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?
We aren't anywhere near "selling our soul" in swimming. I don't think GHJr by the way does anything good for swimming. I think he is full of crap most of the time. What is does and says is all about Gary, not for the benefit of swimming. Amanda Beard's antics are all about Amanda Beard Inc. and not about swimming.
I have heard people my age who didn't know who Spitz was but know who Phelps is. They have been blown away by his skill and excellence.
I see nothing wrong with highlighting fit athletic bodies competing on a world stage. We also see some superb swimming by athletes who are not beauties.
So I firmly believe swimming can tolerate a vast amount more publicity before we get close to "selling our soul."
I see your point, but would argue that someone like GHJ's or Amanda Beard's antics (though somewhat lame IMHO) increase interest in the sport for the average joe. I'd love it if someone like Phelps could continue to make swimming more mainstream in terms of audience/respect/etc. However, I wonder if it would take more than an incredible "nice guy" to keep swimming in the spotlight long-term.
I'd probably rather see swimming remain less glamourous and less popular than other sports if it popularity means totally selling out.
I dread the day we see women swimmers in clear LZR suits slapping each other on the butt and groping each other after every win...:shakeshead:
If (god forbid) that happens, I hope we at least get to see the guys doing the same :banana:
We aren't anywhere near "selling our soul" in swimming. I don't think GHJr by the way does anything good for swimming. I think he is full of crap most of the time. What is does and says is all about Gary, not for the benefit of swimming. Amanda Beard's antics are all about Amanda Beard Inc. and not about swimming.
I have heard people my age who didn't know who Spitz was but know who Phelps is. They have been blown away by his skill and excellence.
I see nothing wrong with highlighting fit athletic bodies competing on a world stage. We also see some superb swimming by athletes who are not beauties.
So I firmly believe swimming can tolerate a vast amount more publicity before we get close to "selling our soul."
I see your point, but would argue that someone like GHJ's or Amanda Beard's antics (though somewhat lame IMHO) increase interest in the sport for the average joe. I'd love it if someone like Phelps could continue to make swimming more mainstream in terms of audience/respect/etc. However, I wonder if it would take more than an incredible "nice guy" to keep swimming in the spotlight long-term.
I'd probably rather see swimming remain less glamourous and less popular than other sports if it popularity means totally selling out.
I dread the day we see women swimmers in clear LZR suits slapping each other on the butt and groping each other after every win...:shakeshead:
If (god forbid) that happens, I hope we at least get to see the guys doing the same :banana:
