I think the photo is actually USMS' not-so-subtle ploy to get more tris to join our ranks. After all, look at all the gear those people are wearing, a tri would feel right at home. Alas, if only they were wearing unitards and heart rate monitors would the ploy be truly effective.
A slight diversion but something I've been pondering. A tri that swims around the same times as our team always wears his man bikini. Why would you wear the full bikini if you are doing laps? He also circle swims backwards, maybe he's Canadian.
It was supposed to be a surprise, but the next issue will feature a cover story on water wings and backyard wading pools. Keep in mind that 80% of our members don't compete.
Originally posted by scyfreestyler
Stoop to a group? Are you a better person than they are? Your life is somehow more valuable or worthy of praise?
My goodness, I think you've gone off the deep end without your water belt. I don't think any of us have said we are better than anyone else or deserve more praise. What we've said is that we are swimmers and want articles about swimming, not noodling, especially cover stories. How you have managed to morph this into some commentary that we think we live more praiseworthy lives and don't respect others is beyond me. I want a magazine about swimming, with featue stories about swimming.
Would you buy a Newsweek or be more likely to subscribe if it's cover story was about home decorating tips? Would you be more or less likely to join a national triathlon association if their primary magazine had it's feature article on how jumping rope makes you a better triathlete. It's about the core, man, not the fringe group.
Originally posted by scyfreestyler
If it's about the core then USMS Swimmer should not have anything to do with competition since those who actually compete are in the minority. Right?
Wrong, again. Core never means majority, never has. The core is the smaller but central part, not the majority. Pick up an apple if the concept remains foreign. You will frequently hear that a group that alientates it's core is in dire straights.
I'm with gull80, proud to be part of the core that trains hard and competes. I would also hazard a guess the core group does more for USMS than the rest by promoting the sport, flying to meets, participating in non USMS events and talking up USMS, etc. It's that 20% that does 80% of the heavy lifting, pretty much the case across any organization, matter of fact it is referred to as the 80/20 rule.
So, you decide, take the 20% out that do meets and bust their butts for USMS in return for 20% of noodlers who will do absolutely nothing for us. Pick one.
But, there are noodlers on the cover of the magazine, that's the point. I'm sure the magazine is wonderful on the inside, it frequently is compelling reading. I just don't need to see noodlers on the front of my swimming mag. Were these noodlers in a hot pool? Was coffee being served? Did anyone get their hair wet or break a sweat? These are questions that now must be asked.
Is Wolf a Master's Swimmer? That's fairly interesting if true, as interesting as a feature story on noodling anyway.
I just looked at the back issues of Swimming World. Other than the horribly "sexist" cover which was intended to feature Masters swimming, there was not a single cover of something other than swimming. I wonder how many serious noodlers feel like Swimming World is leaving them out in the cold.
Originally posted by Suit Chaser
...not as many as the number of Masters swimmers who feel Swimming World leaves them out in the cold...
I guess as soon as Swimming World becomes part of your USMS dues and changes it's name to USMS Swimming World you can request it remove swimmers from the cover and put noodlers instead.
