Comments on: Mitcham still puzzled by lack of sponsors

By: Binkley

Binkley — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:48:59 +0000

Greg Louganis pretty much went through the same thing back in the 80′s. Turns out his preferences were already discussed in whispers, which naturally made sponsors very skittish about signing him to sell their products. After his record-breaking Olympic run the only product I recall seeing him endorsing was for Banana Boat tanning products. The bottom line is that corporations prefer someone pretty much scandal-free to endorse their products, even moreso now that Mr. California…errrr, sorry…Michael Phelps’s little herbal indiscretion cost Kellogg’s a whooooole lot of money. Recently At my local supermarket there was a sale on Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. Buy one, get one free. Guess who was on the box? Here’s a hint: it sure wasn’t the traditional rooster!

By: Dave Lohse

Dave Lohse — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:33:09 +0000

Jim, as always, good journalism by you.

By: Oscar in Miami Beach

Oscar in Miami Beach — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:10:52 +0000

Of course is homophobia.Advertiser rather sponsor a drug addict like Phelps than sponsor a gay athlete.It seems that drug use is approved by the corporate world but gayness is frowned upon.That is the world we live in.Get use to it.Everywhere in the world is the same thing and the same mentality.In many countries,including developed one,ie:Holland,gays are killed on the streets.And lets talk about backwards Africa.They are where they are because what you mettle is what you get back.

By: John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)

John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:49:04 +0000

@ 12

He was the first austrailian swimmer to win gold in like 40 or so years??

By: Jay Original

Jay Original — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:14:19 +0000

I am soooo over this story.

By: Ric

Ric — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:33:03 +0000

another question…did he do something that’s never been done before like Bolt or Phelps? Nope

By: Ric

Ric — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:31:03 +0000

if ur marketable you’ll have sponsors wanting you to promote their product doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, black, white, blue, half horse, etc

winning the gold medal was awesome but other than that what makes him so special except that he’s openly gay? Does he have a dynamic personality? Is he extremely attractive? Not really

By: This Is. True

This Is. True — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:11:09 +0000

Maybe b/c he’s way too femmy acting and his face looks like a horse?!

By: Kev

Kev — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:30:01 +0000

Historically swimming in general isn’t popular enough w/the public to attract the attention of product endorsements and corporate sponsorship. Matt Biondi was a big deal in his day and got a RayBan endorsement and a few others but not until Phelps did the cash pour in.

By: sftom

sftom — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:14:57 +0000

I can’t think of any diver who has gotten endorsement deals, other than Greg Louganis for Speedo. Did gold medalist Marc Lenzi (straight) in 1992? Not that I recall. You’ve flogged this story enough now. Time to move on.