Asafa priced self out of 100m clash - Zurich organisers

[Karl]

Asafa priced self out of 100m clash - Zurich organisers
AFP
Thursday, September 06, 2007


ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) - Organisers for the Zurich Golden League Grand Prix said yesterday that they had failed in a bid to set up a 100m duel between Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay because the Jamaican priced himself out of the race.

Patrick Magyar said that "out of honesty" he could not agree to pay world record-holder Powell double the amount that would be given to triple world champion Gay.

Powell equalled his world record of 9.77sec in Zurich last year and had asked for US$100,000 to race this year, whereas Gay had already accepted $50,000.

"We told Asafa, okay, as long as you're world champion," said Magyar.
Gay won 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold medals at the recent World Championships.

It was on August 18 last year that Powell ran the world's best time, for the third time in his career, beating Gay, who posted 9.84, in that race.
The pair have met only once this season in the Worlds final in Osaka where Powell appeared to ease up before the line once it was clear he would not beat Gay. That cost him the silver medal and he instead had to settle for bronze.

[Karl]

What the hell?

[Mosiah]

Asafa, or assafa?

Why should he get twice what Gay is getting? Who is the punk, the chicken, the $%^&*(?!?

Like him rest him head pon him spikes!

[Gamma]

:sigh:

[Islandman]

I will wait till I hear Asafa side of the story.

Still, if him can turn down 50 grand under any circumstance he must have done well for himself these last few years. Thats the good news.

[Mosiah]

True. Dat breddah, Bruce James, will spin anyting fi Asafa. Him claim Asafa totally redeemed himself in the 4x1 after the capitulation in the 100m.

Yeah, right!!!

[Karl]

True. Dat breddah, Bruce James, will spin anyting fi Asafa. Him claim Asafa totally redeemed himself in the 4x1 after the capitulation in the 100m.

Yeah, right!!!

Yet...in that 4 x 1 final there was "no giving up".

[Mosiah]

Did anyone expect him to give up?

On the other hand, who would bet against Gay at the Olys? Or, who would bet that Asafa won't freeze at the Olys?

[Karl]

Did anyone expect him to give up?

On the other hand, who would bet against Gay at the Olys? Or, who would bet that Asafa won't freeze at the Olys?

Would not bet...but, hopeful that Asafa would have won the 100M...even in Meet Record time...but, also fearful that he would have had a melt down.
...and, did he have a melt down?

[Mosiah]

Exactly! So him need fi chill!

[Exile]

Relax..you dont know the details yet...the guy could be making excuses....100k is nothing...

[Jangle]

Asafa, or assafa?

Why should he get twice what Gay is getting? Who is the punk, the chicken, the $%^&*(?!?

Like him rest him head pon him spikes!

Mo let's not start to berate Asafa yet. He could have been making that amount or more prior to that meet. I remember reading a report that said that Marion Jones was getting appearance fees of up to $100k + in her prime. Tyson Gay at that time hadn't won any major championship yet, so Asafa's demands weren't unreasonable. Remember that these athletes shelf lives is very short, so they have to make the money while they can. Right now, Asafa just needs to continue running those super times and work the endorsement angle as much as he can. A major championship gold will increase his marketabilty, but between now and next year, he has to work it. Where is Leroy Burrell now and what is he doing with himself? Is Carl Lewis a rich man with all of his gold medals?

[Mosiah]

Mo let's not start to berate Asafa yet. He could have been making that amount or more prior to that meet. I remember reading a report that said that Marion Jones was getting appearance fees of up to $100k + in her prime. Tyson Gay at that time hadn't won any major championship yet, so Asafa's demands weren't unreasonable. Remember that these athletes shelf lives is very short, so they have to make the money while they can. Right now, Asafa just needs to continue running those super times and work the endorsement angle as much as he can. A major championship gold will increase his marketabilty, but between now and next year, he has to work it. Where is Leroy Burrell now and what is he doing with himself? Is Carl Lewis a rich man with all of his gold medals?

I don't have a problem with him making that for every race he runs, but in this case, it seems like he is saying he is worth twice what Tyson Gay is worth. Maybe it's just a way to raise the appearance fee of everybody but right now it seems like he just wanted to get twice what Gay is getting. That, to me, makes no sense. Yes, he is the world record holder, blah blah, but he also chickened out like I have never seen a top sprinter chicken out before. It look bad, and lowered his stocks considerably because of that. Think back, when have you ever seen such a capitulation? Oh, when Michael Johnson pulled up in the 150m race against Donovan Bailey.

Indeed, Gay could/should be making the same demands, to be paid twice what Asafa is getting. Where would all that end up if each was being paid twice what the other is making?

Respect!

[Jangle]

I don't have a problem with him making that for every race he runs, but in this case, it seems like he is saying he is worth twice what Tyson Gay is worth. Maybe it's just a way to raise the appearance fee of everybody but right now it seems like he just wanted to get twice what Gay is getting. That, to me, makes no sense. Yes, he is the world record holder, blah blah, but he also chickened out like I have never seen a top sprinter chicken out before. It look bad, and lowered his stocks considerably because of that. Think back, when have you ever seen such a capitulation? Oh, when Michael Johnson pulled up in the 150m race against Donovan Bailey.

Indeed, Gay could/should be making the same demands, to be paid twice what Asafa is getting. Where would all that end up if each was being paid twice what the other is making?

Respect!

Maybe I'm confusing myself. Was this meet suppose to happen before or after the World Championship? If it was before, then I side with Asafa. If it was after, then he is an idiot.

[Mosiah]

I think it's today's meet, in Zurich. Asafa was down to run. Even heard Bruce, his MVP exec talking about it, guaranteeing victory for Asafa. And then this news.