Why Was A Man With A 10-Year Doping Ban Enjoying The 2012 US Olympic Track & Field Trials From The Nike Sky Box?

I'm track journalist from a small South American newspaper...i'm going to tweet this story.

Good job Brojo's.

I don't see the point of this article. Being banned due to doping does not mean someone should be shut out from all facets of life.

If we bring this up, then we will have also to bring up the issue of those who got second chance redemption and expected to compete in London games.

international press wrote:

I'm track journalist from a small South American newspaper...i'm going to tweet this story.

Good job Brojo's.

Looks like Nike took an official position on it. Letsrun 1, A Duck 0

Nike said it does not condone the use of banned substances.

A little different from "Nike stands firmly against the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs by our athletes."

Looks like Track & Field News has picked up the story and linked it to the LRC article. It's one of their headlines ("Banned Agent Mark Block in Nike Box at Trials").

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/

KindredEP wrote:

Mr. Duck,

You argue that this board is a cesspool of idiocy, enabled by anonymity of the founders whom you don't particularly care for. Yet you continue to frequent this board for years to push back against Nike/Salazar critics who in your estimation have crossed the line.

But why continue doing this, if your claim that one at the elite level particularly cares for Letsrun is true?

If that is true, then real damage is being done on these threads?

Don't you think you're being petty?

No I don't think I am being petty. Just a bit frustrated at times.

To answer your other question, the elites don't care, but the little press our sport gets means that Solinsky's grandmother gets a google hit with a thread calling him a p*ssy.

I am sure your comments mean well, and they would be more successful if you would report bad actor posts and slanderous posts and write an email now and then encouraging the brojo's to clean this place up.

Canada781 wrote:

We are forever in your debt for providing a counter-balance.

Now, back to reality. Why would Nike entertain a convicted drug cheat, currently serving a 10 year ban, in the VIP area?

Instead of attempting to address everything but the real issue, try to stay on topic. Thank you.

I considered the story a non story from the start, in the sense that there is no big conspiracy.

As others have described, some one individual probably slipped him a pass to come in and get a free lunch or something.

As "theclear" pointed out, when you have been behind the scenes at these things you see things differently.

I think all drug cheats should be banned for life and do jail time.

I also know Nike is a big company and the actions of one does not mean there is a conspiracy.

And, the fact is, once you are connected at a certain level, the ability to get "free" passes etc. at these events is insanely easy. I've done it, I know, and no I am not going to explain to any of the idiots here how it is done.

A Duck wrote:

I considered the story a non story from the start, in the sense that there is no big conspiracy.

As others have described, some one individual probably slipped him a pass to come in and get a free lunch or something.

As "theclear" pointed out, when you have been behind the scenes at these things you see things differently.

I think all drug cheats should be banned for life and do jail time.

I also know Nike is a big company and the actions of one does not mean there is a conspiracy.

And, the fact is, once you are connected at a certain level, the ability to get "free" passes etc. at these events is insanely easy. I've done it, I know, and no I am not going to explain to any of the idiots here how it is done.

As someone with familiarity about the topic, at what level must "some one individual" be to hand out passes for the Nike VIP box, on two days? Let's start there.

lupo wrote:

The problem is they didn't call Nike out, he called Carmaleta Jeter out, whome has no f'n control as to who shows up to watch her at a track meet. Linking Jeter to this story is not journalism, its sensationalism. Block probably has closer ties to many track athletes and coaches than he has to Jeter. I want to say that this yet another example of spiteful journalism by the Brojos, but really I don't think they had any bad intentions. They're simply just idiots.

It's looking this way, isn't it.

A Duck wrote:

Big Bob wrote:

Well, until we find out what the conditions of the mother trucker's 10-year ban is, this discussion is pointless.

Not true at all.

The goal is not to figure out whether he violated some clause in his ban or not. The goal is to figure out why Nike condones his presence, how closely he is still working with these athletes, and why a ban would allow this kind of involvement in the sport.

This not by me.

A Duck wrote:

lupo wrote:

The problem is they didn't call Nike out, he called Carmaleta Jeter out, whome has no f'n control as to who shows up to watch her at a track meet. Linking Jeter to this story is not journalism, its sensationalism. Block probably has closer ties to many track athletes and coaches than he has to Jeter. I want to say that this yet another example of spiteful journalism by the Brojos, but really I don't think they had any bad intentions. They're simply just idiots.

It's looking this way, isn't it.

I really don't think you're right on this one. Jeter's and Jason Richardson's twitter feeds seem to indicate her/their relationship with Block is close enough that they're going out to dinner together. Jeter's refusal to acknowledge she has a relationship with Block in response to Rojo's question shows that she knows she shouldn't be hanging around with the guy. Certainly worth of further questions.

I can't speak to the specifics of Nike's suite. However if you read the article on OregonLive.com you will see the Nike person described it as having 3 different areas and 3 diff levels of access.

As to the level one must have access to to get passes into these things... It is amazingly easy. You have to be connected, BUT, think about it, you do not have to be connected at the top. Who do you think gives out these passes? Underlings. And the most famous trick in the book for getting into a hospitality suite or event?

Two people with passes walk in. One takes the pass from another, goes out side, gives it to the other friend, and a few minutes later they walk in again.

Ergo, you cannot be a pedestrian off the street, you just need a friend with some inside contact.

This guy shouldn't have been there. And all the drug cheats should do jail time, as well as their enablers.

Where is A Duck now? wrote:

Looks like Nike took an official position on it. Letsrun 1, A Duck 0

http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2012/07/sports_agent_banned_from_track.html

The really interesting thing about this article is the fact that the comments section confirms what we all already knew: Letsrunners like to freak out about things that no one else cares about. The "event" that spurred a 14 page LR thread has elicited a collective "who cares?" from everyone else.

read the comments wrote:

Where is A Duck now? wrote:

Looks like Nike took an official position on it. Letsrun 1, A Duck 0

http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2012/07/sports_agent_banned_from_track.html

The really interesting thing about this article is the fact that the comments section confirms what we all already knew: Letsrunners like to freak out about things that no one else cares about. The "event" that spurred a 14 page LR thread has elicited a collective "who cares?" from everyone else.

Well a good portion of the comments on this thread have been about how poorly this site is run. And about what a non-story this is.

A Duck wrote:

read the comments wrote:

The really interesting thing about this article is the fact that the comments section confirms what we all already knew: Letsrunners like to freak out about things that no one else cares about. The "event" that spurred a 14 page LR thread has elicited a collective "who cares?" from everyone else.

Well a good portion of the comments on this thread have been about how poorly this site is run. And about what a non-story this is.

No. It's called selection bias. Many people in the Oregon track scene (where Nike employs and supports thousands of people) don't want to hear anything negative about them.

That writer was willing to take a stand even though he knew some Oregonian readers might not like it.

lupo wrote:

The problem is they didn't call Nike out, he called Carmaleta Jeter out, whome has no f'n control as to who shows up to watch her at a track meet. Linking Jeter to this story is not journalism, its sensationalism.

If Jeter can't see how she looks bad by continuing her relationship with a guy who was found guilty by USADA of, among other things, supplying drugs to athletes, she is being willfully stupid. I have no opinion on whether she is using, but what she is doing is feeding the cynicism about fighting PEDs in T&F.

Attempts to blame the messenger here do the same.

is there a ban for showing up at sanctioned track and field meets?

Be realistic wrote:

is there a ban for showing up at sanctioned track and field meets?

If it isn't...it sure should be!

BTW, Excellent response, illustrative of impeccable speech and debate credentials!!

Do you feel just a little bit chagrined???