Could Speedo Cause Olympic Disaster?

Well, me neither, but I bet Mel was reacting to the over-the-top thread title. Which isn't Ande's, of course, but was taken from the original article that he referenced. As far Mel's contention that a $550 suit will somehow cause swimming's popularity to skyrocket in the US: I believe that the performances of people like Phelps and Hoff will do a better job of that. What did more for cycling popularity in the US, the wins of LeMond and Armstrong, or the introduction of aerobars and Zipp wheels? No, I'm really serious about this one, Chris, in contrast to many of my posts. I don't remember that aerobars, drafting, Zipp wheels, carbon fiber bikes etc etc generated ANY press that would have caught the public eye. So there wouldn't have been anything to attract viewers to cycling other than drugs, Armstrong, Pantini, Indurain and the like. Whether we like it or not, the American TV public enjoys controversy. It's why Fox news personalities, Rush Limbaugh and all the other flame-throwing commentators are so popular instead of, say, news commentators from the BBC who just read the news in a neutral tone. The fact that we have such heated discussions among ourselves shows the level of controversy over the suit. It has spilled over into the couch-potato population as a result and has become major headlines around the world. I believe it will divert attention away from Law and Order reruns and Judge Judy, even if only momentarily. Someone on these threads has pointed out that the Olympics usually produces a spike in youth swimming (or maybe I saw it my ASCA newsletters). All I'm saying is that the added controversy, on top of the great swimmers we have, will heighten the awareness and (I predict) will produce an even greater spike. I don't like Mike Tyson, but have to admit that his taste for ears sold tickets to his events. If the Speedo suit cost $50 instead of $550, it would still have generated the same level of controversy because of the acclaimed speed gain, especially since some of the competitors (suit manufacturers, not swimmers) were caught with their briefs down and stand to have serious long-term setbacks over this.

Well, me neither, but I bet Mel was reacting to the over-the-top thread title. Which isn't Ande's, of course, but was taken from the original article that he referenced. As far Mel's contention that a $550 suit will somehow cause swimming's popularity to skyrocket in the US: I believe that the performances of people like Phelps and Hoff will do a better job of that. What did more for cycling popularity in the US, the wins of LeMond and Armstrong, or the introduction of aerobars and Zipp wheels? No, I'm really serious about this one, Chris, in contrast to many of my posts. I don't remember that aerobars, drafting, Zipp wheels, carbon fiber bikes etc etc generated ANY press that would have caught the public eye. So there wouldn't have been anything to attract viewers to cycling other than drugs, Armstrong, Pantini, Indurain and the like. Whether we like it or not, the American TV public enjoys controversy. It's why Fox news personalities, Rush Limbaugh and all the other flame-throwing commentators are so popular instead of, say, news commentators from the BBC who just read the news in a neutral tone. The fact that we have such heated discussions among ourselves shows the level of controversy over the suit. It has spilled over into the couch-potato population as a result and has become major headlines around the world. I believe it will divert attention away from Law and Order reruns and Judge Judy, even if only momentarily. Someone on these threads has pointed out that the Olympics usually produces a spike in youth swimming (or maybe I saw it my ASCA newsletters). All I'm saying is that the added controversy, on top of the great swimmers we have, will heighten the awareness and (I predict) will produce an even greater spike. I don't like Mike Tyson, but have to admit that his taste for ears sold tickets to his events. If the Speedo suit cost $50 instead of $550, it would still have generated the same level of controversy because of the acclaimed speed gain, especially since some of the competitors (suit manufacturers, not swimmers) were caught with their briefs down and stand to have serious long-term setbacks over this.