truespode
Moderator / Wheelie King
- Jun 30, 1999
- 7,990
- 252
Originally posted by Patman
EXACTLY the reason to up the expectaions of what is said and done! If SX/MX is to ever start to recieve the support of mainstream America it must either choose to project an image of being a professional sport or a side show but trying to be both will get it no place.
You mean they have to act as civilized and mature as those in Football and Basketball? I would say that Stewart acts with more composure and class than over half of the participants in any stick and ball sport.
Jordan was mentioned earlier too. He has transcended sports but don't forget the comments he has made about winning and the trash talk he has done in the game. It is part of the competition and it gives the journalists something to write about and without something to write about nothing goes mainstream.
The point is our sport will grow based on the sport. MC did a lot for bringing viewers to the sport and they came to watch him ride and win. Now we have more viewers and different personalities that make up mainstream America. For every fan that TP brings in with his good boy image Stewart brings in with his excitement and smile along with what he says on the podium. Then there are the devout religious who like Lusks faith and the Canadians who pull for Blair Morgan and... and... and...
If all of our riders were to behave the same our sport would not grow. It is now at a level where all different personalities can find someone to root for and pay to see. That is what being part of mainstream is... it is crossing cultural and social economic boundaries. Our sport of SX/MX is now in movies, commercials and Disney. Each of the personalities are portrayed now (the cocky Frenchman and the overeager shop owner in Motocrossed just for example).
I think it is great b/c the best thing that is happening is that I get to watch great riders race. The only reason I like the mainstream aspect of the sport is b/c it is recruiting athletes that in the past may have not tried our sport. Other than that I could care less who enjoys it other than myself :) I just want to ride and watch the best in the sport compete against each other. Even if there were only 100 total enthusiasts in this sport I'd still be doing the same thing.
Finally, the fact that people dislike Stewart and that others like him is the exact type of thing that will take the sport more into mainstream b/c it gives us the divisiveness in sport to talk about around the watercooler. Without a hero and without a villain there is not mainstream.
The participant is as important as the shelf (lame attempt at making reference to a funny ESPN commercial).
Ivan