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
Ion
Have a look at the USMS Rule Book and read the USMS mission statement and preamble. Then look through the rules and find anything having to do with prize money. Giving out money for anything other than supporting swim programs and encouraging fitness and participation is outside the scope of why USMS exists.
Masters is a grass roots organization, and it has been my impression that the majority of members don't even compete (I seem to recall that something to the effect that less than 40% of us actually enter meets). How would prize money really do anything for more than a handful of the 42,000 USMS members?
I certainly hope you are just trying to provoke a dialogue with your viewpoints, otherwise it would appear that you may not really get the fundamental reason that most of us are involved with USMS.
We do it for many, many reasons, but to do it for money is pretty much the LAST reason, and perhaps that is what sets us apart from many of the sports that you look down on.
If you feel that strongly about prize money, why don't you make it an item for discussion at the convention. See how far that goes.
We have enough issues with the fine points of USMS rules and guidelines in competitions that do not involve anything other than personal achievement and maybe a medal or two. I wouldn't want to even begin to contemplate what would happen if money were at stake.
Ion
Have a look at the USMS Rule Book and read the USMS mission statement and preamble. Then look through the rules and find anything having to do with prize money. Giving out money for anything other than supporting swim programs and encouraging fitness and participation is outside the scope of why USMS exists.
Masters is a grass roots organization, and it has been my impression that the majority of members don't even compete (I seem to recall that something to the effect that less than 40% of us actually enter meets). How would prize money really do anything for more than a handful of the 42,000 USMS members?
I certainly hope you are just trying to provoke a dialogue with your viewpoints, otherwise it would appear that you may not really get the fundamental reason that most of us are involved with USMS.
We do it for many, many reasons, but to do it for money is pretty much the LAST reason, and perhaps that is what sets us apart from many of the sports that you look down on.
If you feel that strongly about prize money, why don't you make it an item for discussion at the convention. See how far that goes.
We have enough issues with the fine points of USMS rules and guidelines in competitions that do not involve anything other than personal achievement and maybe a medal or two. I wouldn't want to even begin to contemplate what would happen if money were at stake.
