• Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Track & Field

Masback Resigns as CEO of USATF, Heading to Nike

Larry Ederby Larry Eder
January 10, 2008
0
0 0
0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ten years after taking over a federation that was both morally and financially bankrupt, Craig Masback, quite unexpectedly, announced his resignation to the USATF Board of Directors on Wednesday evening, January 9, 2008.
Masback, a former 3:52 miler, Princeton graduate, and former TV sports announcer, brought all of those talents, and more to a federation that was floundering in 1997.


Hit with political infighting, dealing with a changing sports dynamic, and not understanding that sports in today’s society equals entertainment, USATF had seen some of its best athletes and stars go unnoticed, with the exception of Olympic years.
Craig Masback took the job in July 1997. I remember meeting him, by accident, in New York in early August of that year. I congratulated him on the new position. I remember that his eyes were similar to a deer caught in the headlights. His only comments at that time were, ” This is going to be tough.”
What an understatement. USATF was $3.5 million in the hole and the 2000 Olympic Trials had already be sold in a Faustian deal to keep USATF alive by Ollan Cassell, the former CEO of USATF. Cassell had brought USATF into the modern sports world, but, for many reasons, had lost support of the federations’ many power brokers and was made the scapegoat for all of USATF’s ills.
Masback inherited a federation with more power brokers that Yugoslavia. And with all of the minefields and pitfalls. Masback made his false steps, like anyone. One of his most important successes was getting control of the finances, and that is, in large part due, to his hiring of Jim Elias, the current CFO. Elias had to say no, he had to keep the coffers full and he more than likely infuriated a few people. Now, he gets pats on the back for putting USATF back in the black, with over three million in the bank. Elias
is one of Masback’s greatest successes.
One of his others is getting USATF out of the drug testing business. This was a no win situation. USATF was constantly accused of cover ups and other conspiracy theories. While I am not completed enamored of USADA and WADA, I do think that this was a brilliant strategy, both financially and morally.
A good manager hires people to do the jobs he or she can not do and do them better than the manager could have imagined. A good manager also gives his or her staff room to grow, and room to fail. One learns more from failure than anything else in life.
Masback’s best legacy, in my mind, was the sponsorship deals, which he developed with his team, including Ivan Cropper. In my mind, however, Masback was USATF’s top salesman. There is a certain cache when a CEO walks in to speak to another CEO about
sports sponsorship. Craig understood his role and he performed it well.
My biggest disagreement with him was over whether the federation should own track meets and media operations of the sport. The truth is, when Craig came into the sport, there was a vacuum. Now, with the likes of Global Athletics and Marketing, reinvigorated Penn Relays, Drake, Mt. SAC and Texas. The money machine that is now the University of Oregon and the Nike Prefontaine, and the times, they are a changing.
Masback put track and field back on television. He fought, with the support of folks like Larry Rawson, to expand ESPN’s role in the sport. The web opportunities, which will, I believe, revolutionize the coverage of our sport and the likes of Flotrack.com, let’srun.com, and even our sites, RunningNetwork.com, have all benefitted from this creative spirit.
The renaissance in many events in our sport, from the throws, the vault, and middle and long distances have happened under Masback’s watch. While not responsible for those successes, Masback’s tireless speaking and promotion of the sport was key in these opportunities developing for young athletes and coaches.
Let’s Run did a nice job of describing the situation at this time. It does look a bit strange that USATF has just finished a deal with the U of Oregon for the 2009,11,12
US champs, which will be either World Champ Trials or Olympic Trials. Reasoning is that U of O is the alma mater of one Phil Knight, a man whose wealth, according to Forbes magazine, is work approximately $9.2 billion, give or take a few kronens.
The truth may be a little different. Anyone who has observed a company like Nike, at $15 billion in sales, knows that no one knows what HR is doing. Knight, for all of his power, if focused on building a legacy at U of Oregon and a renaissance in track and field there. That is why Vinn Lannana is there and the Trials are being hosted in 08 and 12.
It is a tremendous compliment to Craig and an example of the high regard that the Nike crowd gave Craig that they hired him for a real position. Craig Masback is taking a position held before by John Slusher, Jr. now Global VP of Sports Marketing and one Rudy Chapa, also a former VP of Sports Marketing. His skills in dealing with power hungry associations and the power brokers in the sport will come in very handy in the global world of sports marketing.
In closing today, I wish Craig best wishes on his new endeavor and believe that the sport has benefited from his time in the sport as CEO. It was a job he loved, and he made good use of the decade he spent on the job.
For the USA Today story, please click here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-01-09-masback-nike_N.htm

RelatedPosts

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 18, 2025, week 9, day 7, Ninth Week of the season, Sunday is long run day!

