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?
Parents
Former Member
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.
Along this same line, one of the most fun and exciting sports events I've ever been to is an indoor rowing event. They use Ergo Concept II machines. they draw much larger crowds than any swim meet masters has put on (I've never been to nationals). People scream and encourage the rowers. Also it is a family event where all age groups participate. I Don't think this is possible because of time. There are vendors, music and lots of excitement generated by the announcer. There are also great rivalries that have existed for years, some go through generations.
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.
Along this same line, one of the most fun and exciting sports events I've ever been to is an indoor rowing event. They use Ergo Concept II machines. they draw much larger crowds than any swim meet masters has put on (I've never been to nationals). People scream and encourage the rowers. Also it is a family event where all age groups participate. I Don't think this is possible because of time. There are vendors, music and lots of excitement generated by the announcer. There are also great rivalries that have existed for years, some go through generations.
