This is one of my favorite pictures to date. Donovan's first race. The game-face is priceless. All intensity, all concentration....On the days leading up to it. He would announce to everyone we met about how we were traveling to Canada for his race. And, how he planned on going super fast.
Finally got a chance to write this- I wanted to share my thoughts on the WTC pro membership announcement, and on a discussion that ensued in widely-read triathlon forum.
Great move by the WTC for the WTC- it strenthens up their global branding, generates them more revenue, and intends to regulate the pros. What it means to the guys/gals paying the $750 yearly membership, aside from entry to WTC events, truly remains to be seen. For one thing, if I were to pay the $750, it would make me consider WTC events I would not have thought about before if only to get my $'s worth. I postulate the 5% and 8% rules attached to the announcement will result in a rise of DNFs in the pro ranks for the people looking for a pay-day/pro slots. What I would really like to see is the proposal for the anti doping program that supposedly will be encompassed by the membership. Now, that alone would be worth the fee. Look- I'm not saying everyone's a doper, but the enforcement just isn't there at present. I also think the (hefty) fee will likely make events outside of the WTC more popular. Finally, if an athlete union is born of all this, it would be sweet....
As far as the reaction the announcement triggered, it went off on several tangents, most of them dealing with economics, branding, and validation of the sport and its athletes racing as pros. On the latter topic, yeah, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and here is mine (Note-I am referring to guys/gals recognized as elites by the governing body of their respective national federations): The sport is big enough for everyone, and if some of us choose to race in the first wave, that is our decision- It has nothing to do with whether one does sport full-time or tries to fit in to life on top of an 8-5 job/family/etc. It is about bringing it on race-day. For those that are still in development, looking to deliver that one breakthrough performance, and/or have a bad day(s) at the races, I believe most still race our hearts out, represent hard for our sponsors and take nothing away from the winners. Or dilute the sport in any way. For those who argue the sport needs to be elevated to the likes of FIFA futbol, Nascar racing or the NBA... I get what you are saying, and I'd love to see the sport grow too. My opinion is triathlon, specially at the long-distance, is not (and will never be) a fan-based sport. Despite NBC heart-warming, award-winning Kona broadcasts, the weekend warriors and public in general look at triathletes as freaks- They neither relate to them nor the sport. I am not trying to be a negative dude, but that is my perception of reality. Mis dos centavos.
peace out
