After failing to qualify, Vendt sues swimsuit maker
Former Member
sports.espn.go.com/.../story
Less than a week after failing to qualify for an individual event at the U.S. swimming trials, Olympian Erik Vendt filed a countersuit Thursday against a California company that claims he broke his contract by choosing to wear a rival swimsuit.
Vendt made his own breach-of-contract claims against TYR Sport in the federal lawsuit filed in California. He also sued the company for slander, alleging that comments made by its attorney, Larry Hilton, have cost the swimmer other endorsement deals.
TYR went to federal court in May with an antitrust case that claims USA Swimming has been working with Speedo to ensure all Americans wear that company's LZR Racer suit at the Beijing Olympics, even if they have deals with other companies such as TYR.
Also named in the suit were U.S. head coach and general manager Mark Schubert, who has openly touted the benefits of the Speedo suit while also working as a paid spokesman for the company, and Vendt, who had an endorsement deal with TYR but switched to the LZR Racer this year.
Parents
Former Member
Should a coach tell a swimmer what suit to wear especially when he is a paid representative of a company.
I posted this before.
Should said coach be allowed to coach the Olympic team. I think he has lost his right to coach the team.
Or maybe the USA Olympic Association is getting the payoff.
I think a coach can suggest what suit to wear.
I think a coach should be allowed to earn a living by just about any legal means. Policies and a code of conduct should be able to manage potential conflicts of interest. But it seems Schubert isn't bound by any such rules or he wouldn't behave the way he has.
I assume all USA swimmers will wear the special LZR - I think the TEAM can require the athletes to wear the official equipment.
Should a coach tell a swimmer what suit to wear especially when he is a paid representative of a company.
I posted this before.
Should said coach be allowed to coach the Olympic team. I think he has lost his right to coach the team.
Or maybe the USA Olympic Association is getting the payoff.
I think a coach can suggest what suit to wear.
I think a coach should be allowed to earn a living by just about any legal means. Policies and a code of conduct should be able to manage potential conflicts of interest. But it seems Schubert isn't bound by any such rules or he wouldn't behave the way he has.
I assume all USA swimmers will wear the special LZR - I think the TEAM can require the athletes to wear the official equipment.
