Whats the deal with Manzano's non sponsorship?

A lot of smart stuff in this.

I don't know about the athlete numbers, and you don't provide sources, or even hints to sources.

So...neither will I. A few weeks ago I heard that a good number of athletes in Eugene are getting 15K @ year.

The money across the industry has also gone down, allowing Nike to offer less. Look, Robby Andrews struggled to get a contract. Some athletes are choosing to not turn pro and to just go on with their lives, grad school, start careers.

I'll bet that "chart" of salaries someone posted is totally "ass-numbers" that someone made up to get you all talking.

My guess, and this is only a guess, is that Rupp was well rewarded. Uncle Phil has been watching Rupp race in person since Rupp was in high school Uncle Phil is also a true fan, a big kid when it comes to supporting American running. (He also has to delegate and let people do their jobs within yearly budgets and the like insofar as new athletes signed and for what dollars.) In the case of the Oregon runners...do some great things like Rupp, Wheating (winning the 800 and 1500 his senior year, and then hitting 3:30) and Centro (NCAA title, USA title, Bronze @ World's, indeed he couldn't have performed better, and had better luck) and Uncle Phil will be smiling like a proud father. Centro sacrificed his finally NCAA seasons to turn pro. It is very likely that those Oregon guys got nice deals because of both their accomplishments and their pedigree. 8+ years ago when the Lame Ducks and co. started envisioning the resurrection of the Oregon program...they couldn't have dreamed of better short term results.

Rupp's story is one in a zillion. Wheating's story is one in a zillion. Centrowitz's story is a dream coming true. Aston Eaton, same deal.

New legends to add to the wall of fame at Oregon. I am sure all of these guys were well rewarded, and the Oregon connection didn't hurt.

I agree with those that say the athletes ought to be able to have non apparel sponsors. Lolo Jones ought to be able to wear a Red Bull uniform, and AJ Acosta ought to have a Chocotaco uni. Whatever. The sport needs reform in drug penalties, and in sponsorship...and the governing bodies should stop dragging their feet.

No, Wejo, but you're missing the point. Nike is an American company that is rooted in Track and Field. If Nike is not going to give Manzano a massive contract, why would anyone else? You state that people support winners, they sure do, but Manzano won in 2012 and is not winning in 2013.

In this industry you need to show future earning potential and Manzano is proving everyone right in not investing heavily in him. If he started the year performing like Galen Rupp, running 3:50 indoors, setting tracks on fire, he would have a major contract. However, he is doing what he usually does and marketing managers are wagering that his best performances are behind him.

Once again, what is the ROI for adidas, Nike, Saucony, Asics, Brooks, etc.? Once you quantify that, you can get your contract. But right now I'd rather sign up-and-coming guys with 2016 on the horizon.

Personally, I think any major athletic company in the US would be crazy to ignore these facts (compiled by the AAHA):

THE POWER OF THE HISPANIC MARKET

• The estimated Hispanic population of the United States is 52,000,000 (as of July 2011), making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 16.7 percent of the nation's total population. In addition, there are 3.7 million residents of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. Source: 2011 Population Estimates

• The projected Hispanic population of the United States on July 1, 2050 will be 132.8 million. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the nation's population by that date. Source: Population Projections

• There are 8 states in the U.S. that have a population of 1 million or more Hispanic residents: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 2012.

• The California Department of Finance estimates that by the middle of 2013, whites and Latinos will each represent about 39% of California population, with Latinos reaching a greater percentage soon after that.

• 1 in 6 Americans is now a Hispanic.

• The size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide ranked 2nd, as of 2010. Only Mexico (112 million) had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (50.5 million). Source: International Data Base

• The Hispanic labor force grew by 53 percent from 2000 to 2010 -- the largest increase of any segment.

• Hispanic kids make up 23% of the 17 & under U.S. population (over 17 million). This is a 39% increase in 10 years.

• Every 30 seconds, a Hispanic turns 18 years old.

• Sixty-five percent of U.S. Hispanics are Millenials, ages 22 to 35.

