LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

[Trackshark]

LaShawn Merritt of East Carolina has turned professional and signed a 4-year deal with Nike.

He will not compete at the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships. More detailed to be released soon.

[pv22']

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

that really sucks. owell, watch out world!

[MJR]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

College T&F is turning into College Basketball with all these professional contracts, not that it is a bad thing.

[KevinM]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

The questions has to be asked, however: What's with the timing? 8 days before the NCAA meet, and after ECU has paid for his education for the year?

[KevinM]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

Tom just posted on dyestat something about a $100,000 signing bonus. That answers my question.

[dl]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

East Carolina Sports Information confirms that Merritt has indeed signed with Nike.

[Trackshark]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

I know that some of the people at ECU are upset because of the timing. I got off the phone with the ECU sports information department and they are simply stunned.

[dl]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

Things were better when the sport was "amateur." Guys like Carl Lewis could get money while still competing as a collegian! :-)

[MJR]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

They're stunned, but if one of their hoops or pigskin athletes got a similar offer, they'd be joyous to the point of wetting themselves.

These companies are raising the financial bar on what it will take to keep track & field athletes in college. It is now up to the NCAA and its schools to start putting more resources into the sport so that the athletes will have a reason to stay put.

This will mean giving the D1 more than a $200,000 operating budget too. A loud screaming notice to the NCAA. The day will soon pass when officials outside of the good old boys network, who you currently subsidize with room, board & travel, will work your meet(s) for free. You will start paying all officials or will not have a meet at all. The clock is ticking....

[Trackshark]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

The same source who gave me the news also stated that Merritt will earn $400,000/year along with already signing a $100,000 bonus.

[tafnut]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

The up side to this is that athletes can see that there IS some money to be made in T&F. As long as all these collegians are covered by their contracts to continue their educations, then it's a win-win situation. I love the NCAA's, but I can live with these guys bypassing it.

[eldrick]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

some quick implications:


Anti:

- no degree, unlike his likely idols MJ & King

- no longer going to compete in dog-fight NCAA races & get competition ''tough'' for his later career


Pro:

- $100,000 !!!

- no longer worked into the ground like a dog, by NCAA coaches, asking him to run 200,400 & 4x400 relay in virtually every meet

- we'll see him him compete in the GP circuit this year !

[eldrick]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

if this is the trend & Nike,Reebok & Adidas have some mega $$$ to spend, expect Wally,Xav & Kerron to follow suit fairly soon


we will have all the kidz racing on the circuit v zebra,gatlin,big bad, warriner,otis, etc. sooner, rather than later

they may destroy each other, but your probably going to see a lot of 19.8 - 19.9 & 44.0 - 44.2 races on the circuit

[trackhead]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

As of late, most young collegiate athletes turned pro have some stipulation in their contract for tuition fees.

[79.]

Re: LaShawn Merritt signs with Nike

Will he be able to keep the same coach?
(...as MJ did with Clyde HART.)