In a message dated Tue, 14 Aug 2001 11:02:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Jeez, do the rest of the nations of the world have the same problem getting their
>top
> athletes to compete? Seems T&F is in a pretty sorry state in that case - I don't see
>much diminution in competitiveness among Euro and Latin soccer (football) players in
>non- World Cup years.>
I never said there was a diminution in competitiveness for U.S. track people in the
"off" years. They just don't have any incentive to compete at the nationals, and save
themselves for meets w/ significatn paydays (i.e., Euro Circuit).
Many (most?) other nations don't have similar problems in track because they have
government-based subsidies for the top athletes, and that buys "loyalty." In the end,
it all comes down to money for everyone, and I don't mean that in any venal sense,
just the ability to eke out a living that allows one to continue to train at the
levels needed.
gh
