Leo Manzano running without a shoe contract?

I bet Leo is getting greedy. Yeah he's got an Olympic medal but he's still less well known than the 6th man your average NBA team.

Take what they're offering and be grateful your getting anything.

It is fine to negotiate, but the fact that some of these guys think they are actually worth a lot more than their contract are delusional.

Negotiation is good for the sport. The mentality of "take what you can get" is not the way to go if you are in Leo's shoes. It's time for the athletes to try and get some leverage on these companies. It takes time but the current stars are starting to bring in some nice contracts.

There's always Oiselle.

schmookes wrote:

I bet Leo is getting greedy. Yeah he's got an Olympic medal but he's still less well known than the 6th man your average NBA team.

Take what they're offering and be grateful your getting anything.

Alysia Montano was without a contract early in the year as well while she negotiated with Nike. And we see how they chased away Meb. I think Nike is the greedy one. It isn't usual for a college football coach to get a 1 million dollar raise after a winning season, so I don't see why an olympic silver medalist shouldn't get a raise as well, and I doubt he's asking for an additional million dollars. And yes, I realize comparing those two sports is apples to oranges, but it's the principle.

So does Montano have a shoe deal yet?

Montano is with Asics in a much better position than when she was with Nike.

sensible to me.

as a medalist, the odds are he is currently undervalued, not overvalued.

also this is his best time to lock in some longer term security.

the more open this whole process gets, the better off the athletes. Nike will always discourage this because they want maximal control at minimum expense.

Olympic silver with Nike.

14:57 without.

After today's result, I'm lowering my offer by 25k per year.

Sincerely,

(the fake) John Capriotti

Are you crazy!! He was one of the most known athletes at the race!https://mobile.twitter.com/mariofraioli/status/321022249085829120

schmookes wrote:

I bet Leo is getting greedy. Yeah he's got an Olympic medal but he's still less well known than the 6th man your average NBA team.

Take what they're offering and be grateful your getting anything.

facials for everyone wrote:

Alysia Montano was without a contract early in the year as well while she negotiated with Nike. And we see how they chased away Meb. I think Nike is the greedy one. It isn't usual for a college football coach to get a 1 million dollar raise after a winning season, so I don't see why an olympic silver medalist shouldn't get a raise as well, and I doubt he's asking for an additional million dollars. And yes, I realize comparing those two sports is apples to oranges, but it's the principle.

you're not from this planet, are you.

A college football coach manages a team that MAKES MONEY. It also has a lot of visibility. Manzano has neither. He walk down any street and nobody know who he is. Has he thrown out any opening day pitches? he is unknown. Who cares. he is paid to wear their gear. That he has a medal adds nothing to the Nike brand.

Here is a principle for you - MAKE MONEY. That is the principle by which NKE operates.

"I realize comparing those two sports is apples to oranges"

Reading isn't your forte, is it?

Every time a thread like this pops up I'm always amazed by the people that think shoe companies are charities, just throwing money around to random athletes.

They expect the fastest guys to get the biggest contracts. You think that Nike are going to give a big contract to random fast Kenyan #1635? Oh you run 7:55 in the steeple? OK well done but literally only a handful of people know your name.

Pistorious isn't the fastest, Jeremy Lin isn't the best point guard, Tebow isn't the best QB. If Bolt never breaks 10 seconds again he'll still be the highest paid guy in athletics until the day he retires.

These companies are out to make money. Does Manzano generate $100k a year in shoe sales? $50k? $20k? $5k?

OPC wrote:

Every time a thread like this pops up I'm always amazed by the people that think shoe companies are charities, just throwing money around to random athletes.

They expect the fastest guys to get the biggest contracts. You think that Nike are going to give a big contract to random fast Kenyan #1635? Oh you run 7:55 in the steeple? OK well done but literally only a handful of people know your name.

Pistorious isn't the fastest, Jeremy Lin isn't the best point guard, Tebow isn't the best QB. If Bolt never breaks 10 seconds again he'll still be the highest paid guy in athletics until the day he retires.

These companies are out to make money. Does Manzano generate $100k a year in shoe sales? $50k? $20k? $5k?

not as simple as you put it, although you are essentially right. Nike wants its 'stable' to dominate the US T/F team - for great optics and to stop its competitors. For ex, having NB athletes win a bunch of races helps them and can start a potentially devastating tilt away. Hard to keep the kids on your side...don't give the competition a chance.

In the real world, this means you pay Manzano more than he might bring back in sales, because you don't want to give your competitors a shot.

Also, Nike wants to keep its influence at USATF - hard to do that if you start shedding the best athletes. Pretty soon Adidas starts bidding stuff up on you.

And there is such a thing as corporate culture - Nike, at some level, sees itself as a running company. The top people don't want to lose that attitude - so they might be tempted to spend more on t/f athletes than might be profitable.

Of course there is a limit, and Meb found that limit. Maybe Manzano is pushing too much.

facials for everyone wrote:

"I realize comparing those two sports is apples to oranges"

Reading isn't your forte, is it?

its apples and apples. there is no difference between football and track. the only difference is profitability. Manzano is not profitable. You know who cares that he won a silver medal? About 5-10k people max, which in marketing terms is meaningless.

so the "principle" you talk of is the same - make money. and Manzano doesn't make any for Nike.

Zersenay Tadese has yet to re-sign either, and he just ran 60:10 in Prague.

I'm going to horn in here for a second. I came to find the Carlsbad 5k results on the homepage (since this seems to be the only place that posts promptly) and saw this thread.

#1 Carlsbad is actually not an easy course. It can be challenging on the second mile hill which is almost 3/4 mile long. If the onshore breeze is blowing wrong you're getting a head wind all the way up. If you're not feeling well on that course you pay for it like I did last year. Tells you Leer is in very good shape. It is an awesome place to run all around, one big party.

#2 This is a nice refreshing sign to me that Leo is clean and likely has always been. I love a real champion who doesn't adhere to false idealistic expectations created by marketing campaigns.

#3 I know for certain that top shoe company execs frequent these boards. I was once in a negotiation when one of them referenced a Letsrun thread... What's said on here holds sway. Those guys troll on here.

Most importantly

#4 Having started my own apparel company, I can say we were profitable within the first 2 years thanks to runners like you. A guy like me, who hasn't run very well or close to my PBs in two years, let alone an Olympic medalist like Leo, has seen the numbers a running persona can pull for company sales. YES that's right, I've seen both sides of the coin. AND I can tell you a runner like Leo is well worth the coin or whatever he may be asking for.

It's time real runners take up for each other. Lift him up to be the hero u want to see.

I'm on here for 30 more mins until Mad Men is over. Ask away on anything.

Great job Leo for trying something new. Try again...never give in.

Lyndon LaRouche wrote:

facials for everyone wrote:

"I realize comparing those two sports is apples to oranges"

Reading isn't your forte, is it?

the only difference is profitability.

Yes, that's what this thread is about, and that's what I was arguing. As Manzano becomes more of a household name in track and field, he should be able to demand more money. If not, like Meb and Montano, he'll move on to the next sponsor.

facials for everyone wrote:

[quote]Lyndon LaRouche wrote:

A college football coach manages a team that MAKES MONEY. It also has a lot of visibility. Manzano has neither.

The 2012 Summer Olympics were the most-watched television event of all-time. Would you care to try again?