"Dara Torres should be the face of United States Masters Swimming"
Brent Rutemiller, October issue Swimming World Magazine
"Of Course, Torres isn't on this trip alone. Aside from the support of Hoffman, her daughter and her coaches, Torres relies on a team. She has a nanny who tends to Tessa, a strength coach, and physical and massage therapists who work her like a piece of dough."
John Lohn, October Swimming World Magazine
With all due respect to Mr. Rutemillier & Mr. Lohn I would suggest that they spend a little more time around the people who not only compete in the meets of our sport but with the people who are the backbone as volunteers in the day to day running of it....Dara's only contribution has been making a few workouts early in her comeback, attending a couple of meets and signing autographs and collecting checks for clinics.
If you want a "face" of Masters Swimming look to Susan Von der Lippe who beat Dara as the first person over 40 to qualify for Trials....and she did it training with a masters team 3x a week...working par time, no nanny, no trainers....no PR person....that to me this is the core of what we are in my opinion.
How about Rob Copeland who somehow manages to run this entire organization, swim extremely well, post on our forum....all without a massage therapist and pilates instructor....again this is what Masters represents...to me.
Dara has done something remarkable for anyone her age... give her credit..but lets see if at some point she wants to time at one of our meets...or be on one of our committee's to help promote masters...without an appearance fee.
Parents
Former Member
I think Paul is trying to foster debate on what USMS wants to be and where it should go. That said, I don't like the upping the fees idea. I think that will cause more folks to stay away. Why add $200 to your swiming costs.
There has to be something more beneficial to individuals than a "save $10 for every 100 you spend" kind of coupon idea if you wish to make that kind of fee jump.
Travel and hotel breaks for swimmers attending meets will not work for those who aren't really into the competition side, or who just do 2 local meets a year. Sure you can have these price breaks apply to more than swim related travels but I get this via Amex and Marriott rewards points already.
Now back to the 2 tier scheme: A higher fee for those who will be on the verge of winning the cash prize etc seems fair enough. There should be an opt out for those who really just do it to compete against themselves and have fun. It doesn't make them any less worthy of swimming at nats. Making nats more price inhibitive may turn folks away. I also thnk that putting cash into winners hands may crank the "anything it takes to win" handle a little further as the post about sponsors and drug testing alluded to.
I think Paul is trying to foster debate on what USMS wants to be and where it should go. That said, I don't like the upping the fees idea. I think that will cause more folks to stay away. Why add $200 to your swiming costs.
There has to be something more beneficial to individuals than a "save $10 for every 100 you spend" kind of coupon idea if you wish to make that kind of fee jump.
Travel and hotel breaks for swimmers attending meets will not work for those who aren't really into the competition side, or who just do 2 local meets a year. Sure you can have these price breaks apply to more than swim related travels but I get this via Amex and Marriott rewards points already.
Now back to the 2 tier scheme: A higher fee for those who will be on the verge of winning the cash prize etc seems fair enough. There should be an opt out for those who really just do it to compete against themselves and have fun. It doesn't make them any less worthy of swimming at nats. Making nats more price inhibitive may turn folks away. I also thnk that putting cash into winners hands may crank the "anything it takes to win" handle a little further as the post about sponsors and drug testing alluded to.
