More money problems for GST

But Michael Johnson‘s salary got paid on time, this was the main purpose of this whole scam, wasn’t it?

MJ, Merber and Citius are con artists.

MJ’s career is over if this doesn’t get resolved. The longer this goes on, the less hope I have.

Due April 2: $38,948 - Paid $0

Dur June 2 - $38,948 - Paid $0

As of July 15 - Total paid $0

How the hell did they get away with this? When that first payment did not come through on April 2, I would have threatened them with pulling the meet from underneath their feet and forcing them to get another venue at the last minute. If they can't even pay $78,000 for the use of the facility, how are they going to pay $9 million to the athletes? This payment should be a drop in the bucket. It has been obvious for a while that they don't have enough money to pay the athletes, but now I am thinking that they are just flat broke and have absolutely nothing. WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO? It didn't just vanish into thin air. Lawsuits are going to start flying from all directions soon.

This is not just mismanagement; this is becoming criminal.

*Benny Hill theme music intensifies*

The athletes and venues didn’t get paid. I wouldn’t be surprised if Merber’s friends at Citius got paid.

Honestly, I don't believe Johnson has earned anything from this. I would guess that he's probably even in the red as a result.

I'm not defending his stewardship of GST, he's proved wildly over-ambitious and incompetent. But I don't think he's made out like a bandit from it.

What this does show is why he wasn't able to do a delivery with any experienced event organizers in Europe. GST just didn't have any up front funding for basic things like venue hire so no one would touch them. I can now see why UKA told Johnson to take a walk.

I genuinely feel sorry for Kyle Merber in all of this. He is the person recruiting the athletes, and I believe he was acting in good faith, believing that the money was there. His reputation will be in pieces now.

In any case, GST can't continue next year. The brand is in the mud. Athletes would only compete if paid up front. The one good thing to come from it is that the DL has kicked up a couple of gears in response and we've had one of the best DL seasons ever. Even Pre sold out.

The plebs always come last. And athletes are just above fans in the ranks. Unless their elite level.

It's a joke that you have an international sport with money swilling around everywhere and somebody ranked 24 in the world might struggle to pay the bills.

Meanwhile the big timers and various overpaid bureaucrats are ringfenced off from competition.

Free market for the plebs. Fix ups for the big timers!

There's the deserving rich and the undeserving 😃. Divide and conquer.

He shoulda stayed talkin the talk

Supposedly $34m and they can't afford to pay $77k? The look gets worse and worse for MJ

Overall this thread is discouraging - for all you haters including the LRs gurus (JG et al) what do you want the future of US Track and Field to look like ? - or does it not really matter as all the $$$$ are about baseball, football, and basketball - Including now at the Collegiate level.

I think at least a few people want to see the athletes get paid, let alone the venues etc.

Other sports earning more money isn't the issue here. Most of us wanted GST to succeed but it's clear MJ was overambitious and didn't put in place firm financial backup.before promising $$$s to athletes.

If anybody is interested, they are still selling Grand Slam Los Angeles T-shirts on their website for only $35!

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This feels like the movie "Sing" - MJ should host 1 big race for $1M and try to recoup in a hail mary to save the league

How did people think they were gonna get the bucks when like 500 people watched it?

“The City of Miramar rewrote a new payment plan that indicates Grand Slam Track now owes $30,000 on July 18, another $30,000 on August 18 and the third and final payment of $17,896 on September 18.“

If they can’t pay $30k to the Miami venue there’s no way they’re getting anywhere near $3M to the athletes for each meet. Guess it’s back to stacking boxes at 4:30am for Jacory Patterson until the inevitable class-action lawsuit settles:

runnersworld.com

The Fastest 400-Meter Runner in the World Is Loading UPS Trucks While You Sleep

Jacory Patterson’s job makes him nearly nocturnal. That hasn't stopped him from running a world lead in the 400.

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After the LA meet was canceled they kept talking about next season and how it would be even better. Why would they do that? It increasingly appears that they're completely broke and can't cover this season's expenses. They're trying to find new investors to pay off this season's debts, but in order to do that they have to convince them that the league will continue.

If it cost them $78,000 to rent the tiny Miramar track, I wonder how much it cost to rent Franklin Field? Or Kingston? Have they paid for Kingston yet?