Saturday 15:00: WAF m400

[nctrackfan]

as for when jw became pro :

according to iaaf he ran in europe prior to og :

44.91 Jeremy Wariner 1r1 München 08 08 2004

you don't get to run in euro races if your american & not a pro[/quote]

The key point here is when exactly did Wariner sign w/ an agent? Also, when did he start doing any commercial endorsements. There are conditions w/ the NCAA that allows an athlete to maintain amateur status and still compete as a pro(&receive compensation). I think endorsements and agents are the crucial elements in determining NCAA eligibility or not. Didn't a Notre Dame defensive back fight in a heavy weight bout this summer at MSG? He got ~ $25K and all was well w/ the NCAA.

[tafnut]

you don't get to run in euro races if your american & not a pro

huh? There's have been tons of NCAA athletes who have run in Europe in the summer!

[Jacksf]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5852096/

[jrun]

I'm with Jack...Wariner was a college-boy (albeit the BEST in the world) in 2004.

And, baby fat on L. Merritt? The kid has the physique of Terrell Owens!

[eldrick]

you don't get to run in euro races if your american & not a pro

huh? There's have been tons of NCAA athletes who have run in Europe in the summer!

his pa paid for jw/jw pa/coach/?entourage's return air-fare/hotel for aforementioned/food for aforementioned/etc ???

[bad hammy]

There are conditions w/ the NCAA that allows an athlete to maintain amateur status and still compete as a pro(&receive compensation). I think endorsements and agents are the crucial elements in determining NCAA eligibility or not. Didn't a Notre Dame defensive back fight in a heavy weight bout this summer at MSG? He got ~ $25K and all was well w/ the NCAA.

I am under the impression that this is OK only when you are making money in a sport other than the one you are competing in in the NCAA.

you don't get to run in euro races if your american & not a pro

huh? There's have been tons of NCAA athletes who have run in Europe in the summer!

This could be total ignorance (common in my world) and not paying attention (also way to common) on my part, but I was under the impression that NCAA athletes could not compete in open meets such as the Golden League meets. After the NCAAs and USATF (and maybe OT/OG) it was the end of their seasons. And eldrick’s point is valid – if they can, who is paying for it??

[nctrackfan]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5852096/

My power of language isn't strong enough to describe what I see when Iook at pictures of Otis Harris taken of him immediately after that 400m finals in Athens. His facial expression and body language brings one word to mind: crushed. I'm sure he was thinking 'I had this race won!'
The man has not run anywhere near that form again.

[paulthefan]

its a real shame that our track culture can not provide enough fame not only every medalist but for all of the finalists... that a silver medalist is considered one of the losers is a shame to this sport and a disaster... .Otis Harris was as good as they get in 2004 and he should see himself as one fo the great olympians at 400.... furthermore he should have bounced back to 44flat in 2005 and 2006... I really hope that come 2008 he returns to 44flat form... a Harris/Rock/Merritt/Wariner 4X4 would be unbeatable...

[nctrackfan]

its a real shame that our track culture can not provide enough fame not only every medalist but for all of the finalists... that a silver medalist is considered one of the losers is a shame to this sport and a disaster... .Otis Harris was as good as they get in 2004 and he should see himself as one fo the great olympians at 400.... furthermore he should have bounced back to 44flat in 2005 and 2006... I really hope that come 2008 he returns to 44flat form... a Harris/Rock/Merritt/Wariner 4X4 would be unbeatable...

Sadly, this just isn't track culture but how we feel about 'individual' sports in general. Either you are a winner, or you ain't s**t. At work, I've heard co-workers talk about their athletic achivevments from high school, in particular football. Then they ask me about my athletic background, and when I tell them that I got 6th place in my event at the high school state championships, they gi ve me a blank look. I guarantee you that if these guys were on a football team that finished in the season's end poll at #6, they would be struting around like the cock of the roost.
But back to Harris, you have to admit the man has had some heartbreaking losses. He lost by a nose to Adam Steele in the NCAA's. Then in Athens, he goes into the straight w/ the lead but ends up 2nd. I wonder if he replays that race over in his head, wondering what he could have done different. I know he set a PB in Athens doing the best he could, but others not involved in individual sports will not appreciate his talents and accomplishments.

I am still fascinated by the contast in emotions shown by Harris and Wariner in the picture to which I am refering.

[paulthefan]

Lets face it, there was little difference between Harris and Wariner in 2004, even at the 04 trials, Harris came down that home stretch like the wind and was gaining on everyone even Wariner....

Lets hope that somehow some way USATF, television commentators and web content providers can provide as energetic an introduction to the guy out in lane 8 as they do to NFL starters.

[Bruce Kritzler]

Lots of ncaa athletes do make it to Europe and race each summer. Sure that most of them recieve some "help" from agents, coaches, meet directors.

[gh]

Note Merritt's 44.14 in 3rd; only two faster 3rds ever, neither in a Circuit setting: '88 OG and '96 OT.