Tim Layden article on Leo's lack of sponsorship

Maybe he should have grabbed a USA FLAG AFTER THAT ONE RACE....

It's a shame. Leo is a good guy, and has had success. Too bad Sketchers doesn't make spikes, or he could go the way of Meb.

That was actually a balanced and well informed story. It's nice to see some real coverage of track by major media.

sdfsdfsdf wrote:

Maybe he should have grabbed a USA FLAG AFTER THAT ONE RACE....

IIRC, he carried both flags. So maybe more accurate to say "Maybe he should have just carried the US flag".

You would think there would be way to market Manzano to the Hispanic community to get them to buy Nikes. It is not like the Hispanic population in the country is shrinking.

To me he is a good example of part of the American Dream: someone comes to this country (his dad since he was just a kid) and makes something of himself. That is a big part of the US mystique. Too bad more native born Americans have a problem doing this.

PS: http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/10/opinion/navarrette-olympics-flags

It would be nice to hear what Simms and Leo were offered and found unacceptable. That's never mentioned.

Idiot Who Is Typical wrote:

It would be nice to hear what Simms and Leo were offered and found unacceptable. That's never mentioned.

This is the main question that needs to be answered, and could be the reason why others aren't beating down his door.

There has been a lot of discussion about this here, but not the possibility he was swinging for the fences and was told to hit the road.

It's a good article, but could it also be a story the agent is looking to use to re-build some bridges after mis-judging the market?

That figure is really none of our business. But it says something that no other company is willing to match that figure, either. If Nike won't pay it, who else will? Apparently nobody, at this point.

Let me get this straight. Nike still sponsors Alan Webb, but has dropped the Olympic silver medalist...

Manzano was given two flags. Tossing either one to the ground would have been significantly worse than simply carrying both. American are so upset about their own flag, and could care less about what people from other countries loyalty feel about their own.American's would never get upset about an athlete carrying a U.S. school flag as well as an American flag at the end of a race. Mazano did the politically correct thing, considering the feelings of two countries were involved, regardless of how upset American chose to let themselves become.

luv2run wrote:

sdfsdfsdf wrote:

Maybe he should have grabbed a USA FLAG AFTER THAT ONE RACE....

IIRC, he carried both flags. So maybe more accurate to say "Maybe he should have just carried the US flag".

slave of required education wrote:

Let me get this straight. Nike still sponsors Alan Webb, but has dropped the Olympic silver medalist...

That's correct. Nike is sponsoring many athletes who are actually much lower profile and less accomplished than Leo. So it stands to reason Leo is asking for a sum that is above what Nike is willing to pay. If Leo was asking for what Webb is getting, there would be no issue, I'm sure. Nike would have no problem paying Leo that sum.

orbitboy wrote:

slave of required education wrote:

Let me get this straight. Nike still sponsors Alan Webb, but has dropped the Olympic silver medalist...

That's correct. Nike is sponsoring many athletes who are actually much lower profile and less accomplished than Leo. So it stands to reason Leo is asking for a sum that is above what Nike is willing to pay. If Leo was asking for what Webb is getting, there would be no issue, I'm sure. Nike would have no problem paying Leo that sum.

That is simply an assumption. However lets us play on that assumption. It is almost a year later and you would think Leo or manager would have lowered the price by now that someone would want Leo. A silver medal is just the first loser.

Yeah, I'm not convinced that "dropped" is the right word for Nike and Manzano. It seems more like they didn't meet his expectations, whatever they be. I do know that by the time he showed up for the Fifth Avenue mile in NYC last September, just a few weeks after winning his medal, he'd already hired his own outside publicist. He's a good guy and I admire him greatly, but he may be expecting too much.

How do you know they aren't refusing to budge?

How do you know that article isn't a fluff piece designed to draw sympathy, with the race card the next option instead of lowering the price?

0z wrote:

That is simply an assumption. However lets us play on that assumption. It is almost a year later and you would think Leo or manager would have lowered the price by now that someone would want Leo. A silver medal is just the first loser.

Your quote is full of ignorance. So by your reasoning, Nike shouldn't sponsor any US distance runners?

Part of it also is Leo and his people probably have a good idea as to how much Centro, Wheating, etc are making. Well Ricky definitely knows what Centro makes as Ricky is his agent. You know their base, their incentives, etc and have a hard time not being insulted if your deal isn't somewhat comparable or even bumped to say what hit would have been bumped up to if you were still in the midst of your old contract.

He doesn't have a sponsor for the following reasons

1. he carried the mexican flag at the olympics. If youre american you race american.

2. He's very inconsistent. He's been known to lay eggs especially in big races. There have been many times where he got dropped early in the wc or og

3. not exactly the nicest guy. from what ive heard he's a jerk.

all of these reasons are why leo is not sponsored. quite frankly i agree with the sponsors. he provides no value.

Speaking of providing no value, why, exactly, haven't you been banned?

stick with eharmony wrote:

He doesn't have a sponsor for the following reasons

1. he carried the mexican flag at the olympics. If youre american you race american.

2. He's very inconsistent. He's been known to lay eggs especially in big races. There have been many times where he got dropped early in the wc or og

3. not exactly the nicest guy. from what ive heard he's a jerk.

all of these reasons are why leo is not sponsored. quite frankly i agree with the sponsors. he provides no value.

yes you should just go away, eharmony.

"

Manzano lives in Austin, Tex., with his girlfriend and their son"

that's not very good of him. he should be married if he has a kid.