Webb signs with Nike - big article in USA Today

I'm not slamming you here. This is an honest question.

Why does everyone (including you here) pimp Goucher so much? Obviously he is a talented runner, but seems that people always think he is the second coming of (Shorter, Pre, Kennedy - you pick). What has he done that shows so much promise? I'm also not slamming him. Perhaps I'm just not aware of something extra great that he has done. Can someone enlighten me?

Other than KK (and maybe Krummenacker) there is no American distance runner that deserves tons of press. I can assure you that most people in Europe that are casual track fans (that means they probably don?t visit this forum) can?t mention more than 1-3 American distance runners, the worst par is that one of them would probably be Lynn Jennings, and the other Kennedy.

Goucher has done nothing on the international level. His 13:17 (or whatever his PR is?) is not competitive. Maybe if he had a great kick, but we all know he doesn?t. Until he approaches Kennedy times or shows us that he can be competitive on the Grand Prix circuit he is just another great potential that keeps getting older.

Don?t get me wrong, I want to see American distance runners succeed, but they need to get out there and start racing more.

Go Krummenacker!

-Clay

Great job there JEH. You really know how to make a great point!

That's what I was thinking. I'm glad to see someone else be reasonable about Goucher and his ability. For a while there I thought I was caught in a Twilight Zone episode.

$250,000 a year in the running world is a lot but pales in comparison to contracts signed by ball players. Hell, theres pro fishermen making that kind of money...

It would be nice to see more US guys (and gals) make that kind of money; they'd be able to worry about training instead of making the rent... I wish him well.

By my math, Nike is making bank on Webb's name at $250k per year.

With this kid's popularity, if Nike makes a 'Zoom Webb' spike and sells it for $89.95 retail - pulls a conservative $10 per shoe profit (after R&D and marketing costs) and sells a conservative 100,000 in the US alone, that's $1mil profit, and the contract is paid for in 18 months.

Put more realistic profit and sales numbers in there and ...

They signed him to sell shoes, not to run fast.

This is why he deserves the money...everyone is talking about him. All of the kids I coach and their brothers and sisters. Also all of us can't just up about him. We want to see him race we want his spikes and gear. Everyone wants a piece.

Was I reading between the lines too much or did Holman sound like a bitter, jealous, washed-up old loser?

Memo to Steve "I choked in all the big races" Holman: Why not try encouraging the kid instead of focusing on all the potential negatives?

Amen brother.

I agree with "history repeats". Europeans are more likely to have a "continuous" coaching relationship - as far as I know Coe, Cram and Ovett each had the same coach(es) their entire careers.In America you change coaches like you change teams, unless you stay on with your university coach. The American ideology is to see University as a team sport for track - witness the number of complaints about how Webb has somehow let his teammates down (I guess he isn't a team guy!). His responsibilty is to get himself to the highest level he can - his competition isn't really the NCAA guys, but people like Cornelius Chirchir (3.30 as a Junior!), maybe Borzakovskiy (1.42 last year at the same age as Brannen). There is an assumption that the four years of "development" in the NCAA is a necessary "Phase". That is certainly NOT the case, at least for one as physically mature as Webb. Maybe for those runners who haven't developed in high school (for many reasons) this might be good, but for talents like Webb you have to go for it now,to gear your development to the level to which you aspire - which is not being NCAA Champion.

As Peter Snell wrote - Webb can go to school anytime, now is when he should be trying to be a top athlete. The NCAA system doesn't provide that- how can you compete as often as they do, and not get the experience of real top level competition (which the NCAA does NOT provide - or Chirchir, Borzakovskiy, et al would be competing there!)and expect to make it on the world stage.

Guys like Cram developed because they were prepared to take on the world in racing, and learning to race against the best and going to the Olympics at 19 (Moscow) - preparing for the European season, under it's model, which means peaking for the summer - not for championships in November, March and June! There is an implicit "pressure" in the NCAA system to prepare for these frequent championships to score points, and justify the scholarship, which isn't always in the best interest of the athlete. The fact that Webb might also be able to garner a healthy income at this stage puts him far ahead of his contemporaries. As we know one of the most difficult stages of development is the post-university "phase" of trying to train and compete while generating some (any!) income, which you weren't allowed to capitalize on while in university because they "owned" you. Hopefully, Webb's example will enable others to consider this their career first. University sport certainly has a place, but don't kid yourself that the function is to produce champions, particularly in middle-distance, the structure just isn't set up that way.

my non-cents.

