An exclusive with Michael Ball, January 13, 2009
BY CYCLINGNEWS.COM
Ball still in play
Michael Ball runs the Rock Racing team.
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Since December rumors about the Rock Racing team have been
plentiful – with riders coming and going, the team retracting its Pro
Continental UCI license and talk of the team for sale, folding or
merely downsizing. Cyclingnews recently interviewed
Aussie Baden Cooke who had previous been linked with the team for 2009.
However, in the interview he claimed that team owner Michael Ball made
false promises about his contract, from a two-year deal with ample
European racing down to a six-month contract of mostly American races,
and was planning to sue. Ball spoke exclusively with Cyclingnews' North American Editor Mark Zalewski about this and the other rumors.
"These rumors that have been around, the demise of the team, they
are untrue... that is absolutely false," said Ball from the start.
However, in response to Cooke's claim in which Ball is now funding the
team for only six months out of his own pocket while he looks for
additional funding sources, he said, "That is certainly true. I am
looking for a co-sponsor."
"We are in some good talks with some strong brands that are
interested. Their budgets don't open for a few months and that is fine,
as I said I am committed to the sport and will underwrite the team. But
there is only so much that I am able to do, that I can do."
"If we end up in court we end up in court."
- Michael Ball is not concerned about Baden Cooke's threats
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The obvious reason for Ball's changes is the worldwide economic
downturn that is hitting all companies. Understandably, jeans that
retail for hundreds of dollars are some of the first budget cuts for
consumers. "I keep speaking of this economic tsunami that has hit the
world in general, and specifically the fashion industry," Ball said.
"It has been tough to speak to my board and say that bike racing is a
good investment! It just wasn't possible. I have to respect them with
their decisions and advice, and we have to move on, unfortunately. From
a business perspective we had to make cuts."
Ball said that he was upfront with his riders, including Baden
Cooke, about the economic realities that his company is facing. "Each
and every one of them has taken a pay cut. And they are more than
willing to take the pay cut because they believe in what we are doing.
I am the guy who will stand behind them and support them. At the end of
the day I think that makes them feel a lot more secure about a pay
check – whether or not they will get it."
Explaining business to the riders
Baden Cooke was going to join Rock Racing, but things fell apart quickly
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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"When I went to the riders I explained to them, completely, that
this was an unforeseen tsunami that hit us economically. They all got
it – it is a special group of guys. Riders like Baden, however, they
took a different path and had to do based on their ideas of how they
were going to get paid.
"I don't want to put too much into it," Ball said about Cooke,
citing the possible litigation. "I don't know him personally. I've had
one conversation with him on the phone expressing what we are as a
team. We didn't have a contract. A contract takes two people to sign –
I didn't agree to it and there was nothing there yet."
The defense for Ball is that he never signed the original contract that was offered to Cooke, though Cooke did sign it.
"At the end of the day I scratched my head because he could have
[still] had a [bigger] contract and took a [lesser] contract and is
going to sue me for the remainder," Ball said. "He will continue to do
what he needs to do and I wish him luck. If we end up in court we end
up in court. I'd rather focus on things more positive for this sport
than have to bicker about something that is irrelevant at this point,
since there was never a contract."
Ball cited Ivan Dominguez' departure as the correct way to do
business. "Here is an example, Dominguez. He had an opportunity to go
to another team and he came to me and said he was doing what is best
for him. I said to him there is still a future for us, if not the next
year then the year after. That is the right thing. I don't know how
much he is getting paid, it doesn't matter, he needed that and he got
it."
Confusion about the race calendar for riders
Tyler Hamilton was glad to have found Rock Racing
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Another story that surfaced in December was a side effect of a late
decision to not upgrade to Pro Continental status with the UCI and to
stay a Continental team. But with heaps of new signings based on the
Pro Continental model, including some big name talents, questions began
to arise as to how the team would fit everyone on roster limited by UCI
and USA Cycling regulations. The response from the team was that there
would be a UCI and a separate 'amateur' team, racing NRC calendar races
in the US. However, some of the big names ended up on the amateur team,
including the current US criterium champion Rahsaan Bahati, who would
technically not be able to defend his 'professional' title.
Ball admitted that this was not planned well. "It was a bit of
confusion, certainly within the team. But frankly it's the same as we
did last year, moving guys around depending on which race. Last year
the UCI and USA Cycling didn't have a problem.
"The only person that had some issues with it was Bahati. But we sat
down and I explained the situation. None of the races that are
important to him are until the second part of the year. So he will
continue to train and race the NRC races to condition towards defending
the jersey. He'll do the CSC race, Twilight... he understands it. He's
a strategic businessman himself."
Finally, rumors surrounding sponsors has accompanied the other talk.
The team has not announced a bike sponsor yet, though Ball said the
team has bikes, but not with the two companies the team was in talks
with at the end of last season. "There is a lot of talk about bike
sponsor. We do have bikes. They are going to be cool, you know that!"
Ball at the 2008 Tour of California.
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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As well the team's vehicle sponsor, Cadillac, is lessening its
support by only providing vehicles – again likely attributable to that
economic tsunami that has ravaged the American automobile industry.
"Cadillac is going to come back with some vehicles this year, so we are
thankful to be able to drive to the races and look as cool as possible.
And we are getting the new hybrids!"
Whatever the rumors, the rubber will be meeting the road for the
Rock Racing team in a week, as they are scheduled to race the Tour de
San Luis in Argentina. Ball also said the team will be racing the Tour
of California in February. "We'll finalise [the Tour of California
roster] at camp. But you will see Sevilla, Tyler [Hamilton] and Peña.
We have a couple of new kids from Spain that are really strong. I want
to make sure Baldwin is on the team, he is really flying right now."
In the mean time, it appears that the team's long-term financial
future is in the same boat as the US housing market and auto industry,
and only time will tell. But for the riders that time is currently a
six-month countdown.
"I'm not a necessity!" Ball laughed. "I wish I was a chicken farmer
right now! I wish I was producing eggs! But we are upbeat and I am
still passionate about the sport. And I think we will get some support
from another company that is a good fit and continue forward. It's a
little hiccup right now. If you are sensitive to what is happening in
this world right now, as long as you have a pay check and a job you are
passionate about, you are pretty much okay compared to things that are
happening around you."