How does Lawi Lalang not have a sponsor?!

different endorsement structures apply in different situations. In the US, shoe companies sponsor athletes directly, i.e. they receive a monthly check regardless of competition. International contracts work differently (making a generalization). The shoe company will sponsor the management--like Volare and Demadonna with Adidas)--and the management will use the sponsors money to provide training, medical, living expenses, and occasionally travel to the athlete. The athlete is the recipient of those services and collects 85% of winnings...no salary. Obviously the top 1% like Kipsang or Keitany receive a more direct endorsement (though Keitany lost hers after the Olympic pregnancy debacle). This might explain why "global" was listed instead of "nike." This also explains one more reason why Africans compete better...they don't get paid unless they win.

Dial it up wrote:

totorious wrote:

You don't really give any support as to why Rupp is marketable, just why others aren't. He's fast? Well, when Rupp signed his pro contract he was not as fast/successful as Lawi, nor even close. It is, as others have mentioned, because Rupp is a whitey from here in the USA, and guys like Dial it up can't tell Lawi Lalang from Boaz Lalang because they don't know much about the sport.

I cooled down with Boaz at Drake in 2010 so I'm quite certain I could tell him apart from Lawi. Same reason you could tell the fat guy apart from the fat mom at the local 5k that you've run. That being said none of it has any bearing on my point that Rupp is much more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market.

Oh no we are in agreement that Rupp is more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market. Where you are wrong is in saying that a guy with 8 NCAA titles is "just another faceless African".

you da hoe wrote:

Missing an athletes affiliation is not a minpr detail. That's a major error. Also, no way does he make a world team.

Curious why you would conclude that there is "no way" he could make a world team?

Why is this even a thread? Look at any photo of him from the last year of competition, he is sponsored by Nike. Mods get this thread off the front page.https://twitter.com/TaFphoto/status/596392767661576192http://www.runblogrun.com/2014/09/20/Lagat-Lalang1-Philly5k14.JPGIt even says in his twitter bio that he runs for Nike:https://twitter.com/lawilalang1OP you are a moron, literally one google search of "Lawi Lalang Nike" would have answered your question:http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/251670-Zurich-Diamond-League-2014/article/27825-Lawi-Lalang-Signs-with-Nike#.VVT9RvlViko

late to the party wrote:

Where is he training? I'm sure Li is still coaching him? How does he not have a sponsor???

They don't use Rupp that much for Marketing purposes anyways. For distance running, they use Farah the most and on commercials or posters, Eaton or Felix.

Also, if you follow their Instagram (nikerunning) they actually like using the "faceless" Kenyans a lot. They definitely have some unique photos of the athletes running in Kenya and whatnot. They tag or add tag-lines in their bio as well.

Nike has actually held pretty true to their mission statement (of Bowerman and Knight) of creating shoes for the fastest runners in the world. Their last promo of Mo on a treadmill is not far off their very first commercial they released.

Race is not marketable, winning the race is marketable. Get with the times.

totorious wrote:

Dial it up wrote:

I cooled down with Boaz at Drake in 2010 so I'm quite certain I could tell him apart from Lawi. Same reason you could tell the fat guy apart from the fat mom at the local 5k that you've run. That being said none of it has any bearing on my point that Rupp is much more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market.

Oh no we are in agreement that Rupp is more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market. Where you are wrong is in saying that a guy with 8 NCAA titles is "just another faceless African".

This makes me think about how running in the NCAA really can make Africans more marketable - at least to US fans. Here we are talking about Lalang, and we talk about Chalenga and Grandpa Ches all the time. None of them can run for the US right now. I'm sure they all can make more in sponsorships than your typical Kipwhatever or Gebrisomething who can run similar times.

Actually makes running for an NCAA team a good long term financial decision if they aren't gonna be an Olympic medalist at age 20.

Dial it up wrote:

totorious wrote:

You don't really give any support as to why Rupp is marketable, just why others aren't. He's fast? Well, when Rupp signed his pro contract he was not as fast/successful as Lawi, nor even close. It is, as others have mentioned, because Rupp is a whitey from here in the USA, and guys like Dial it up can't tell Lawi Lalang from Boaz Lalang because they don't know much about the sport.

I cooled down with Boaz at Drake in 2010 so I'm quite certain I could tell him apart from Lawi. Same reason you could tell the fat guy apart from the fat mom at the local 5k that you've run. That being said none of it has any bearing on my point that Rupp is much more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market.

rupp is NOT marketable. nike doesn't even try to use him in ad campaigns. Nobody buys anything because of rupp. Understand? People HATE rupp. I'd be surprised if even his family likes him.

