Verzbicas signs deal with NB

A 4 minute miler in high school.

Multi-time nat'l champ.

Big name recognition.

Near-fatal accident.

Compelling story.

On the comeback trail.

Competes in an event that people typically spend big bucks.

Probably didn't have to pay him much.

NB doesn't care if he ever performs, they got their $$ worth regardless.

And if he DOES somehow make a full recovery and win something big, they can milk it for all it's worth. He's certainly worth more than a typical T&F Olympian that has no story, gets 3rd in the OTs and goes out in the first round at the games.

Seyta wrote:

Please describe the "smokescreen".

He's not at the same level he was at, and he may never be (unless his Mom, from the doping era, starts spiking his water bottle). You talk about the controversy behind other athletes-- Who's to say he wasn't doped in high school? There's enough pressure at the high school level (~to get scholarships, go to the top schools) that I wouldn't be surprised if some of the top athletes are doping, given the lack of drug testing. Furthermore, Eastern Europeans are of a different mindset and morals.

Is he really at the level of becoming a medal contender, let alone making a US Team (if he gets citizenship before 2016)?

Moreover, the point about him not being "American" is not a valid one.

Yes it is. I don't believe US-government funded resources should be utilized to help someone who's NOT American. I definitely think this is a valid point, when we've got actual Americans, our top Americans, who are being denied from using these resources.

so no foreigners should get running scholarships at public universities, right?

dfadsfdsf wrote:

I've never understood why people didn't like Lukas.

Flagrant age cheat in high school.

Numb as a stone.

Damn, you're bitter about this. Did the guy run over your dog? Steal your girlfriend?

Is he just a better athlete than you?

Get over it. Move on. Be proud of your own amazing "morals" and live your own life.

Good luck.

I will again point out the flaws in this analysis.

1) Your accusation that he was doped in high school is simply a proposal that all well-performing high school athletes should now be looped upon with skepticism. This is quite literally absurd. How many high schoolers do you know that actually have the resources to get doped?

2) The fact that he is not at his previous level is completely irrelevant. As I pointed out earlier, Solinsky and Webb are and were FAR from their peak performances in recent years. However, they still received funding, because the powers that be had faith that they COULD return to top form.

Top form Verzbicas was winning races on the ITU circuit at age 19 and 20. The fact that he gets funded now just means that NB believes he does have a chance to return to high competitive form.

3) Verzbicas has been in the US since 11. Are you telling me that at age 11, his "inner Eastern European blood" compelled him to plan to dope during his high school years?

Yes. But your situational interpretation is severely flawed. If the US government provided resources for some random Eastern European who used those resources and then went off to compete for some other country, that would be a problem.

However, Verzbicas was raised here, and has ONLY ever represented the US in international competition. Your view is completely irrational, both to the common viewer and to the USOC. They have a high-quality triathlete who is virtually guaranteed to compete for the US in coming years, and you want them to trash him? He WON the Junior World Champtionships, an ITU Continental Cup race, and an ITU World Cup race FOR THE UNITED STATES. Not for Lithuania, but for the US.

And you really think that the US Olympic Committee is going to look at this and say, "nope, foreigner"?

This kid is going to be riding the "comeback story" for the next 10 years.

Koneko wrote:

Seyta wrote:

I was a fan of Verzbicas while he was in high school, and there's definitely no doubt that he was a spectacular athlete.

I still can't figure out how that age-cheat had any "fans."

Since he graduated at 18, your argument holds no water. Now, lets look at Cheserek, a runner whose balls you no doubt lick, who sphincter you've tongued many a time...

Don't triathletes normally wear matching team uniforms? What kind of brand recognition/value does NB get from him just wearing their shoes for 1/3 of an event?

agip wrote:

clearly shoe contracts are not based on economics, is all I can say.

They're based on economics and not performance.

Obviously, shoe execs think that Leo will not sell shoes.

Other people are getting contracts and he's not and he has a silver.

Look at all the guys Brooks is signing now and not Leo.

I feel bad for the guy but that, my friend, is economics.