And the ESPY goes to....

Originally posted by MetroSwim Ion ... 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. ... Yes. I stated earlier that money is a drawing force in this culture, which would entice more people, TV into the USMS meets, but is not a high priority in my book.

You may have stated it, but the way you wrote it nobody really picked it up. It kinda seems like this happens a lot.

I'm not wrong about figure skating. The only event dominated by the US is the ladies event. Pairs, Ice Dance and Men have been won by mainly the Russians since 1994. We have not win the male event since Brain B did in 1988. In water polo part of the problem is that most of the United States has never developed much of a base outside of California. Image if the US national swim team was made up of only swimmers from Californa, many countries would beat us. In fact there was almost an all California team in 1968, but most of the country outside of some good AAU teams back east and colleges had not develop the type of programs that where available at Santa Clara and Arden Hills in the late 1960's. Many foreign countries still didn't workout double in those days.

As for prize money I think that maybe it should be more available in open swim. Andy Bray who placed 2nd at a 25 K open swim gets to go to the pan-pacific games. Which is an accomplishment since he is 43 years old. I think that master and open water swimmers in their 30's and 40's have a better chance to compete against the elite in open swim and win some prize money.

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.

I agree with Paul both in his defense of Ion and his desire to promote our sport. Except Paul has stepped up to the 'challenge', and not just Ion (and I think I contributed something also, if not that creative.) Our Olympians are our best promotional resource. We have quite a few, but a few more, and higher profile ones, would help alot. If Don Schollander, Mark Spitz, John Nabor, Mary T., Janet Evans, and other well known swimmers participated regularly, publicity and participation in USMS would increase greatly. I remember my big disappointment with Spitz in the 70's was how he did not take on the responsibility to promote the sport that his success required him to do. This is a way for him and others to help, just by swimming! And unlike some of you, I can imagine in a distant future a 'Masters Swimming Tour.' (but the meets have to be more fun, like I discussed in my last post on this thread.) After all, people pay to watch old geezers play golf, many of whom can't drive farther than the average college player. Already we are seeing Olympic swimmers older than 30 (and women, no less!), something totally unexpected 30 years ago.

Rain man mention about inner city youth. One population that has grown in Southern California and Arizona are hispanics. I contacted the usa local of Southern California and they told me that USA swimming once had a grant for the city of Santa Ana and now Disneyland does. Most people outside of the southwest are unaware of the large number of immirgrants from Mexico who work at low paying jobs to support their family. And Rain man is correct that many are unable to pay money for USA swim teams and the Parents who sometimes work two jobs have no time for lap swimming and masters. In Tucson the recreation and parks program has made swimming free for children and the fee for the summer league is just 6 dollars. By high school, if one kid from a poor background does good at state, then the year round teams may waver the fee. Just getting a feet thru a free learn to swim program and a cheap summer league and uusally a not to expense high school program may help. But like Jeff from Portland states, it depends on local budgets.

I think that Ion has hit upon the ultimate idea for publicizing master's swimming: nudity. If we make the nationals an all-nude competition and then publicize THAT, you'll have to use a pry-bar and lithium grease to squeeze the reporters into the venue. Of course, it would remain to be seen how many swimmers would actually show up... Hey, I bet the Adult Swimming Association would consider it. :-D -LBJ

Actually Leonard that might make the sport more spectator friendly, and of course the revenue of the broadcasting on cable (pay per view or play boy channel). Sorry to drum up an old area, but the comment a ways back in regards to Olympic performance by countries. Other than a few sports most US athletes stay and play in the United States (soccer, indoor volleyball and water polo are about the only ones where an athlete can go abroad and make more money than in the US). But how many athletes from other nations live and train in the United States ( Inge de Braijn trained here in the Northwest, as well as other swimmers and if I recall correctly a lot of the ice skaters train here in the U.S. along with several countries bobsled teams). A little more food for thought one place the US excels at is team sports - counts as one gold medal yet 6 swimmers can geta medal for a placing relay team and don't forget basketball - I think 15 gold medals are awarded to the winning team - so the medal per capita ratio would be a little different.

Here I go again. Philip was talking about famous olympicians involved in masters swimming. I think Spitz helps coached a masters team. Both Evans and Blondi are just in their 30's, might not be interested since they are still young. Shane Gould did get involved with master's swimming in her country. Her American counterpart Shirley Babashoff didn't. I saw Susie Atwood in a meet a few years back. And a few olympians have pop up here and there in masters swimming. Maybe, with many they don't want to compete in meets where they would swim several seconds slower.