the date has been moved two weeks back to 12/4/2021 to give every state and program the chance to attend. Newbury Park is in, Valor Christian is in and many many others to follow. We will have both a hybrid of the best teams in the nation go head to head along with the best individuals marrying the best of both worlds. Regardless of your teams ranking, there will be multiple divisions seeded appropriately to where everyone gets the chance to run a PR and compete against similar talent from beginner to elite. We hope you guys can join us in Huntsville this fall. More big announcements to come very soon..

Meet info can be found here:

https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Huntsville/HSXCRace

There is zero legal liability for people getting an air borne, communicable disease at an event they choose to attend. This is a decision not based on any real legal or medical grounds, but entirely on corporate virtue signaling and posturing due to the fact that people have politicized a virus.

not an insider wrote:

Do you think Newbury Park would even race that one? If I was Brosnan, I'd send the top 5 to Footlocker and basically run a JV team for the California regional.

What is so insane is that not only could NP qualify 5 guys for footlocker, they could probably put 3 or 4 of them in the top 10 with another in the top 25

astro wrote:

There is zero legal liability for people getting an air borne, communicable disease at an event they choose to attend. This is a decision not based on any real legal or medical grounds, but entirely on corporate virtue signaling and posturing due to the fact that people have politicized a virus.

+1

NP isn't going to Footlocker, they are going to runninglane the same day as footlocker west. If footlocker is smart they should, make it a 50 person field and take the top 10 from Runninglane.

When you entice, transport, house, feed, and program an event, then you do assume significant liability, especially when minors are involved. If suits are brought, they may not succeed in a courtroom but, the negative PR and the costs of defending those suits / reaching settlements far outweigh any goodwill or sales bump realized. Note that Nike only canceled the Nationals. Why? Because they don't pay for individuals or teams to compete and travel to the regional events. Legally, you and your family assumed all risks.

What's more plausible: that a huge corporation doesn't want lawsuits and bad press or that they are playing an active role in some massive political agenda that doesn't benefit them economically?

I spent many years in the belly of the beast. I know that most of the passionate, sports loving old guard is gone. I also know that everything The Swoosh does is a calculated move that goes through layers of marketing and legal review before getting a green light.

All teams should skip/boycott the Nike regionals, complete waste of time. Instead, go to Footlocker or Runninglane. Nike deserves to permanently lose hosting for this bs.

There is again zero legal liability. Limit attendance. Require proof of vaccination, etc. Nor do I see an PR issues given that there are massive sporting events occurring all over the country. I think the real issue is where the Nationals race and Nike are located and the politicization of the virus.