Where are all these Kenyans coming from? I mean every race, it's Kenyan, Kenyan, Kenyan.
Where are all these Kenyans coming from? I mean every race, it's Kenyan, Kenyan, Kenyan.
have to ask wrote:
Where are all these Kenyans coming from? I mean every race, it's Kenyan, Kenyan, Kenyan.
Kenya. they come from kenya
The purpose of awarding prize money is to bring in top pros and build an event's brand or prestige. The expectation is that this will create demand for participation and reflect well on sponsors and advertisers. Does this really happen anymore? A guy shows up, blazes to a win, picks up his check, texts the results to his agent and jets. How does that benefit anyone? Is there greater benefit to the event, sponsors, and local talent if the money is diverted elsewhere? ATC seems to think so. For various reasons Competitor Group felt that awarding prize money was of no benefit at all. If runners want prize purses to remain a fixture at big events they need to begin thinking about how their participation in a race helps the guys funding the purse. It's a detriment to the foreign runners and their agents that this has never been on their radar. Spectators don't not care about these guys/gals because their foreign, it's because they're unknown and they make no effort to become known. It's a terrific opportunity for American elites and sub-elites to create a space for themselves and add value to events and the organizers who court sponsor dollars.
spelling error, their --> they're
Wanted to add that USATF's horrible policies and management of athletes is a contributor to this disconnect between spectators and talent. What benefit do athletes gain from putting themselves out there outside of race day? Very little, since athletes can't self-sponsor or overlay their running kit with logos. The opportunities afforded them for compensation are in wins, titles, records. Reduced or zero fan/spectator interaction is one result of that, as is reduced or zero exposure through advertising to help build interest in the sport. Adam Nelson, Symmonds, and Fleshman are on the right path if we want our sport to grow.
100% punishment for success.
No Name Needed wrote:
The future of 'Merican road racing?
If we can't beat em, let's kick em out!
Hope 8 Kenyans show up, pay to get in, and go 1-8.
Then they can give 9th place guy the check. Prove it a mockery.[/quote]
^^this^^
Nobody is kicked out or being punished. If you provide little value to an event why feel entitled to being compensated? Explain how it's punishment to expect a certain level of fee/reward when the client no longer feels your services are worth that much? Wouldn't you expect the same result for US runners down the road if they can't deliver as well?
Even the little league world series guarantees a finals spot for americans but has an international spot. I guess why play with anyone else, when you can just play with yourself.
In general, I think it's better to have two purses - "open" money and "US only" money. US citizens should be able to pick up either money, but non-US citizens should only be eligible for the open money.
This way, you will still have some foreign participation, but you will also assure the top US runners that they have a good chance of winning money.
This is the healthiest approach for the sport - as it still will attract the fast international athlete, but will also support US athletes who are highly competitive.
Given that the field is made up of 99% US athletes and that the sponsorship is made up of 99% US money, I don't think that we need apologize for ear marking 75% of the prize money for US athletes.
how about just 50%? wrote:
100% punishment for success.
You're incorrectly equating success in competition to success for the race as a whole. There is no former without the latter.
+1 awesome!
More races should do this. Right now there are over 500 Kenyans living with sponsor familes in our country. All they do is race, keep all their cash and then retire to home.
Our country is their cookie jar.
Just so you're aware: The Kenyans get taxed here for prize monies won, then get taxed a second time in Kenya (up to 30%), and then their agents take a healthy cut as well. If anything - the Kenyans get screwed over royally.
Most of them are too introverted to raise a fuss.
Still - even the amount they take home is quite a bit in Kenyan standards.
This might have the temporary effect of not enticing Kenyans - but in the long run you will see US-based legal aliens/citizen Kenyans take over. Think Bernard Lagat - but 20 of guys like him.
The proper way to do this is to handicap. Put a handicap on all Africans so it is a more even field for elites.
Micky Loving wrote:
More races should do this. Right now there are over 500 Kenyans living with sponsor familes in our country. All they do is race, keep all their cash and then retire to home.
Our country is their cookie jar.
How is any of this a bad thing? The issue is that the events and sponsors that put up the prize money aren't seeing a return. There's no guarantee they will see a return by directing money to a different set of runners. It should be the obligation of each top runner to see to it that the popularity of the sport and the money flowing into it is increasing. This doesn't happen, so there should be little surprise that the money available to professionals dries up.
If pros stopped showing up at road races does anyone realistically think these races would collapse? Of course not, now who's fault is that?
Banjo wrote:
No Name Needed wrote:The future of 'Merican road racing?
If we can't beat em, let's kick em out!
Hope 8 Kenyans show up, pay to get in, and go 1-8.
Then they can give 9th place guy the check. Prove it a mockery.
^^this^^[/quote]
x100
first of all, it is a sham that they have seperate prize money for females. The money should go to the highest finishers, regardless of sex. This is the only way there will ever be gender equality.
I can't wait for Abdi Abdirahman, Meb Keflezighi, Mo Trafeh, and Shadrack Biwott to dominate this race as well as they usually do on the US road circuit, instead of all those Kenyans. Wooo go USA!
The race is on the 4th of July. I always thought it was silly to have a race celebrating America and then Kenya and Ethiopia take the top 5 spots. Bravo ATC!
You made some good general points re: marketability of athletes, both American and foreign, but I think you're overstating the case. US-only prize money is one year. It will revert back to an open competition next year. Peachtree (and their sponsors see value in having the best competitors compete. Now about adding value to the elite end of things.....
hulksmash wrote:
Micky Loving wrote:More races should do this. Right now there are over 500 Kenyans living with sponsor familes in our country. All they do is race, keep all their cash and then retire to home.
Our country is their cookie jar.
How is any of this a bad thing? The issue is that the events and sponsors that put up the prize money aren't seeing a return. There's no guarantee they will see a return by directing money to a different set of runners. It should be the obligation of each top runner to see to it that the popularity of the sport and the money flowing into it is increasing. This doesn't happen, so there should be little surprise that the money available to professionals dries up.
If pros stopped showing up at road races does anyone realistically think these races would collapse? Of course not, now who's fault is that?
'...that barley speaks broken English.'
I guess that applies to you.