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
Geez man, I am not questioning your credibility. From what I understand you are one of the more dedicated USMS members, constantly (over)focusing on your swimming. You attend a lot of meets and are pro-swimming almost to a fault.
I don't think people are labelling you the person as crazy. Maybe they are but I'm not one to judge. I do think that your line of thinking on this issue is a little out of whack, if you will.
Prize money should only be for pros. That means those who are good enough at their respective skill to be labelled a professional. You probably have a job, let's say accounting (as an example). If you are a highly skilled accountant you go get a job as an accountant, and they pay you. Same with sports. It may be a good idea to have prize money in swimming, but only at the highest levels. That would be some sort of US circuit similar to the World Cup circuit.
But then the question is, where do you get the money. Face it, you are living in what you wish were a swimming utopia, problem is reality is 1/10th of a percent of Americans have a clue about competetive swimming. USA-S threw around the idea of adding a surcharge to membership, something nominal say 5-10 US$ to throw into a "general sport promotion" fund. I'm not sure how it was received. I would imagine poorly because I have yet to hear anything else about it. But I imagine part of it would have gone to prize money and/or TV time.
Hey, if you want swimming to be popular in America, and have legitimate ideas for how to go about it, more power to you. I think you are barking up the wrong tree here though, there are a lit people with years of swimming experience responding to you who have realized that it probably won't work. Accept swimming for what it is, enjoy it, and hopefully our athletes get some well-deserved attention on occasion... which is the gripe I originally intended.
Respectfully,
RM
Geez man, I am not questioning your credibility. From what I understand you are one of the more dedicated USMS members, constantly (over)focusing on your swimming. You attend a lot of meets and are pro-swimming almost to a fault.
I don't think people are labelling you the person as crazy. Maybe they are but I'm not one to judge. I do think that your line of thinking on this issue is a little out of whack, if you will.
Prize money should only be for pros. That means those who are good enough at their respective skill to be labelled a professional. You probably have a job, let's say accounting (as an example). If you are a highly skilled accountant you go get a job as an accountant, and they pay you. Same with sports. It may be a good idea to have prize money in swimming, but only at the highest levels. That would be some sort of US circuit similar to the World Cup circuit.
But then the question is, where do you get the money. Face it, you are living in what you wish were a swimming utopia, problem is reality is 1/10th of a percent of Americans have a clue about competetive swimming. USA-S threw around the idea of adding a surcharge to membership, something nominal say 5-10 US$ to throw into a "general sport promotion" fund. I'm not sure how it was received. I would imagine poorly because I have yet to hear anything else about it. But I imagine part of it would have gone to prize money and/or TV time.
Hey, if you want swimming to be popular in America, and have legitimate ideas for how to go about it, more power to you. I think you are barking up the wrong tree here though, there are a lit people with years of swimming experience responding to you who have realized that it probably won't work. Accept swimming for what it is, enjoy it, and hopefully our athletes get some well-deserved attention on occasion... which is the gripe I originally intended.
Respectfully,
RM
