Anyone know about this? Just saw a pic posted by Chris Nickinson on his
@chrisnickinson Twitter account from the @53 riverbankrun press conference.
Dathan is seated, wearing bright yellow Hoka One Ones. Did Nike drop him? Or did he choose to not renew his contract with him, and to go with Hoka instead?
What's the scoop?
He wore them in a vid feature as well a week or two ago. Rep I talked to said he's been rocking them for two years now. Still is racing in Nikes from what I've seen as well.
"Team Datahn" merely lists UCAN.
i wouldn't be surprised if nike dropped him. he's done nothing of value (to them) recently.
If he was still sponsored by Nike you bet he would be wearing a load of Nike clothing plus shoes. Especially at a presser like that. Whether they dropped him or he didn't renew, he is obviously no longer with Nike.
Sad to see Nike may have dropped him but honestly he hasn't done much as of late. Didn't he drop out of New York this past Fall after talking a big game? Faded in Boston too?
Nike can't sponsor these guys forever. I am a Ritz fan buy anyone could have seen this coming.
Can sponsored athletes wear another brand as long as it's not in public?
Maybe he just likes comfortable kicks for pressers.
Just goes to prove that no pro athlete would ever where Nike training shoes if they were not being paid to do so.
Track Fan 1979 wrote:
Can sponsored athletes wear another brand as long as it's not in public?
If a tree falls in the woods with noone around, does it still make sound?
I have gotten the impression that Joan Benoit is still sponsored by Nike. Maybe she just gets free gear or just likes Nike stuff.
If I were Nike, I'd at least give someone of the prominence of Ritz (or Webb or Solinsky) free gear for life even if they're not competing at a top level anymore. They're still a big deal to the generation of runners that grew up admiring them.
dkfiekdfjangkj wrote:
Maybe he just likes comfortable kicks for pressers.
Then he should wear crocs.
JB Has a lifetime contract with Nike. If I remember correctly she gets between 50K and 100K a year plus free gear. Not a bad pension if you ask me.
Joannie has an Ambassador Contract. Nike for life. Why do you think she was at sub2 in Italy? She was forced to be there.
Hoka Eleven wrote:
I have gotten the impression that Joan Benoit is still sponsored by Nike. Maybe she just gets free gear or just likes Nike stuff.
If I were Nike, I'd at least give someone of the prominence of Ritz (or Webb or Solinsky) free gear for life even if they're not competing at a top level anymore. They're still a big deal to the generation of runners that grew up admiring them.
Right, but Ritz can get more money from Hoka than just "free gear", so while he's still competing I'm guessing he wants to have whatever support he could get.
Alternate Reality wrote:
Then he should wear crocs.
Crocs are more of a 1/2 marathon shoe.
Jargons wrote:
Sad to see Nike may have dropped him but honestly he hasn't done much as of late. Didn't he drop out of New York this past Fall after talking a big game? Faded in Boston too?
Nike can't sponsor these guys forever. I am a Ritz fan buy anyone could have seen this coming.
He did run one of the fastest half marathons in USA history (60:12 in the slightly aided Great North Run to get 2nd behind Mo Farah who ran 60:04 in September 4th best USA performance ever behind Hall 59:43, Ritz's own 60:00 and Todd Williams slightly aided 60:11) so he still is One of the top USA runners.
Would be awesome to see Ritz pull a Meb and start crushing it again after being dropped by Nike.
Jargons wrote:
Didn't he drop out of New York this past Fall after talking a big game?
You could be talking about any one of 20 Ritz or Rupp races there.
Scratch/DNS/DNF kings.
End of the video he says he is no longer with Nike and is wearing the Hokas because they feel good.