The Football Foie Gras Dilemma

2011 will be known as the year I stopped looking at the ESPN homepage for anything interesting. Seems to me like we had the Superbowl followed by a few months of analyzing the Superbowl and then talking about next year's Superbowl followed by draft speculation. Then came various camps and scouting reports before the ever-so-wondrous Draft. Then came all the negotiations and that took up more of our time and just when it seems we may get one football-less week - BAM. Here's pre-season and there goes any chance of another sport making the homepage.

Now, this may peg me as a football hater - I'm not. I actually enjoy watching the games (not in a bar) and analyzing players and plays. I especially enjoy the water cooler conversations and smack talk. But I have to beg the question, why do we require fair and balanced reporting from our regular news programming but do not demand more from our sports coverage?

There is the ancient arguement of the almighty dollar. Yes. Admittedly, there is a huge football following and the media machine has been milking it for a long time. But, I counter with the following - where is the growth opportunity in football? There are some European teams, however they are not "drinking the Kool-Aid" so to speak. And China? Japan? The cultural norms of these countries do not lend themselves to the sport of football. So, there is clearly a large portion of the world that is not going to easily buy into the football machine. So, where will the money be in the future?

Triathlon. This is one of the largest growing sports in the country(15-20% annual growth for 10yrs) and globally popular, according to USA Triathlon. As far as dollars are concerned, the average income for a US triathlete is in the neighborhood of $126k/yr. They have families and travel and spend money on sporting equipment - did I also mention that there is a huge following worldwide already? Why are we not televising and capitalizing on this? During the 2004 Olympics, the Women's Triathlon event was the third most-watched prime time show for the week of Aug. 22, 2004. The athletes are way better looking than the brutes behind the masks and not to mention, much better role-models for our children. In addition, with three disciplines being displayed in one broadcast, you triple your number of potential viewers. Swimmers, runners and cyclists are all potential viewers in addition to triathletes. That also triples the number of available sponsors while providing a great feature/benefit analysis to said sponsors.

So, there is clearly an argument that there are sports outside of football that do exist in the world. The question is how do we get some airtime love for triathlon - outside of the Universal Sports Channel available only on DirectTV(#lame)? Normally, I would say it comes down to the viewers since we have all the money. However, it is the Nielsen Rating that rule the reporting - but how can you report watching something if it is not on the air to watch?

Alas, I do not have the answer. A bit anticlimactic, admittedly, but I'm hoping someone out there may know a way - I may suggest a bombarding of the ESPN facebook/twitter accounts of requests to broadcast ITU and Ironman events. Any thoughts? Keep in mind, we're doing it for ESPN's own good. It's all about the growth - football has been shoved down our throats for too long. I feel like a duck being prepped for foie gras - don't you? 

What's Your Story, Kimosabe?

As of late, I have viewed running as a discipline to be trained simply to be a better triathlete. In the past, I ran to be a part of something. In junior and high school my friends were runners and I wanted be part of their community. I always enjoyed the challenge and camaraderie. When I developed severe asthma and couldn’t run my sophomore year, I felt I had lost a part of myself as well as the connection to my friends. The idea of NOT being able to do something never sat well with me. I was determined to run. When I moved to Colorado Springs in 2005, I spent the summer huffing, puffing and gagging on treadmills and trails until I knew my lungs were strong enough to call myself a “runner.”

This past weekend I competed in a 70.3 triathlon. I saw so many levels of racers. Even as my swim wave treaded water at the start buoy, the announcer asked to see how many women were doing their first ½ Ironman that morning. It was inspiring to see the raised hands and the nervous smiles accompanied by a squeal of excitement that can only be emitted by women between the ages of 18-29.  On my flight home, I was reading the September issue of Runner’s World magazine. I came across the following quotes:

“This sport has taught me what freedom really means” “…this program helps them realize they can achieve their goals” “For the first time we had a positive experience for everybody…”

I started to think about those women at the race and what motivated them to run triathlon. It reminded me why I started running and racing triathlon – to overcome a weakness that I saw in myself. I was committed to harnessing the power of my body and mind and channel my energy into places I could control as opposed to wasting energy worrying about those I could not. My lungs wanted to be weak but my mind said, “no way dude.”

Everyone has a story. Through triathlon, I have met some of the most amazing people. Their stories keep me grounded and humble. It is easy and trite to compare a marathon or a triathlon to the trials and tribulations of life – “mind over body” “one foot in front of the other” “spandex is a privilege not a right.” But what about on race day? Ever catch yourself sizing up the competition based upon the aero-ness of their helmet? We’ve all been there – whether you are a runner, triathlete, golfer, bowler, thespian, or big game hunter (also known as Cougar Catcher) there are certain times when judging becomes natural and seemingly part of the process. But next time you go to judge, try to think of their story. Think back to why you started and the rookie moves you made. Why are they racing with slime tubes? Who told them the speedo looked great? Maybe they can’t change flats and are willing to make the sacrifice of weight and they lost a bet so they must proudly adorn a Speedo – or they’re just proud of their package. You’re call on that one.

Bottom line, try to hear the story. You might just learn something.  

Peace.Love.Bikes

#iTRI

I Get Knocked Down...

This morning was another tough workout with the TriScottsdale crew. Every Tuesday and Thursday I go out for a ride with TriScottsdale or ONEMultisport and push myself to the limits. Sometimes I can hang and sometimes...well, I just have to let the front of the pack ride off into the horizon while I try to regain consciousness from the black-out pain in my legs. This morning I was not in a battling mood. I have a race next weekend and am just getting in miles without injury at the moment (working through some IT band stuff). So as the leaders pulled away, I enjoyed the view of fit men in spandex and laughed. Oddly enough was the song that popped into my head - Chumbawamba - I Get Knocked Down. I could hardly believe my fortune. Such a happy song on such a sticky humid morning when I would normally be beating myself up for not catching the front group on the hills. Nope. Not this morning. I got knocked down, and I stayed there relishing the moment, basking in the proverbial rays of defeat. Post ride, I went for a run with Lewis Elliot and one other team member just to let my quads know they don't own me. What? Someone has to show them who's boss - I can't have them getting unruley.

Moral of the story? I get knocked down, but I get up again...You're never gonna keep me down.

PeaceLoveBikes - that's why #iTRI