Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like TYR, Diana, Jaked, and blueseventy create a pro league that has an external governing body way outside of FINA's jurisdiction?
Could this happen to Swimming:
"Formula one racing teams drop breakaway bombshell!"
Anyone remember Keith Bell & Sandy Neilsen-Bell?
When I was a young whipper-snapper swimmer, Keith used to be brought in (by our club's then head coach, Terry Laughlin) for guest lectures. He was GREAT!
FAST SWIMMING by PSYCHED AND EXCITED SWIMMERS IS "SEXY".
And I mean sexy as in -> people are attracted to it and will begin to care, watch and follow the sport.
do you think people would follow beach volleyball if the sport was "advancing" with ankle to neck attire?
for a sport to be commercially viable it would have to attract hoards of "non-swimmers" as fans (ask them what they think of watching a 1500) how many commercials did the broadcasters squeeze into those 15 minute races during the olympics?
how many folks on this forum sat through the entire 10k last olympics?........ i did.
I don't think there is enought money in swimming for a pro league. But they could certainly start their own series of swims with prize money and allow their suits to be worn by the competitors.
They could start an organization to compete with FINA, with National and World Championships. They would have to hire officials and rent pools etc.
Other sports have done it!
If FINA bans their suits they might have to do it.
I wouldn't mind picking up some change for a top 10 finish in my age group in the in the 2010 BLUE70/ARENA CLASSIC.
It would be pretty silly if it did. Swimming competitions are about swimmer vs swimmer. Not swimmer with suit X vs swimmer with suit Y. FINA should have gone further IMHO and banned all suits apart from the traditional ones before Thorpe started out with that suit years ago...
David
Anyone remember Keith Bell & Sandy Neilsen-Bell?
www.americanswimmingassociation.com/
i swam with keith and sandy yesterday at mashpee. i love what they are doing, but their approach is certainly a low tech one. the ASA philosophy as i understand it is "if it doesn't make you faster; you shouldn't be DQed for it.....
but, certainly anti tech-suit anti wet-suit (oh yea... anti drafting too!)
PS the highland lakes challenge is the best way i know of to spend a week in the austin area! clear your calendars the last week of october.
