After all of the terrible stuff that has been said about me, and the questions on my intentions, I decided to come clean now... rather than later.
It's a shame that everyone is raking me over hot coals... perhaps everyone should stop assuming things until they know the facts.
"a portion of the proceeds" are going to breast cancer
yes. this statement is vague but true.
EVERYTHING is going to breast cancer EXCEPT the costs associated with listing in through Ebay. Both people are responsible for paying for their own dinners, so that cost is not calculated into the equation. Had I said it was all going to charity, I would have been lying... but by being vague it stirred the pot a little more and got everyone talking... Everyone just assumed based on the statement that I had an intention to keep money. Yes, I suppose the article kind of hinted that I was doing this to raise money directly from THIS auction, but that is such small scale thinking.
The actual point of the auction was not to raise money for myself off of THIS auction but rather to make a point and to create a media buzz. We need to shake things up once in a while and stray from the norm. There are so many amazing and talented athletes who are so gifted but so broke and it's just such a shame that there isn't more money to support all of us. The press behind all of this has been amazing... and who knows, maybe someone or some company will be inspired to support a lesser known sport or athlete in a lesser known sport that they otherwise may have ignored.
So, anyway, thank you to everyone who has supported me. I know, you know who I am and what I stand for and I am very grateful.
I look forward to sitting down to dinner with whomever the winner is this evening and to sharing some insight with them. They can rest easy knowing that I'm NOT pocketing a cent from this auction and every penny (aside from ebay fees) will be going straight to help fight breast cancer.
Best,
Jenna
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26 comments:
Jenna, if I were in Vegas I would bid. This was a great idea, good luck with the winter and next season.
GW
I wouldn't worry too much about it. It was a novel idea and well intentioned. The sensationalists ran a bit with it which did create some awareness although distorted perhaps, but that is the culture we live in. You had a great year now enjoy a great dinner. All the best to you!
Stripping? 1st time I've heard that one...
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/Jenna-Shoemaker-auction-vegas-60805032.html
Jenna, Great initiative! If it would have been in Europe I would certainly have taken a chance.
Great to put the problems out in the light and make people think and talk about them.
I think it would even have been a very good way to create some income while talking about your passions. What is the difference with all these athletes who do it in front of full congress rooms and conventions? They get paid far more then you would have had with the dinner and no one ever ask a question about that.
Just don't pay attention to all the negative comment and keep doing what you're good at and what you like doing!
Jenna. I am from Brazil. I hope you have the luck to win money enough to pay your trainning.
If I was in USA, I'd bid too. I know some thiathletes from here (Leandro Macedo, Mariana Ohata) and I know how hard is their live.
I hope all your dreams come true.
Don't let the haters bring you down.
It's not a Shame... Jenna, in the days of every uneducated, college skipping moron signing multi-million dollar contracts and being paid to do YouTube shows as "entertainers" instead of concentrating on actually being an athlete, I applaud you for your effort. Full donation or partial, it is irrelevant. Donate what you want and live off the rest, it’s your idea, not that of Anonymous. If they want to have an auction and donate all the proceeds, they can do it however they want. Do your thing, forget the haters... and as for Anonymous and their "screenshots", you’re pathetic. I guess every athlete that looks for publicity in order to pay the bills is shameful? Easy to say when you probably know nothing about personal sacrifice for sport... Yep, that's right, I assumed, and I'm right...Good Luck Jenna.
Chin up Jenna. People are too quick to jump to conclusions. Typical SlowTwitch mentality.
(I haven't even been on the site, but I'm sure plenty of people jumped on their soap box there for this story.)
Kudos to you for going out of your way to do something for a great cause. Keep at 'em.
I think you should use the money to support yourself, you train hard, sacrifice a lot, and deserve a chance to reach your full potential. If a bit of extra money helps you achieve your dreams, then who cares what the armchair critics say, their not in your situation and pretty clueless about what it takes to become a world class athlete. Breast cancer is currently the most over-funded disease research in the world, its turned into a billion dollar cash-cow for drug companies and research institutions. Your money will not make one iota of a difference to the search for a breast cancer cure, but it will make a difference to you. So keep the money and ignore the critics.
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt
Hi Jenna,
You'll come to learn, as you probably already have, that there will always be those who want to tear you down; this, whether you're already down or atop your game. Practice ignoring the cynics and naysayers now, as you'll need to rely on this capacity throughout your career (and beyond).
