Ride On
Posts:537
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| 12/27/2014 07:45 AM |
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For some reason it rubs me the wrong way when a professional athlete states that thier main goal for the year is an Olympic medal. If I was thier employer I would say you know what kiss my ass. I'm not paying you to win an Olympic medal wearing the kit of country XYZ , I'm paying you to win wearing my dam kit. Imagine if a hockey or basketball pro said you know what my biggest goal for the year is an Olympic medal. I don't care that much about winning a championship this year. This year is mostly about practice and getting me ready for the Olympics
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armitstead-the-2016-olympics-are-my-biggest-goal |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/27/2014 09:57 AM |
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| Popcorn in hand for this one . . . |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 12/27/2014 11:55 AM |
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| We all have goals. My goal is to keep upright... |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/27/2014 05:00 PM |
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A worthy goal. This sticker is on my moto.
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/27/2014 05:02 PM |
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PS: At least Specialized got a bump. Maybe not so great in hindsight. |
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Oldfart
Posts:511
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| 12/27/2014 07:37 PM |
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| Pro team sports are different though. Those teams get nothing from two players missing games to get a team medal. Individual sports are different. And cycling has national team worlds. Have a rainbow jersey on the team or gold medal rider are both worthy things. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 12/27/2014 09:16 PM |
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Mark Cuban , Dallas Mavericks owner, I think has it right. He always says as an owner/businessman what do I get for risking/investing my money.
Sure it's a worthy goal for the athlete , but for the owner who is trying run a business and pay the bills there is little upside. If you want the Oylimpics to be your main goal for the year that is ok with me just give up your pro contract for the year and pursue it. Have your country support you. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/27/2014 09:25 PM |
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| There is huge upside for a team that has an Olympic winner on their team.... four years of mentioning him as the Olympic champion. That is 4 years of team mentions and TV shots that they otherwise would not get. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 12/28/2014 08:43 AM |
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Team sponsors care about the here and now, not the future PR of a rider down the road.
I'm sure current sponsors get/got some milage out of Sánchez's gold medal from 2008. That I'm sure is factored into his current contract by his adgent. But name the team that paid his salary in 2008 so he could win that medal without googling it? I couldn't do it maybe you can. The team wants/needs value in the hear and now. A rider's wins travel with him through his whole career.
If I was a rider yes I would bank a lot more effort into winning a gold medal than some random race. My market value would go up and stay up for years , again look at Sanchez. For my boss though who is paying me today to win races and get his name in the paper the gold medal with all its media coverage shot with me NOT in the sponsors kit is sort of a kick in the shorts.
It's sort of like going to your boss and saying you know what I think I'd like to go back to school this year to work on my skills, you pay me my full salary to take the year off for me to increase my skill set / marketability. It might work out for you but I doubt it. Oh, and by the way we need to announce to all my peers about this great plan you are offering , you know just in case they want in on your generosity as well. We can all take the year off and focus on us. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/28/2014 11:41 AM |
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Your work analogy really doesn't apply as you have laid it out. She is not just sitting around and not racing until the Olympics. So she is not "taking the year off.". SHe is still "working" and she has listed other goals as well as the Olympics. I'd say the sponsor is getting their money's worth.
And Sánchez's team was Euskatel. (No Google involved).
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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THE SKINNY
Posts:506
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| 12/28/2014 02:29 PM |
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| i don't think it was a problem until they started letting professional athletes into the olympics? |
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| How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. |
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Yo Mike
Posts:338
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| 12/29/2014 09:25 AM |
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Great sticker, LSD
Regarding the olympics, they really need to update their logo:
$ $ $
$ $
There has always been 'professional' athletes participating, it just got a lot more blatant in recent decades as the $$$ and political value grew. Sorry, no more "Miracles on Ice;" there is too much $$$ to be made.
Last winter Os in Stoci (sp?). Next winter Os in Khazakstan....quite possibly.......as nobody else wants the expense and security headaches.
At least we already know who the mascot will be
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jmdirt
Posts:775
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| 12/29/2014 01:50 PM |
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Comparing pro cycling to other pro sports is apples to watermelons, and pro cyclist to average Joe is apples to wales. If a player on the Mavs is on the Gold medal Olympic team, there is nearly zero market value to Mark Cuban. If Lizzie wins gold, it has huge market value for her team NOW and good market value for her AND her team for four years. Plus as cosmic pointed out, she isn't taking a break until the Olympics, she will likely win races as she prepares for the Olympics.
"Team sponsors care about the here and now...". EXACTLY! Her boss would love to go to potential sponsors with the here and now Olympic champion!
You talk about the here and now, but ask about the 2008 Olympics?! But, using SS as an example, think of how many times Sammy got on camera because he was the '08 Oly Champ. That was extra exposure for E-E and BMC that they would not have gotten otherwise.
To your point, I bet her boss is thrilled! |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 12/29/2014 06:29 PM |
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So these Oylimpics is this where you shout Oy while limping?
Not much sponsorship value in that. |
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