The Big Shoulders swim, held in Chicago Sept 6th. Offered the new look in USMS sanctioned swims, political partianship. For a link to the discussion go here http:/.../showthread.php This is the same organization that is running next years Nationals. USMS, you need to address this.
Former Member
I believe everything is political. I am very Liberal. I think the race organizers are doing campaign acts through the shirt. You might have put problems on Sen. Obama's campaign. How could anyone put a person who isn't even a swimmer on a tshirt. Could any one come up with a better picture?
Former Member
Also curious: who made the donation of the "charicature?" Was it the DNC? Was it Obama's camapign? There are more troubling issues with all of this than what meets the eye.
Very troubling indeed. Almost as troubling, in fact, as your inability to spell caricature.
Former Member
Well, yeah, but how many race shirts do you get that suck? I mean, putting a political candidate on a shirt didn't make it the first shirt your meet fees paid for that sucked, right?
There's always the risk you're paying for a shirt you don't like and will never wear. I have many, and I shall never want when I am looking for rags to wax the car!
In some running races now they give you the option of paying less to enter if you don't want the shirt. I like that!
I realize not all meet shirts are class acts that you would wear on a regular basis but I can honestly say that I have never gotten a shirt from a meet that I would flat out not wear to the gym, while doing yard work, working in the barn, at the beach, at another swim meet, etc...
maybe it's because I'm 22 years old and love t-shirts for those above purposes....
But, I would NOT wear that shirt in public regardless...I am a republican, but it doesn't really matter to me...I wouldn't have worn a McCain shirt either....I think politics and sports mixing is ridiculous and I wouldn't want to be at the gym or something and have to explain my absurd shirt to someone.
Former Member
My shirt went directly into the trash.
Then you'll be heartened to know that the organizers are planning to sell more. If you tell me your size I can order you a replacement.
Big shoulders.
www.x-rep.com/.../CarrotTop1.jpg
Bigger shoulders.
farm4.static.flickr.com/.../2838423561_c6fa9c8a91_o.jpg
Should have had a swimmer on the shirt.
Sports, and politics, (and religion) don't mix very well.
Can anyone believe Carrot Top got beat out this year for sexiest man alive? :cry:
They could have put a non-swimmer on the shirt and done it in an amusing way. As people have suggested, with the race being in Illinois, Lincoln in goggles would have worked just fine.
USMS has heard the concerns expressed about the t-shirts and awards used by the Big Shoulders event organizers. USMS and its Illinois Local Masters Swim Committee issued a sanction to the Big Shoulders race based upon how the competition would be conducted. Event merchandise and awards were not shown to USMS or the LMSC or included in the sanction determination prior to the race.
USMS and its LMSCs do not promote or engage in political or lobbying activities or endorse candidates for office. USMS regrets any unintended association between USMS and the event organizers' decision to use a candidate's image on t-shirts and awards and apologizes to those who were offended by this use.
In addition, this and related threads are being closed. A number of posts have strayed into political discourse and have been deleted (as per USMS policy). The next step would be to ban posters of serious or satiric political posts, however I believe at this point our best course of action is to close the threads and move on. Hopefully everyone has had their opportunity to comment. Please feel free to PM me if you strongly object.
"Shut up and swim!!" Sound like a little 4 year old!!! You ever going to grow up and argue like a real man....other than calling people names and telling them to "Shut up"?
I can't take credit for this quote. I saw it on a t-shirt, seemed appropriate for this thread.
