tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715488067479287538.post5622358149321220057..comments2024-03-22T04:15:19.546-04:00Comments on writing about running: 5 Important Steps for the Track and Field UnionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715488067479287538.post-59295837917454412112012-09-28T15:06:55.322-04:002012-09-28T15:06:55.322-04:00Great ideas. As for the Club idea, think Cycling T...Great ideas. As for the Club idea, think Cycling Teams with multi-sponsors that include clothing brands, bicycles/components,etc. as well as major corporate sponsors. Anyone ever think of approaching Bob Stapleton about organizing a team/club? He organized and got sponsorship for two major cycling teams, one of which was the number one pro cycling team in the world. Guys like that have the know-how and clout to organize pro T&F teams with corporate sponsorship. Fans are tired of watching meets where everyone in the race is wearing one of two or three identical uniforms...nike, adidas, saucony, etc. Coach Hisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06637815968719220831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715488067479287538.post-79820547841835909682012-09-28T09:23:51.247-04:002012-09-28T09:23:51.247-04:00How many talented college athletes didn't run ...How many talented college athletes didn't run pro after reading the stories of the pro athletes they admire? I wasn't handing over my retirement fund to help my child run pro when times got tight (I didn't support running pro based on salary potential, now has GREAT job)!!! Personally NO union has ever done anything for me. I always got more done on my own. THEIR agenda clashed with MINE! Good luck T&F athletes!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715488067479287538.post-117086693778319172012-09-28T08:45:53.951-04:002012-09-28T08:45:53.951-04:00Saying that unionizing track ans field would do de...Saying that unionizing track ans field would do deep and lasting harm to our sport...and then not really giving any cogent or intelligently argued reasons why...makes no sense. <br /><br />Of all the professional athletes in the world these are the poorest paid, poorest represented...to the point of insanity. <br /><br />Many have made the analogy of these athletes to race car drivers. It is apt. I recently met with an Indy car driver and talked with him about how he makes it. <br /><br />He is essentially his own business, and must raise all his own sponsors, every year, or he cannot afford to race.<br /><br />Track athletes must essentially raise all their own money, and gain sponsors, every year, or they cannot afford to race.<br /><br />The difference is, track athletes have numerous governing bodies telling them they can't support their sponsors in return for sponsorship. <br /><br />That's crazy. <br /><br />What is also crazy is Khadevis saying they aren't going to have the power to strike.<br /><br />KD: power is something that is Taken not Given. How do you think things got this way in the first place. <br /><br />You guys need to unionize, get your demands in order, present them as requirements moving forward, or the athletes will sit out a DL/WC season. <br /><br />If you really think all those old farts in the the 5 star hotels at all the DL and WC meets are going to give you more power to earn a living against their own interests in making easy money off you guys...you're nuts. Old habits die hard, and when the ego's are involved that you are dealing with are involved, you'll be handed scraps. <br /><br />You need to get it together, the way things are going to be in the future, and Require it, or the TFAA athletes don't compete. <br /><br />It's that simple. <br /><br />You should be allowed 3 additional logos on your uniforms, in addition to your shoe company, and maybe even more on your warm ups, and freedom to support your sponsors at Olympic games.<br /><br />Prediction: if you ask for it, you won't get it. If you ask for small changes, you might get it. Asking for small changes, is still playing to the old guard. The athletes have been the poorest represented and poorest compensated in any sport for over a century. And these athletes are the core of the biggest sporting event every 4 years? <br /><br />TFAA needs to Think Bigger. Think IDEALLY. What would ideally best support the athletes as true professionals with the same level of respect pro athletes get in other sports that are analogous? Start from an ideal frame. Fully empower yourselves - stop acting like children in school and asking permission for small changes. Think bigger, unionize, implement the changes to uniforms and sponsorship rules within your union/organization and TELL the DL/OG if you want our athletes to participate; here is how we come, take it or leave it. <br /><br />You've got to take the power. Just make sure the uniforms look good. The public will go along.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715488067479287538.post-89714603092276441522012-09-27T00:12:08.735-04:002012-09-27T00:12:08.735-04:00You make a lot of great points. I believe KD was ...You make a lot of great points. I believe KD was quoted as saying that they were not forming in order to (ever) strike. <br /><br />Taking away the threat or ability to walk out or strike...essentially neuters a union or association. <br /><br />For 100 years the powers behind the scenes have been shameless lining their pockets off the performances of the athletes...first amateur, and then professional...with the most chaotic professional schema in sport. <br /><br />It is way beyond time to get real. There may be a way to get a uniform drug testing system via the TFAA... There also needs to be a system created for Olympic Track Athletes to be paid/rewarded. Compensation for making the semi-finals, finals, and monetary awards by place in the finals. <br /><br />It's great that Usain Bolt has signed on; he's talked about wanting to be a legend, well this how he can become a legend...become the powerful de facto leader of the union in order to create change and force the powers that be to pay the athletes fairly. <br /><br />Also, the athletes, especially in the USA need to do a better job of educating the public... Take a look at the forum comments on the TFAA stories on say...USA Today...far too many comments along the lines of "If competing for your country isn't enough for you, to hell with you." --That shows that your every 4 years audience is completely ignorant of the realities. Think about it, if the USA TF athletes didn't shoulder their costs almost by themselves, the USA wouldn't have had nearly 30 medals. If they all just decided to quietly stop...and we won Zero medals on 2016...these same uneducated "every four years fans" would be angry and want to see heads roll somewhere. The sad fact is the public is ignorant...to the point of being dumb, and yet sit there like spoiled children in front of their TV's expecting results every 4 years...while never giving a thought as to how each sport and athlete gets financed. <br /><br />This is a very rough analogy; if Usain Bolt really wants to be a legend, let him become the Nelson Mandella of Athletics... Bring the Olympics out of the dark ages and create fair pay for these athletes. As we know that athletes in many countries are well supported with government funds, and amazing financial rewards if successful -- it's like winning the lottery in some countries, instant fame, wealth, and you are set for life. In the USA it is a rare few that that happens to...gymnasts, a swimmer...and not to track athletes any longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com