I'm very upset that the organizers of Big Shoulders decided to politicize the event. Having an image of Barack Obama on the t-shirt and the medal is very unwelcome.
I brought this up with the organizers who simply dismissed my complaint by calling me a Republican. I am not a Republican. I would be just as upset if they had an image of John McCain on the t-shirt and medal.
Don't politicize my sport. Swimming is my small getaway from the crazed ravings of politics.
Former Member
Can we drop this line of discussion. The organizers apologized in an e-mail which participants received. Here's an excerpt:
The committee has certainly heard from you about the race. We appreciate the compliments and take seriously the criticisms.
A few of our participants have expressed concern that this year's logo was a political endorsement of a presidential candidate. This is not the case. The logo, which was donated, is a spoof, a caricature of a topical figure - nothing more. The Big Shoulders Committee was greatly heartened by the many glowing praises of the shirt and medal from participants on both sides of the political spectrum. Nevertheless, to those who took this logo to be some form of political endorsement, we apologize. Neither Big Shoulders nor Chicago Masters takes a position on any political candidate, and we agree with those who suggest it would be inappropriate to do so.
We hope that you will agree that Big Shoulders is the premier open water swimming event in the midwest, and will join us again next year when Big Shoulders is the USMS 5K National Championship.
Now can we go back to swimming, please. I for one will be back next year and will miss all of you who choose not to over a t-shirt.
I was confused as to why Mr. Herbst had to start a new thread on this topic (when there were already several and when he'd made basically the same post in another thread) when I realized he's only made two posts ever and obviously only joined this forum so he could *** about the shirts.
Also, don't you think the apology was kind of lame? It was like one of those athletes who apologizes by saying, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended," implying that nothing that was done was wrong and the only problem is with the people who are complaining.
Also, don't you think the apology was kind of lame? It was like one of those athletes who apologizes by saying, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended," implying that nothing that was done was wrong and the only problem is with the people who are complaining.
It was absolutely lame. They had to have known that it would spark a controversy.
How about a caricature of a swimming great? You know, since it's a SWIM MEET?
It was absolutely lame. They had to have known that it would spark a controversy.
How about a caricature of a swimming great? You know, since it's a SWIM MEET?
Well, now that I've seen the picture, I kind of get it: put goggles on a famous person in a suit and tie. But there had to be someone else they could have used who was less controversial (Lincoln, for example).
This quote from the letter is absurd: "The logo, which was donated, is a spoof, a caricature of a topical figure - nothing more." How does the Obama logo on the lapel of the suit on the person in this "spoof, a caricature of a topical figure" make it anything less than campaign material endorsing Obama?
I think just a caricature of a business person...suit and tie, with the cap and goggles on is a brilliant idea since most Masters swimmers are working individuals and it would show the balance between the two "careers" that people have to make....but they ruined it when they made it resemble an actual person...let alone a politician.
its not just a famous person. its a well known image of a famous person that has been used by both supporters and opponents. anyone seeing this image at big shoulders for the first time is truly blessed to be so disconnected from current american politics.
anyway because it warrants repeating: if you've never received an event t-shirt that you consider unwearable, you just ain't swimmin enough........or you have even less fashion sense than i do (either = not good)
It was a blatant endorsement of a candidate.....should not have anything to do with the meet....unless you want to run a meet as a fundraiser for him....then I would have no problem with it....I personally would never attend that, but others might.
