I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!

The WNBA is a marketing product of the NBA. It keeps the NBA, or at least the concept of the NBA alive during the off-season. Likewise, NFL Europe is purely a marketing tool for the NFL.

Athletics (Track & Field, Road Racing, and Cross Country) has absolutely no visible marketing plan in the US. Like Mac Adam stated, USATF rides on the souped-up shoulders of its sprinters. Maybe it truly is a sad social commentary of this country (and the west) - immediate gratification with limited attention spans.

SF Plodder is right. We need new leadership now!

The following are not eligible to apply:

- any current USATF Staffer - too fat, dumb, and happy

- any NCAA Coach who is not willing to work fulltime for the federation

- anyone who currently serves on any USATF, RRCA, AARC committees (they are the problem, not the solution).

Given the resources of this country, the US should completely dominate any endeavor its serious about. During the Cold War Eastern Bloc countries used sports to show the fruits of communism. Why aren't we showing the fruits of capitalism? Let's look to the business world - there's got to be some smart strategic planner types who were/are Athletics fans.

Otherwise, how about one of second level staffers at the NBA, NFL, NHL etc. who might be looking for a challenge. Any of these people would also come with a "Madison Avenue" Rolodex of useful contacts.

If I were Joe-road-racer-for-fun, I'd skip any race that asked me to pay $15 extra for an organization that does nothing for me, and didn't put on the race. And if I'm Bob-race-director-with-no-need-for-a-world-record, I'll happily do without the certification. I'd rather have 5,000 non-USATF members in my race than 500 members.

The flaw in your reasoning is that you think people want to donate money to the "pros" to see them do well in the Olympics. Is this what happens in the other, more popular sports? I don't think so.

The Europeans seem to do all right.

kohlberg, good points, but do you have to diss on Crossfire?

idealist, I agree with you. I don't see how professionalism has ruined T&F. If anything, it adds an incentive for more people to participate.

What we need is a leader who isn't a former athlete. Someone with a background in marketing who will run the place like a business, trying to make a profit. Someone at Nascar figured this shit out, because it's on TV every weekend, seems like at least 2 channels. There's nothing inherently interesting about car racing, either. The personalities of the drivers are no more interesting than runners.

How about a Mark Cuban style person to manage all this? I like his style...

We need more Alan Webb's, Dathan Ritzenheim's, Gabe Jennings, kid's that want to take on the world and talk smack like Ali.

Notice track publicity and exposure was at an all-time high with Gabe Jennings and Alan Webb in the spotlights. They are one word to the "Bubba's" on the couch: hope.

Where's the plan to identify, train, and market top US athletes to the media and sponsors? Moreover, where's the overall long-range plan and short-term tactical plans to end the emabarassment the US faces at distances beyond a furlong. Hell, we're even losing our stronhold on the sprints.

Masback asked for time to turn USATF around. Seems to me, he's had his time. Maybe it's an impossible job. If so, he should just say, "the Hell with it, the good old boys are in charge" and move on.

My standard rant is that there is little or no grass roots, non-elite, participative structure for track and field. People who don't do the sport themselves aren't going to want to watch it on TV. All over the country, people are playing in football leagues, basketball leagues, tennis leagues, etc. And they pay to watch the experts do it. Okay, NASCAR is a little different, but hey, people drive.

Whether it's lack or resources or lack of interest, I don't see USATF supporting those types of activities to build audience. The "club" champs don't count-the winners are all supported in their training, and there are two meets a year (counting regional qualifiers). USATF has active youth programs, but those people are not able to keep doing track in their money earning (and spending) years, and they pay to watch football or golf instead.

There are actually 3 problems.

1- Drugs;

2- WADA;

3- Paula Radcliffe.

Stop, you're cracking me up!

(or is that just cracking up?)

Shut up dunes runner. You're an idiot. Ban him Wejo.

We finally get a real discussion going, and then someone joins in with some inane comments.

Is there anyone out there plannng on going to the USATF Convention this winter? We need to start generating a collective voice to share the concerns - WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP.

Track Fan makes a good point. The USATF Annual Meeting (December 3-7 in Greensboro, NC) is the best place to make a difference. Note that USATF Club CC Championships also take place in Greensboro that weekend.

If you are planning to go, contact your local association to see if they need delegates to the Annual Meeting. Tell them that you'll cover the LDR meetings for the association. They might even pick up some of your expenses. Your vote counts just as much as the "Good Old Boys".

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US Soccer developed a long-range (ten to twenty year) plan with the ultimate goal of wiing the World Cup. [/quote]

Winning the World Cup, in 20 years? Gooooood Luck!!!!!

I can see where NASCAR is more attention grabbing than running. There's continual competition going on, even in the back of the pack. They give points toward their season award for leading laps and racing hard. Track has everyone sitting back following rabbits waiting for the final kick. From the 1500 up it looks more like follow the leader than racing. I always thought triathloning could get a viewing audience. Three specialties, so you're not going to watch the same thing all race. You have hard bodied athletes running around in tight clothes. And with the ITU races, which allow drafting on the bike, you have a greater chance of packs of racers through the run. I personally enjoy watching the distance races, but I can see where JQ Public might not appreciate them. Maybe we just need a cool mascot...wait, they've covered that!!!