The award for the most ridiculous, self-absorbed, overzealous all sports entertainment network in the world goes to...
ESPN, for the 10th year running.
They have once again proven that outside the 4 major sports, Tiger Woods, and the Williams sisters, you're really not much of an athlete. Unless you count token consideration of Cael Sanderson and -ahem- Sarah Hughes (don't even get me started on figure skating).
No offense to college athlete of the year Sue Bird (UConn BB) but a certain swimmer from Cal who set at least 6 AR and 1 WR over the short course season would have had my vote.
Anyone else? Natalie Coughlin, female college athlete of the year as awarded by the USMS discussion crew?
-RM
Parents
Former Member
As a thought for arguements sake (these are arbitrary numbers, and my figures are more than likely off - but if someone would like to recalculate feel free). USMS advertises we are over 42,000 members, USA swimming advertises over 2,300 swim clubs - lets say 150 swimmers for each club - we are looking at roughly 400,000 swimmers - the US population is guesstamated roughly of 287,540,000 so roughly swimmers make up about .15% of the population in the United States. That is definitely not a very big market (as I said I am guessing and rounding off here with numbers).
As for the money issue, Emmett is right on track - these athletes that make millions of dollars make more out of endorsements of products consumers will buy - Lance Armstrong wins one of the most prestigious bike races, the one million dollar purse he divides up to his team (racers and support crew) of course the money he makes from endorsements from being the winner (ie Nike, Trek, Oakley, United States Postal Service, etc) is far more than the TDF prize.
Ion you mentioned how people that put a high priority on money bother you, yet you want to contribute to that same system by offering prize money to get better athletes at swim meets?
Jeff
As a thought for arguements sake (these are arbitrary numbers, and my figures are more than likely off - but if someone would like to recalculate feel free). USMS advertises we are over 42,000 members, USA swimming advertises over 2,300 swim clubs - lets say 150 swimmers for each club - we are looking at roughly 400,000 swimmers - the US population is guesstamated roughly of 287,540,000 so roughly swimmers make up about .15% of the population in the United States. That is definitely not a very big market (as I said I am guessing and rounding off here with numbers).
As for the money issue, Emmett is right on track - these athletes that make millions of dollars make more out of endorsements of products consumers will buy - Lance Armstrong wins one of the most prestigious bike races, the one million dollar purse he divides up to his team (racers and support crew) of course the money he makes from endorsements from being the winner (ie Nike, Trek, Oakley, United States Postal Service, etc) is far more than the TDF prize.
Ion you mentioned how people that put a high priority on money bother you, yet you want to contribute to that same system by offering prize money to get better athletes at swim meets?
Jeff
