whatthehell??? wrote:
Why the hell would he deserve that? Go beyond the silver medal and records, purely from a marketing standpoint, why would he be deserving of that?
Awkward, anti-social, gives interviews only at his convenience, not good looking (from a marketing pov).
Now go to someone like Symmonds, paid way less, yet is well spoken, good looking, makes a lot of effort to market himself, etc.
It's guys like Rupp who ruin the sport for other potential pros who can barely hack it. Would Rupp make what he makes if it weren't for Salazar's swoosh influences?
Sorta agree with you. Although I don't see him as awkward and anti social. Perhaps because he is not masculine or good looking you perceive that as being awkward. Symmonds comes off as "light in the loafers" if you know what I mean. Tries to over compensate with marketing dates with the likes of Paris Hilton. He is well spoken in the same insincere way of an ARod. These things all hurt his marketability.
Salazar is the paycheck for Rupp. He has the charisma and the looks. Can't really think of any distance runner with Madison Ave potential. Maybe the awe shucks persona of Wheating could have paid off, but he has perform at the olympics first.