"rupp is goofy looking, stupid as stone and has the personality of a cabbage"

I often wonder how Justin Bieber and New Direction is marketable.

Today, the feminine looking straight guys are more marketable than the buff action heros of the 80s.

People seem crazily angry on this thread.

Rupp is the best american distance runner ever. I've seen crowds of young people screaming his name at several track meets.

Do you think you internet trolls know best who is valuable? I'm guessing nike knows better. He's definitely marketable.

The Champ wrote:

Rupp is the best american distance runner ever.

Uhhhh no fucking way.

totorious wrote:

Dial it up wrote:

I cooled down with Boaz at Drake in 2010 so I'm quite certain I could tell him apart from Lawi. Same reason you could tell the fat guy apart from the fat mom at the local 5k that you've run. That being said none of it has any bearing on my point that Rupp is much more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market.

Oh no we are in agreement that Rupp is more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market. Where you are wrong is in saying that a guy with 8 NCAA titles is "just another faceless African".

Of course most people on letsrun know lawi is a beast, but Nike doesn't make that much money from letsrunners, they make much more from kids and hobby joggers. From that sense it doesn't make sense to invest in lawi

Everyone hates him wrote:

Dial it up wrote:

I cooled down with Boaz at Drake in 2010 so I'm quite certain I could tell him apart from Lawi. Same reason you could tell the fat guy apart from the fat mom at the local 5k that you've run. That being said none of it has any bearing on my point that Rupp is much more marketable than Lawi to Nike's target market.

rupp is NOT marketable. nike doesn't even try to use him in ad campaigns. Nobody buys anything because of rupp. Understand? People HATE rupp. I'd be surprised if even his family likes him.

I like him, so that right there throws a huge wrench in your logic

He also seems to be confusing his personal dislike of someone with some sort of national trend. I am a huge fan of Rupp (as I am all the top US runners). I don't know anyone outside of the anon posters that dislike Rupp in my running circles and such.

Dial it up wrote:

sponsor Lawi wrote:

Um, elfie rupp isn't marketable in any way. In fact, plenty of people will never buy nike because they hate rupp so much.

You're right, in no way is a white guy beating Africans in distance running marketable to white distance runners....oh wait, it is? More so than another faceless African? Who would have thought..

Dewey_Runner wrote:

Why is this even a thread? Look at any photo of him from the last year of competition, he is sponsored by Nike. Mods get this thread off the front page.

https://twitter.com/TaFphoto/status/596392767661576192http://www.runblogrun.com/2014/09/20/Lagat-Lalang1-Philly5k14.JPG

It even says in his twitter bio that he runs for Nike:

https://twitter.com/lawilalang1

OP you are a moron, literally one google search of "Lawi Lalang Nike" would have answered your question:

http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/251670-Zurich-Diamond-League-2014/article/27825-Lawi-Lalang-Signs-with-Nike#.VVT9RvlViko

late to the party wrote:

Where is he training? I'm sure Li is still coaching him? How does he not have a sponsor???

How can we know for sure that he doesn't run for Brooks?

Edward Teach wrote:

Dewey_Runner wrote:

Why is this even a thread? Look at any photo of him from the last year of competition, he is sponsored by Nike. Mods get this thread off the front page.

https://twitter.com/TaFphoto/status/596392767661576192http://www.runblogrun.com/2014/09/20/Lagat-Lalang1-Philly5k14.JPG

It even says in his twitter bio that he runs for Nike:

https://twitter.com/lawilalang1

OP you are a moron, literally one google search of "Lawi Lalang Nike" would have answered your question:

http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/251670-Zurich-Diamond-League-2014/article/27825-Lawi-Lalang-Signs-with-Nike#.VVT9RvlViko

How can we know for sure that he doesn't run for Brooks?

Bro sorry. Besides, this brought up good conversation. I now understand Nike sponsors him. Once again i apologize, bro.

hairy shins wrote:

"rupp is goofy looking, stupid as stone and has the personality of a cabbage"

I often wonder how Justin Bieber and New Direction is marketable.

Today, the feminine looking straight guys are more marketable than the buff action heros of the 80s.

Many people on this board have no clue on who is more marketable to young women, because they haven't had any meaningful conversation with young women for years.

real mans wrote:

The Champ wrote:

Rupp is the best american distance runner ever.

Uhhhh no fucking way.

hey everybody this guy said a cuss.

This would actually be pretty cool

Bad Wigins wrote:

How about we sponsor him? $10 and he writes your LRC handle on a singlet in black magic marker for one meet. 100 names = $1000.

nike global wrote:

...And i am calling it here and now !!!!!

Lawi makes the WC team for Kenya !

Hurrah?