Screw you.
Screw you.
New idea but stupid wrote:
Fake teams, watered down races, terrible marketing, misinformation, and a 4 mile road race.
The guy who said the sponsored teams who train together should have been the teams has a good idea. How about university alumni teams, or conference alumni teams?
The organizers didn't even have the foresight to inform the track and field writer for the Oregonian, Flotrack owners, or LRC about the details of the draft or the meet.
Why are the only foreigners Canadian?
This seems like the concept was dreamed up while drunk. Then, when everyone involved sobered up, they became much less interested in pulling it off. This is an embarrassing slap in the face to the athletes and fans. It's unprofessionalism realy revealed the bush league status of our sport.
Screw you loser.
Big wart wrote:
Will there be rabbits?
Since that costs money, I'm gonna say no. They can't even afford to make a list of who was in the draft.
What was the signing bonus structure?
Was it a flat amount for being drafted or tiered by round?
Is there a list of other eligible athletes already in the pool?
Will there be a 'farm team' to draw upon to replace runners who are injured or does the team draw from the whole list of unpicked athletes?
Is assuming substitutions being allowed wrong and teams can not replace injured or unavailable on that date athletes?
Will there be any connection to the cities in the team names or could they colorfully be called Amaranth, Coquelicot, Smaragdine and Wenge?
Is there some sort of list of team managers or coaches for each city or will VinL & Staff administer all the teams .
No Relays?? Teams seem structured to field SMR and DMRs.
Will runners have City Team uniforms (common supplier company or a saleable team sponsorship opportunity) or will they run in the gear of their sponsor clothing company?
Who was the genius who came up with a team concept for track and field with no relay events?
Apparently some people (the organizers?) think they can come on letsrun and browbeat posters into enjoying this magnificent display of incompetence. Who do they think the fans are?
indeed wrote:
Apparently some people (the organizers?) think they can come on letsrun and browbeat posters into enjoying this magnificent display of incompetence. Who do they think the fans are?
Max And Company has ruled that the only true fans are USATFtvPPV.con subscribers
how will they score the meets? wrote:
Will runners have City Team uniforms (common supplier company or a saleable team sponsorship opportunity) or will they run in the gear of their sponsor clothing company?
Vin was asked this in an interview last summer and he said athletes would represent their current sponsors and not wear team uniforms.
I understand why they need to do this but it will be a miss. One of the most popular events at the Portland meet each year is the Portland vs Seattle race. Even with B-level guys it works because there are only two uniforms out there and it's easy to get behind one squad or the other. It will undermine the team concept to have athletes in their OTC or Big Bear uniforms while running for the same team.
////// wrote:
how will they score the meets? wrote:Will runners have City Team uniforms (common supplier company or a saleable team sponsorship opportunity) or will they run in the gear of their sponsor clothing company?
Vin was asked this in an interview last summer and he said athletes would represent their current sponsors and not wear team uniforms.
So let me get this straight. It's a team event, but:
1. There will be no team uniforms. In fact, some athletes on opposing teams will be wearing the SAME uniform.
2. There will be no relays, some of the most exciting events in track and field, and one of the few instances in which a team format shines.
3. Athletes have zero connection to their cities. It's not like the teams are actually based in these cities (the teams actually don't exist like an NBA or NHL franchise does), and, more than likely, athletes don't train, live, or compete in these cities.
4. There will be team scoring, but not every team has an athlete in every event. I guess this will be "fixed" via the free agency period, but wouldn't it be nice to know exactly who these free agents are? Where is that list of 687 athletes Vin promised?
I get that this is year one of a multi-year plan, but it just seems poorly conceived and, with little information, hard to get excited about.
Here's more info in case you're wondering:
http://gotracktownusa.com/events/tracktown-summer-series/how will they score the meets? wrote:
Will runners have City Team uniforms (common supplier company or a saleable team sponsorship opportunity) or will they run in the gear of their sponsor clothing company?
The athletes' are never allowed to compete in anything other than their primary sponsor's kit, other than when representating their country in international competition.
Drrreeer wrote:
Who was the genius who came up with a team concept for track and field with no relay events?
