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Editor’s comment (In italics):
Bobby Hodge has been there. A top marathoner when money was not in the sport, and when money began to come into the sport. Bobby has see the stagnation of professional athletics.
Bobby asked your editor for a media credential a while back as he really wanted to see the Grand Slam and Philly. So, God help us, Bobby Hodge and Jeff Benjamin spent a few hours together providing you, dear and kind readers, with some rather pointed observations and thoughts on our maddening sport. Thanks, Bobby!
Grand Slam Track: Is this new series when Athletics hits a real-world level professional sport?
https://www.grandslamtrack.com
“It took just one competition day for the much-hyped Grand Slam Track series to prove it’s not the future of track and field – it’s a flop.
In fact, ‘Grand Flop Track’ might be a more accurate name. Billed as the sport’s bold new direction by Michael Johnson, the series
revealed its true face on day one in Kingston, Jamaica: an atmosphere closer to a mausoleum than a laboratory of innovation.”
Patrick Magyar founder Diamond League Track Series in 2010,
https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/diamond-league-founder-has-harsh-words-for-grand-slam-track/
Magyar focused on some of the shortcomings but failed to mention the many positives beginning with the prize payout. The Diamond
League is low carat, and their prize purse certainly isn’t enough to support a professional sport. This is the primary goal of Grand Slam
Track: make our sport viable for the athletes by having the events and the governors of the sport work for them as they do in other pro
sports.
Position Diamond League prize money Grand Slam Track prize money
$ 30,000. $100,000
2. $ 12,000 $50,000
3. $ 7,000 $30,000
4. $4000 $25,000
5. $2500. $20,000
6. $2000. $15,000
7. $1500. $12,000
8. $1000. $10,000
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-michael-johnson-s-grand-slam-track-vs-diamond-league-prize-money-comparison-a-look-20m-prize-purse-2025-season
Seb Coe equals status quo—Diamond League falls well short of professional athlete needs so Michael Johnson and GST deserve our support and a chance to make a new model of presentation for our sport.
Attendance figures GST V. Olympic Trials Eugene— 12 k per day in Eugene near capacity for a smallish new Hayward. 9k per day Kingston—first time event
At the Major Marathons —regardless how much money is raised for charities the goal is always more.
Professional athletes are being cut out of the equation because they are not viewed the same way as professionals in other sports—the fault of the governing bodies and race management.
Athletes return on investment poor —their value proposition less regarded every year— their ability to inspire others to excellence disregarded to fill charity coffers and others interest.
Our sport is at sixes and sevens.
The way I see it.
Integrity of a sport is honesty-truth
Meaning behind the striving the stories that bring meaning. The Olympic Movement at the heart. But it’s dos si doe.
AAU-TAC-USATF-WA-IAAF-IOC all poison for our professional side of the sport.
Up to the athletes to form a more perfect union.
I found limited information about this association for professionals— doesn’t seem to be much of a going concern. https://www.runpro.com/tfaa
Grand Slam Track Day 1
Breezy, rain threatening strong bouts of sun — Grand Slam Track has liftoff—from first to last event the people in the grandstands have spoken.
https://www.grandslamtrack.com/results/philadelphia/schedule-and-splits
A replay of the events:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH6jbCl5Bs4
Can’t wait for this afternoon day two.
Grand Slam Track & Field Press Conference — Philadelphia 2025
Best Efforts: The NIke OTC Marathon 1980, by Bob Hodge
