Why can't Mark Wieczorek (made 800 final) get a sponsor???

Horrible taste in clothes for starters....

Probably my favorite 800m runner right now. I highly recommend the Playin' In Dirt series with him, Matt Sherer, and another guy whose name I can't remember.

http://www.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=34329&do=videos&video_id=39959

"Horrible taste in clothes for starters.."

You should see his girlfriend...

Not Wieckezorachk wrote:

Horrible taste in clothes for starters....

i love that t-shirt he's been wearing!

The guy needs to move up to the 5 or 10. He has maxed out at the 800, hence no sponsors.

His devout pagan beliefs make him a toxic for any brand. Shame that's where we are in 2012.

tacomafan wrote:

You should see his girlfriend...

Brie > Sponser

Tool. Maybe Craftsman will sponsor him.

Because shoe companies are being total tight wads the past 4 years. It's not like it was, 10-15 years ago. Most of these athletes who appear to be "sponsored" are on shoes and gear only. The shoe companies would rather sponsor a "mass" club, than to pay a salary to an individual athlete.

this is how it is wrote:

Because shoe companies are being total tight wads the past 4 years. It's not like it was, 10-15 years ago. Most of these athletes who appear to be "sponsored" are on shoes and gear only. The shoe companies would rather sponsor a "mass" club, than to pay a salary to an individual athlete.

when they gave 20k to Olympian Gabe Jennings?

I'm sure he's been made offers by companies, albeit small offers. He has very good credentials for a small contract but I suspect e is te reason why he isn't sponsored currently. He's most likely doing what aj has been doing and is waiting for a good contract by building his resume (I.e. make an Olympic team or at least run the a standard. ) he probably sees it being better to run sans sponsorship for a while then land a good one than to lock yourself into a crappy one that your stuck with for a few years. mike rutt is probably doing the same thing, he has run the a standard and made the wc indoor finals, prObably was looking to use the trials to land a

Big one.

He broke his foot a year or two ago playing basketball. Honestly I wouldn't blame the sponsors for passing him up. His shirt definitely made me look him up though. Can't wait to see striped t as we've been calling him in the finals.

fixed wrote:

when they gave 20k to Olympian Gabe Jennings?

Yeah, now they get nothing, or shoes and gear only. Gabe would be in Mark's shoes if he were in this generation. Pro runners don't make as much as you think. Only a select few.

It's sad that pro track runners can't really make it, but from a business standpoint, it makes sense. Runners should be an investment, not a charity.

If they gave him just $10,000 a year, would he make the company $10,001 of additional revenue? If not, it's not worth it.

Exactly. Whereas they can use that money and pay for athletes such as Felix and Eaton: they're dominant on the world stage, will bring home medals, and are good-looking and can model the apparel. They're worth the investment. It's funny to note how I've never seen Rupp in a single Nike commercial when he's hands down our best distance runner.

If you gets a sponsor, they should allow him to continue wearing that ridiculous shirt.

Business, not Personal wrote:

It's sad that pro track runners can't really make it, but from a business standpoint, it makes sense. Runners should be an investment, not a charity.

If they gave him just $10,000 a year, would he make the company $10,001 of additional revenue? If not, it's not worth it.

That would be a 0.01% return on investment. Don't start a business.

I was impressed to see Banana Republic stepping in to sponsor an athlete in an Olympic Year ;)

MF

this is how it is wrote:

Because shoe companies are being total tight wads the past 4 years. It's not like it was, 10-15 years ago. Most of these athletes who appear to be "sponsored" are on shoes and gear only. The shoe companies would rather sponsor a "mass" club, than to pay a salary to an individual athlete.

This is the best comment in the thread. People don't realize that Wieczorek used to be with OTC Elite which is something that the companies are much more willing to pay for. They see the team model and they think that's the best way for everyone to do it. Companies don't want to spend money on individuals doing their own thing(unless you're a rising star like Levins) because they don't have as much of an assurance that their investment is safe. Nike probably looks at the small amount of money they could give to a young guy and would rather just buy a new piece of technology for Galen because they know he's going to deliver.