Obviously not you ):
indeed wrote:
Apparently some people (the organizers?) think they can come on letsrun and browbeat posters into enjoying this magnificent display of incompetence. Who do they think the fans are?
They think "fans" like you are tool boys.
Finally. A step in the right direction. I'm very hopeful that this works out. It will methinks. If you look at any worthwhile endeavor there will be mistakes made. There will naysayers looking for you to fail. There will be people with negative attitudes but the organizers have to ignore the people that offer up nothing but criticism. They need to pay attention instead to the people with constructive criticism who offer up possible solutions for any perceived shortcomings.
The athletes are pumped.
Hip hip for yay wrote:
Finally. A step in the right direction. I'm very hopeful that this works out. It will methinks. If you look at any worthwhile endeavor there will be mistakes made. There will naysayers looking for you to fail. There will be people with negative attitudes but the organizers have to ignore the people that offer up nothing but criticism. They need to pay attention instead to the people with constructive criticism who offer up possible solutions for any perceived shortcomings.
The athletes are pumped.
Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.
Why the hell would they roll this out in an Olympic year? All the hype around track and field this year revolves around the Olympics. They could have played off this hype, free marketing, by having some kind of Pre-Olympic Showcase meet with US representatives racing in non-Olympic distances or outside their main event. Much needed relay practice would also be a great crowd pleaser.
The current concept seems like something Nick Symmonds and Will Lear thought up while drunk, then some fools decided to actually implement it.
The biggest mistake in this endevour is that the athletes are already on teams, which sponsors have paid for and have existing contracts. This concept essentially poaches athletes from existing teams for an event that will market some as yet unknown product or service. This is a massive breach of sponsored athletes contracts, unless the event allows the athletes to compete in their sponsored teams' uniform. Then, what's the purpose of the city-based team? Whoever thought this up really didn't think too far ahead or realistically.
Also, doing this in an Olympic year is a major mistake and missed opportunity for an Olympic themed event.
Failing to even keep local media and track centered media informed of the draft was a major embarrassment for the event and the athletes involved.
Four people in each field event downright shameful.
So right now it's a watered down event with a few world class athletes, mostly national class athletes, and a handful of unknown scubs, fake teams not wearing uniforms, unknown scoring system, pathetic marketing, a Twitter audience of 1300 viewing the draft, no sponsors, unknown team owners, unknown draft members, and a 4 mile road race
I suspect that each team will wear different color bibs, something that will stand out. To do less would make no sense, and Vin has a lot of sense.
I hope this series succeeds, I truly do. But it is hard to have much optimism at this point.
"Team" hats
the best minds in t and f wrote:
////// wrote:Vin was asked this in an interview last summer and he said athletes would represent their current sponsors and not wear team uniforms.
So let me get this straight. It's a team event, but:
1. There will be no team uniforms. In fact, some athletes on opposing teams will be wearing the SAME uniform.
2. There will be no relays, some of the most exciting events in track and field, and one of the few instances in which a team format shines.
3. Athletes have zero connection to their cities. It's not like the teams are actually based in these cities (the teams actually don't exist like an NBA or NHL franchise does), and, more than likely, athletes don't train, live, or compete in these cities.
4. There will be team scoring, but not every team has an athlete in every event. I guess this will be "fixed" via the free agency period, but wouldn't it be nice to know exactly who these free agents are? Where is that list of 687 athletes Vin promised?
I get that this is year one of a multi-year plan, but it just seems poorly conceived and, with little information, hard to get excited about.
Here's more info in case you're wondering:
http://gotracktownusa.com/events/tracktown-summer-series/
Good summary. Ironic that this bs "draft" took place a few days after the nba draft.
Pretty simple...
Do something after the Olympics when some people might actually remember that track & field is a sport and might also possibly remember a couple of the athletes names. Divide into 4 regions or just base it on sponsors. Whatever. But geez, make athletes on the same "team" wear the same uniform. (Slap a swoosh or birds or whatever on it). Pick a few key events and definitely relays.
The current setup is a mockery of professionalizing the sport.
ok idea, pathetic implementation