• Hispanic refers to a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino culture or origin, and is considered an ethnic category rather than a racial group. Persons of Hispanic origin therefore may be of any race, and since their culture varies with the country of origin, the Spanish language often is the uniting factor. Three out of every five Hispanics living in the U.S. are born here, and among the foreign born, most are of Mexican origin, which suggests that a great many Hispanics share similar backgrounds and cultural experiences. Nonetheless, spending patterns differ significantly based on country of origin, and the composition of the nation’s Hispanic population is changing.*

Astute point about the Oregon roots and how that positively impacts income potential. Nobody has pointed out but Jenny's $1,000,000 (if true) was probably due to the her World Championship bonus structure and a contract bonus kicker. The $15k Eugene deal is correct and largely due to Vin's fostering of the OTC community.

Csls wrote: If Nike is not going to give Manzano a massive contract, why would anyone else? I understand this sentiment 100%. Nike is the big fish in the industry.

However, he is doing what he usually does and marketing managers are wagering that his best performances are behind him.

What he ususally does is pretty good. It got him an Olympic silver. Manzano has had a little slower start to the year this year than last but not a ton. Last year he was forth in Oxy. This year he was 4th. The difference was this year Leo didn't have an indoor season before it so it makes sense he might be starting behind.

But right now I'd rather sign up-and-coming guys with 2016 on the horizon.

And who are the US men's miling up and coming stars right now?

There's also something to be said about signing people because of their past accomplishments. I bet Michael Johnson still has a Nike contract. If you bring Leo in to speak somewhere and he's the only US 1500m medalists since X that means more than "he's an up and coming miler."

Clearly Leo right now wants more than Nike is willing to give him, but I wouldn't act like he's some complete chump.

I wonder how he is paying his bills? It's not like he has a night job. Must have a home and a car. Maybe he is living off savings but if he doesn't run well this yr what happens?

Funny enough I saw Leo today after my run. He was doing strides on the Track at Austin High, in Nike shoes.

Not sure where they are on money but it is ludicriss that the OLY silver medalist has no contract and Andrew "I'll never win anything" Wheating, Robbie "I can beat a bunch of HS and College Kids" Andrews have shoe deals.

Scoreboard- Silver Medal

Race and nationality have nothing to do with it.

Nike's biggest sponsorship deals have been with sportsmen of color and foreigners. Examples:

Nastasi, Bolt, Coe, Jordan, Mcilroy, Joyner-Kersey, Ronaldo, Drogba, Faldo.

One key difference between Wheating and Leo is looks. One is a very handsome and tall Anglo and the other is a short Hispanic. A couple of years ago I was in a Niketown in Berlin and I saw a life size picture of Evan Jager on the wall. I believe Nike likes his long hair and skater boy image.

The majority of the market for shoe sales is white middle class folks who don't even know how far 1500 meters is. When it comes to shoe contracts race plays a huge role. Marilson Gomes dos Santos has won the New York Marathon twice. Highly doubt he's pulling in a big contract with Nike nor getting large appearance fees.

Sad but this is life.

Meb is not a complete chump either and he can't land a big deal. Look, marketers are banking that Manzano is not going to run 3:29 in Rio. That's it. It's a call that many astute and experienced mgrs are making. They could easily be wrong, but the spend right now is being made with the likes of Centrowitz, Wheating, and Andrews.

Also, are you being serious about which "up and coming" milers are on the horizon? I think you should tune in on May 25th and watch perhaps 2-3 American Milers sub-4:00 in the Mile in the same race.

We are looking for that kid that has the IT factor. Manzano has IT, he's just a bit past his prime based on statistical data.

There's lots of fresh legs out there at the collegiate level ready to breakthrough by Rio much like Wheating and Centro and Rupp did prior to Beijing/London, but I am not going to give away my targeted assets.

most pro runners are bores because your brain goes numb training 70+ miles a week or doing tons of quality track work. but manzano especially has no flavor, despite his hispanic heritage, which is ironic. nice guy for sure. but it's pretty simple--no one cares. webb's got weird stuff going in his brain and all that potential, rupp is salazar's project and an odd dude, which is interesting, and centro and wheating are young guns who could become world beaters. manzano, not that young, and pretty boring. don't think the mexican flag had much to do with it at all. lagat has the old thing going for him -- that draws interest...how long can this guy keep doing this, etc. manzano has no angle