Years ago I was a struggling pro triathlete living in my car, making the sacrifices I thought necessary. Then, a couple years later, my fortunes had changed (i.e., the training was paying off) and I was no longer just surviving. What was interesting, at least to me, was that the same people criticizing me for living in a car continued to do so as I began to perform. I'd come to find that these types are always there, no matter what you do. In fact, the more known you become and the better you perform, the more of them there are! As they say, "the surest way to get criticized is to do something."
Make it your mission not just to beat those you're going against but those going against you. It makes victory that much sweeter!
-CV
Don't let this take you down! You should be proud of yourself for innovating, thinking outside the box!
Like Alexandre, I live in Brazil too. Soccer is the main sport here, we've got a huge amount of olympic potential but everyone still prefer to invest in soccer.
Even with all the difficulty, we have our olympic heros, some of them fought through poverty to achieve a better life in sport.
I think you don't have anything to lose, at least people know a little bit better about triathlon in U.S(opposite to Brazil, where every triathlete live in obscurity), and watching you and your race results I'm pretty sure someone is going to recognize your talent and you'll have a big sponsor to fund your olympic dream!
I wish you the best of luck!
Don't give up!
i really wish you all the best and can't wait to see you shining in London in a couple of years!! The best is yet to come my dear. :o)
Wish I could help you bidding with the dinner. I'm from outside the US and hope you get all the training and every triathlon competition that I watch I will be supporting you.
Best wishes,
LM
PS: Try to generate a bigger fan base, keep on with the blog and try to make videos, post photos, interact with people online, make lectures and maybe an online shop, I'm sure that it would make an amazing result for your training financing. Never give up!
Some just love to cause controversy over nothing. I think it was a great idea myself.
Jenna, we have the same difficulties here in Brazil, and we support your attittude.Great initiative!
Jenna,
I have been a long time support of The Komen Foundation. My grandmother is a survivor!
As I see it, you are trying to help out and idiots jump on you over symantics? Fact is a reasonably intelligent person, regardless of how vague your ad was, would know that fundraisers COST MONEY and that cost has to be covered and that typically the PROCEEDS go to the charity - problem is these fools cannot understand the english language!
I suggest, if I may, you ignore these weak minded ones and focus on your charity and training! I appreciate you getting out there and doing something to help the cause!
Hey, me too - If I were in Vegas I'd be bidding like crazy!
Anytime you are in Ohio let me know! Good luck, Joey
Just caw a shot clip CNN's HLN network. National TV overage. Good Job. Hope it all helps get the bid up in the end.
MARRIE ME JENNA!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!
Muito boa essa sua idéia. Mas caso estiver mesmo valendo o jantar...
I am in New England, so I could not bid. However, a better idea than a dinner date, would be to offer a two-hour run/bike training session. If you have the time, and the desire, make another auction. Your supporters will continue to support you.
Because of your blog, we can say that we know an Olympic athlete. The fight against breast cancer is an ongoing battle, that we all need to be a part of.
Nothing wrong with charging money for a 2.5 hour dinner and taking all the proceeds as income.
Athletes and celebs routinely take appearance fees for showing up for special events. Paris Hilton will come to your b-day party for $100k, Bill Clinton will give a brief talk at your conference for a quarter million. Some people I know draw a majority of their earnings from appearance fees.
The chance to spend 2.5 hours with a potential US Olympian over dinner and picking their brain about the sport has real economic value.
Sorry you didn't have a competent publicists to get out in front of this.
That took some guts. Haven't seen the eBay post or anything, but from reading up on this in the past few minutes, next time clearly state that profits will go to Breast Cancer Research.
Oh and don't mention stripper.
Onward
MC
Jenna - I think it's great that you're donating the proceeds. Some actress raised $25k doing the same this (can't remember her name), but it was crazy how different the reaction was. Honestly - you're willing to put yourself out there for this sort of thing, so let me know if there's something I could do to help.
Jenna is a terrific person, great athlete, disciplined and focused. She is beautiful, talented, warm and friendly... trains hard, competes hard, Jenna is a winner and will represent the US in the 2012 Olympics. Go for the WIN! - Go for the Gold! - you can do it!
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