Just wondering people's thoughts on the, as Fort put it, People Magazine-ization of swimming. Does promoting a sport to reach the masses and create national interest necessarily mean selling a part of one's soul? I tend to think it does. Look at beach volleyball. They are really popular now. Not the men, thank you. But the women. Why? The skimpy suits. The hugging and butt slapping. The cheerleaders. Though I keep reading the explanations about the women's suits and how they aren't the main reason for the popularity of the sport, I'm not stupid. If it's not about the sex-factor, why doesn't men's beach volleyball enjoy the same support/ratings?
Fortunately, so far, swimming hasn't had to go that route. But, as Susan Von der Lippe pointed out in a Floswimming article at Trials, some of the swimming events have become more of a circus. For swimming to be so popular, it seems that Phelps has to become a celebrity. Things have to appeal to the masses--who don't want a serious story. They want flash. They want controversy. Gary Hall Jr. fits into this picture well. I argued to my family that, as much as I don't appreciate the antics of Hall, he brings some something flashy to swimming. And people like to watch that.
So, how much soul-selling do we need to do to appeal, as a sport, to the masses?
As a former (not very good) volleyball player and longtime fan of the sport, I will point out one reason the women's game is more popular (aside from the *ahem* costumes) is that the play involves longer rallies. For a long time on the men's side - indoors and on the beach - most play consists of serve, pass, set, spike. It's really pretty rare to see a long rally in men's volleyball. That makes the women's game more fan-friendly.
For women who lament that they aren't seeing the tanned, buff men's beach players revealed in all their hunkiness on the toob, I suspect the reason is simply that the players are required to wear numbers. That means shirts. In most beach tournaments I've ever seen they play shirtless.
Skip
We haven't sold our souls
Michael Phelps is a celebrity
Many people are interested in celebrities
He's drawn a lot of attention to swimming
It's a good thing, enjoy it
Just wondering people's thoughts on the, as Fort put it, People Magazine-ization of swimming. Does promoting a sport to reach the masses and create national interest necessarily mean selling a part of one's soul? I tend to think it does. Look at beach volleyball. They are really popular now. Not the men, thank you. But the women. Why? The skimpy suits. The hugging and butt slapping. The cheerleaders. Though I keep reading the explanations about the women's suits and how they aren't the main reason for the popularity of the sport, I'm not stupid. If it's not about the sex-factor, why doesn't men's beach volleyball enjoy the same support/ratings?
Fortunately, so far, swimming hasn't had to go that route. But, as Susan Von der Lippe pointed out in a Floswimming article at Trials, some of the swimming events have become more of a circus. For swimming to be so popular, it seems that Phelps has to become a celebrity. Things have to appeal to the masses--who don't want a serious story. They want flash. They want controversy. Gary Hall Jr. fits into this picture well. I argued to my family that, as much as I don't appreciate the antics of Hall, he brings some something flashy to swimming. And people like to watch that.
So, how much soul-selling do we need to do to appeal, as a sport, to the masses?
Interesting comparison with VB Amy. I played beach VB for years and remember how upset so many of us were when they changed the rules to rally scoring, smaller courts and net antenna's to make the game more fan/TV friendly....and look how well its worked.
If you ave never been to or watched one on TV check out all the things they have going on to make it exciting (aside from all the skin)...music, vendor tents, drawings....all the things many of us have floated as ideas to try and make swim meets more fun.
As a former (not very good) volleyball player and longtime fan of the sport, I will point out one reason the women's game is more popular (aside from the *ahem* costumes) is that the play involves longer rallies. For a long time on the men's side - indoors and on the beach - most play consists of serve, pass, set, spike. It's really pretty rare to see a long rally in men's volleyball. That makes the women's game more fan-friendly.
For women who lament that they aren't seeing the tanned, buff men's beach players revealed in all their hunkiness on the toob, I suspect the reason is simply that the players are required to wear numbers. That means shirts. In most beach tournaments I've ever seen they play shirtless.
Skip
Hmmm...well, maybe the longer rallies help the women's game be more exciting. I still think women's beach volleyball's popularity is MUCH more about the bikini's than the game. If you Google beach volleyball the first image you see is a crotch shot of a player from behind! As far as the men's shirts with their required numbers, again, I'm not stupid. Will the men's numbers not fit on a pair of board shorts????!!!
We haven't sold our souls
Michael Phelps is a celebrity
Many people are interested in celebrities
He's drawn a lot of attention to swimming
It's a good thing, enjoy it
I'm enjoying it a lot. And, I don't think we've completely sold out. But, I wonder how much is required for us to get the kind of publicity we're seeking. Do we need antics like Amanda Beard's and Gary Hall Jr.'s or can we be huge without what I consider somewhat cheesy stuff?
Don't swimmers (or other elite athletes) sell thier souls to thier sport already with 2-a-days, year round training, social sacrifices, etc?
Why is it considered selling thier souls to reap some monetary rewards for all that sacrifice?
I think Amy's point is that it's what you do to reap the monetary rewards.
I think USA swimming would probably benefit from going the mass appeal People Magazine route with the attendant flash and controversy. No publicity is bad publicity? There'd still be the serious side as well. Maybe Phelps can date more celebrities than Lance ...
To me "who cares". If the same money and fame was tossed around when I was swimming I would have loved it. My swimming got me a free college education, but a little extra cash would have been nice!
It still goes back to the bottom line: You have to succeed in the pool first.
I'm enjoying it a lot. And, I don't think we've completely sold out. But, I wonder how much is required for us to get the kind of publicity we're seeking. Do we need antics like Amanda Beard's and Gary Hall Jr.'s or can we be huge without what I consider somewhat cheesy stuff?
There will be part of the general public that eats it up and the other part that has something between the ears to see them for what they are. Its like anything these days.....read between the lines.
