Editor’s remark (In italics):
Bobby Hodge has been there. A prime marathoner when cash was not within the sport, and when cash started to come back into the game. Bobby has see the stagnation {of professional} athletics.
Bobby requested your editor for a media credential some time again as he actually needed to see the Grand Slam and Philly. So, God assist us, Bobby Hodge and Jeff Benjamin spent just a few hours collectively offering you, pricey and sort readers, with some moderately pointed observations and ideas on our maddening sport. Thanks, Bobby!
Grand Slam Observe: Is that this new sequence when Athletics hits a real-world degree skilled sport?
https://www.grandslamtrack.com
“It took only one competitors day for the much-hyped Grand Slam Observe sequence to show it’s not the way forward for observe and area – it’s a flop.
The truth is, ‘Grand Flop Observe’ may be a extra correct title. Billed as the game’s daring new path by Michael Johnson, the sequence
revealed its true face on day one in Kingston, Jamaica: an environment nearer to a mausoleum than a laboratory of innovation.”
Patrick Magyar founder Diamond League Observe Collection in 2010,
https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/diamond-league-founder-has-harsh-words-for-grand-slam-track/
Magyar centered on among the shortcomings however failed to say the numerous positives starting with the prize payout. The Diamond
League is low carat, and their prize purse definitely isn’t sufficient to help an expert sport. That is the first objective of Grand Slam
Observe: make our sport viable for the athletes by having the occasions and the governors of the game work for them as they do in different professional
sports activities.
Place Diamond League prize cash Grand Slam Observe prize cash
- $ 30,000. $100,000
2. $ 12,000 $50,000
3. $ 7,000 $30,000
4. $4000 $25,000
5. $2500. $20,000
6. $2000. $15,000
7. $1500. $12,000
8. $1000. $10,000
Seb Coe equals established order—Diamond League falls effectively in need of skilled athlete wants so Michael Johnson and GST deserve our help and an opportunity to make a brand new mannequin of presentation for our sport.
Attendance figures GST V. Olympic Trials Eugene— 12 ok per day in Eugene close to capability for a smallish new Hayward. 9k per day Kingston—first time occasion
On the Main Marathons —regardless how a lot cash is raised for charities the objective is all the time extra.
Skilled athletes are being minimize out of the equation as a result of they don’t seem to be considered the identical means as professionals in different sports activities—the fault of the governing our bodies and race administration.
Athletes return on funding poor —their worth proposition much less regarded yearly— their capacity to encourage others to excellence disregarded to fill charity coffers and others curiosity.
Our sport is at sixes and sevens.
The way in which I see it.
Integrity of a sport is honesty-truth
That means behind the striving the tales that deliver that means. The Olympic Motion on the coronary heart. But it surely’s dos si doe.
AAU-TAC-USATF-WA-IAAF-IOC all poison for our skilled aspect of the game.
As much as the athletes to type a extra excellent union.
I discovered restricted details about this affiliation for professionals— doesn’t appear to be a lot of a going concern. https://www.runpro.com/tfaa
Grand Slam Observe Day 1
Breezy, rain threatening robust bouts of solar — Grand Slam Observe has liftoff—from first to final occasion the folks within the grandstands have spoken.
https://www.grandslamtrack.com/outcomes/philadelphia/schedule-and-splits
A replay of the occasions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH6jbCl5Bs4
Can’t look ahead to this afternoon day two.
Grand Slam Observe & Area Press Convention — Philadelphia 2025