GOOD ON GRANDSLAM TRACK BUT LET’S LOOK BACK BACK ON TRACK’S BAD OLD DAYS

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 17, 2025, week 9, day 6, Ninth Week of the season, Saturday is the race day!

Author

  • Larry Eder

    Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

    View all posts
Previous Post

RunBlogRun’s Ten Questions: Jim Spier and the NSSF

Next Post

Masback Resigns as CEO of USATF, the official statement

Larry Eder

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

Similar Post

Team USA in Guangzhou 2025: Some good ones, a couple not so good…one bad…
Spring Training

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 18, 2025, week 9, day 7, Ninth Week of the season, Sunday is long run day!

May 18, 2025
2025 Grand Slam Track: Observations on the first day in Kingston
News

GOOD ON GRANDSLAM TRACK BUT LET’S LOOK BACK BACK ON TRACK’S BAD OLD DAYS

May 18, 2025
Doha Meeting Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) – 16 May 2025, the Complete Results
Interviews

The Women’s Pole Vault in Doha Diamond League: A Most Impressive field and a curious competition

May 18, 2025
Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League
Diamond League

Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League

May 17, 2025
Six thoughts on the World Relays
Uncategorized

Six thoughts on the World Relays

May 17, 2025
Doha Meeting Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) – 16 May 2025, the Complete Results
Diamond League

Doha Meeting Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) – 16 May 2025, the Complete Results

May 18, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to RunBlogRun's Global News Feed

Wake up to RunBlogRun’s news in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll keep you informed about the Sport you love.

*we hate spam as much as you do

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

April 5, 2023
2023 Nike Pre Classic: Two Amazing Days of Track & Field!

Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

March 7, 2024
USATF / Day Four:  USA’s Assembled Team Is Ready!

Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

February 6, 2025
Grand Slam Track’s Kingston Slam Comes to a Close with 12 Slam Champions

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

April 12, 2025
Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

8
What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

What happened to the crowd at Eugene?

7
My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

My Five Biggest Takeaways from the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon, by Oliver Hinson

7
Asafa Powell, Considering Longevity in Sprinting

The RunBlogrun Interview: Asafa Powell

5
Team USA in Guangzhou 2025: Some good ones, a couple not so good…one bad…

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 18, 2025, week 9, day 7, Ninth Week of the season, Sunday is long run day!

May 18, 2025
2025 Grand Slam Track: Observations on the first day in Kingston

GOOD ON GRANDSLAM TRACK BUT LET’S LOOK BACK BACK ON TRACK’S BAD OLD DAYS

May 18, 2025
Doha Meeting Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) – 16 May 2025, the Complete Results

The Women’s Pole Vault in Doha Diamond League: A Most Impressive field and a curious competition

May 18, 2025
Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League

Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League

May 17, 2025

Popular Stories

  • Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    Clyde Hart’s Guide to 400 meter training (from 1996 Super Clinic Notes/World Coaches Notes)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Noah Lyles, The Clock Doesn’t Lie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abby Steiner replies via twitter, on the curiosity about her new professional running contract

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, April 11, 2025, week 4, day 5, fourth week of year, Friday is an easy day!

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • An epic pole vault competition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Team USA in Guangzhou 2025: Some good ones, a couple not so good…one bad…
Spring Training

2025 Spring Racing/Training Program, May 18, 2025, week 9, day 7, Ninth Week of the season, Sunday is long run day!

May 18, 2025
2025 Grand Slam Track: Observations on the first day in Kingston
News

GOOD ON GRANDSLAM TRACK BUT LET’S LOOK BACK BACK ON TRACK’S BAD OLD DAYS

May 18, 2025
Doha Meeting Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (QAT) – 16 May 2025, the Complete Results
Interviews

The Women’s Pole Vault in Doha Diamond League: A Most Impressive field and a curious competition

May 18, 2025
Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League
Diamond League

Weber 91.06 WL, Cherotich 9:05.08 WL, Masalela 1:43.11 WL, Tia Clayton 10.92 WL in Doha Diamond League

May 17, 2025

Recent Tweets

Next Post

Masback Resigns as CEO of USATF, the official statement

runblogrun

RunBlogRun comments on the global world of athletics, sports & ethics, and the Olympic movement. @runblogrun

Browse by Category

Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

Select a password for yourself. (minimum length of 8)

Paste here the user biography.

Provide here the twitter screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the instagram screen name. i.e. @RunBlogRun

Provide here the facebook profile URL. i.e. http://www.facebook.com/RunBlogRun

Provide here the linkedin profile URL. i.e. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-eder-5497253

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Home page
  • My Account
  • Sample Page

© 2022 Run Blog Run - All Rights Reserved