USATF Commercial #YoureWelcome

What an arrogant message.

GoldenSpiked wrote:

In watching the Armory Track Invitational on NBC Sports Network this weekend they showed the new usatf commercial. At first I thought there were several versions but after watching it a few times I realize there is only one.

It's really edgy and features A LOT of great athletes. What shocked me was that it wasn't only Nike athletes. Did USATF hire someone else to do this?

Here is it.

http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365&do=videos&video_id=132416

Thoughts?

Yes, there are non-Nike athletes but Lauren Fleshman isn't happy that all of the athletes who aren't Nike are cropped so you can't see any of their logos. Her colun on the matter is here:

Fleshman unhappy and complaining about something? No way!

It must be hard to stay in the limelight when you're past your prime. I guess this is one way to do it.

Excellent commercial and I wished it could have been on during the Super Bowl.

I'm sure a lot of those guys playing did track in high school.

rcdude wrote:

What an arrogant message.

It wasn't arrogant at all and it was a great message. In this age of specialization from the age of 5 it sends the right message.

Too bad it only reached the audience that already knows this.

"Be Nike or GTFO".

-- USATF

runn wrote:

It wasn't arrogant at all and it was a great message. In this age of specialization from the age of 5 it sends the right message.

Too bad it only reached the audience that already knows this.

It was arrogant. You have unknown track stars telling the most popular athletes in the world that they are "welcome" for our gifts of running and jumping. How is that anything but an over-inflated sense of one's self-worth?

I have a number of friends in the NFL. I told one of them about this commercial after it was debuted at the convention. His response was "You're welcome that my sports actually makes revenue for Nike so that they can pay for your ass."

Well we know her name and not yours.She's still relevant and even so, I guess it's better to be a has been than a never was.

getoverurself wrote:

Fleshman unhappy and complaining about something? No way!

It must be hard to stay in the limelight when you're past your prime. I guess this is one way to do it.

Read Fleshman's piece. It's a very well formulated argument. Look at the screen captures. Did they actually airbrush out the Hoka logo on Leo's shirt?

http://asklaurenfleshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FullSizeRender-17.jpg

oab wrote:

Read Fleshman's piece. It's a very well formulated argument. Look at the screen captures. Did they actually airbrush out the Hoka logo on Leo's shirt?

http://asklaurenfleshman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FullSizeRender-17.jpg

As soon as Oiselle and the rest of the cropped out companies are willing to pitch in the money to USATF that Nike has, they can have their brands shown on screen.

Freshman wants Track & Field to grow and become profitable for the sake of the athletes but the moment USATF and Nike act business minded she cries foul and asks for a free advertising hand out.

If she wants the Oiselle logo out there, let Oiselle pay the $$ for a nationally screened commercial.

Business not Personal wrote:

As soon as Oiselle and the rest of the cropped out companies are willing to pitch in the money to USATF that Nike has, they can have their brands shown on screen.

Freshman wants Track & Field to grow and become profitable for the sake of the athletes but the moment USATF and Nike act business minded she cries foul and asks for a free advertising hand out.

If she wants the Oiselle logo out there, let Oiselle pay the $$ for a nationally screened commercial.

That is her point exactly. Is USATF Nike or is it acting in the best interest of all athletes? If USATF=Nike, then they can't fully represent the interests of non-Nike athletes. That's what is on display with this commercial.

The better move would have been to crop out all logos rather than promote certain athletes and demote others.

Fleshman is a former U.S. champion runner who has transitioned into being a blogger/fitness model. She clearly has an agenda, so that detracts from the message of her post.

I don't think she is totally off base, but at the same time, she seems to have a chip on her shoulder and is looking for even the smallest opportunity to pick a fit over USATF or Nike stuff (recall the inappropriate calling out of JH last year from the scandal indoors).

Also, since this is LetsRun, shouldn't the tag be "#YourWelcome"?

I hate nike. Having dealt with them I see them as nothing more than arrogant "behind closed door racists" but having said that, it is the footwear side that pays the bills. EVERYONE owns a pair of running shoes, few own basketball (unless you are one of the thug blacks they brag about "owning") and only football players own those shoes. nike footwear revenue is 54% mostly running. Apparel is roughly 27% a majority being running related. Gear is roughly 5%.Conclusion, running pays the bill and your friend is an idiot.

Mundus Vult wrote:

I have a number of friends in the NFL. I told one of them about this commercial after it was debuted at the convention. His response was "You're welcome that my sports actually makes revenue for Nike so that they can pay for your ass."

I have a number of friends in the NFL. I told one of them about this commercial after it was debuted at the convention. His response was "You're welcome that my sports actually makes revenue for Nike so that they can pay for your ass."

Nike is world wide- track is world wide, the NFL is the US wide- no comparison.

Nike's bottom line is profits- world wide.

You are full of crap- no NFL player would say that. As arrogant as some of them are, they aren't stupid.

I know more NFL players than you know and they all liked the commercial- most of them did track in HS and said it helped them become better football players.

There was nothing arrogant in that commercial and it was accurate.

Man check out Brenda Martinez' twitter or instagram. She was really upset about the article and asked Lauren to remove her from it. She went on to say how thankful she is for USATF and their support. She says she has received stipends from USATF and they pay for all of her domestic travel and much or her European travels. Goes on to say she wouldn't have her bronze medal without USATF.

If USATF=Nike then Nike is directly supporting a New Balance Athlete in Brenda Martinez and I'm sure others. Food for thought.

Mundus Vult wrote:

I have a number of friends in the NFL. I told one of them about this commercial after it was debuted at the convention. His response was "You're welcome that my sports actually makes revenue for Nike so that they can pay for your ass."

#notatruestory

Victorious88 wrote:

Man check out Brenda Martinez' twitter or instagram. She was really upset about the article and asked Lauren to remove her from it. She went on to say how thankful she is for USATF and their support. She says she has received stipends from USATF and they pay for all of her domestic travel and much or her European travels. Goes on to say she wouldn't have her bronze medal without USATF.

If USATF=Nike then Nike is directly supporting a New Balance Athlete in Brenda Martinez and I'm sure others. Food for thought.

Fleshman posted a nice response in B-mart's feed.

Point is, USATF is supposed to do exactly what they are doing--not show preference but support all athletes equally. Of course they should, when they can, pay for travel and stipends for top athletes regardless of affiliation.

But the bigger point is--should they also help them make money with sponsors even if they are not Nike sponsored? Fleshman's article is basically saying no, USATF isn't interested in helping them make money. If they were, they would have simply been fair in showing who their sponsor is during their commercial.

Again, I think it should have been an all or nothing deal--show all the logos or show none of them. Playing favorites hurts the non-Nike athletes.

getoverurself wrote:

Fleshman unhappy and complaining about something? No way!

It must be hard to stay in the limelight when you're past your prime. I guess this is one way to do it.

A classic moron you are.

If you can't attack the message, attack the messenger.

Did you even look at the screen shots? It's hilarious. Feels like we're living in an Onion article but alas you can't parody those with no shame.

bulls hit wrote:

#notatruestory

#youDontKnowMe