Those who have nothing but negative comments are jealous because you can't land a deal like that.

Vipam -

Your mistake is using the word "deserve." Not even America promises a just society, where all are awarded strictly on empirical merit. The business of sport will not bring you any closer to such utopian ideals.

Simply, the market is going to set the price for athletes. Nike, which has done quite well assessing the marketablitity of athletes over the years, has set the value for Alan Webb. Like it or not, fair or unfair, the numbers reported in the USA Today are market reality.

Your focus on what Webb "deserve[s]" as compared to other athletes is the same argument teachers have been making, and losing, for twenty years. In life, you don't necessarily get paid according to your contribution to society as a whole.

One last point: Of 100 random people stopped in the streets, how many would recognize the names of any of the other runners you mentioned? Maybe one or two. How many of those 100 would recognize Webb's name? Maybe 5 to 10. Now, how many of those 100 would recognize Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan's name? Probably over 95.

That is what company's like Nike think about - not the fact that some other anonymous runner may have more international accomplishments.

Webb has legitimately distinquished himself. Now, He is being paid for that distinction.

Still, I commend you on pledging your support for Webb, an American runner.

You are worth exactly what you can command in the open sports market. Nothing more, nothing less. Want a million bucks plus? Play football or basketball and get a pro contract; want 250,000 green ones? Run 3:53 in HS.

Its unfortunate that WEJO and ROJO are down on Webb and allow endless threads on Teteroid etc. No wonder our sport is going down, fast.

avg. runner

Thank you and I know thats why Alan recieved such a deal(to

sell shoes); however, I was just venting! I still want Alan Webb to run and make headlines in the future. Hopefully his deal will fuel the fire in the more seasoned

athletes and drive them to higher heights, which Alan

Webb may reach later!

Vipam

Alan Webb's contract is good for the sport. He may not deserve that much, but other track athletes may now begin to get paid more. Lighten up pesimists. His image can sell to other youth who were otherwise not interested in running at all. Perhaps, Alan Webb or one of those inspired may be our next distance champion. People can sit here and critisize, but you are doing nothing for the sport. If it would be possible for Alan to have everyone backing him instead of waiting to see him fail then maybe the successful career Nike foresees will be very possible.

Life is to short to walk around with your head up someone's ass.

MILF

Amen brother.

That's pretty good money. This may inspire some high school kids to start thinking about taking running VERY seriously. This could cause some young soccer players to quit and run cross country instead. Now you don't have to be 7' tall, have a 90 mph fastball, or be 250 pounds and strong as an ox to have a professional sports career. Alan Webb (and his contract) can inspire America's next generation of track talent far more effectively than anything we've tried over the past twenty years. Running's now cooler since there's some "bling-bling" involved.

Webb equals GOD, did yall hear that, well thats what it sure f----n seems like. JEsus H christ since when did runners make money ot begin with. If I would have known about stuff like this in grade school I would have quit my dream of being a superstar basketball player and moved onto running cus at least their I can make up for my faults alot better. This will get the ball rolling in the direction of getting other people serious seeing that YOU can make money and you have ot want it. Good for the light bulb head

Fan of Webb said:

?What it comes down to is Alan Webb made a decision that he thinks is best for him. I think that he knows whats better for him that a bunch of people posting on the internet.?

Um, this is a discussion board. We?re discussing. I agree that he made a decision he thinks is best for him. The important difference is that, like others, I think he made the wrong one. That?s just part of being older and wiser. You have more experience. My experience tells me that college track is a good place to continue your slow buildup after HS. Jumping straight into the fire is ill-advised.

In the end, it IS his decision. And will I ?tear him down?? Of course not; I wish him well.

I just wish that I knew as much as I did at 19. I knew everything then.

big dick vic dudley wrote:

Webb equals GOD, did yall hear that, well thats what it sure f----n seems like. JEsus H christ since when did...

Are you a genius, or was it just a dumb coincidence that you figured out the name behind the handle? Actually, I would prefer if you not partake in course talk or speak my name in vain, but if you simply are unable to control yourself, then write out the FUCKIN', but leave my name out of it.