Chris Egi Commits to Harvard

[GGGG]

Crew is an international and Olympic sport. To suggest it is a marginal or trivial past time is naïve if not ignorant.

It is marginal in the sports world of America today...which is exactly the context in which AnotherMU84 was making an argument.

No one doubts that Harvard Crew is important to alumni of Harvard.  No one doubts that there are a fair number of people who are interested in Crew as a sport.  However, that doesn't mean that the sport has a wide degree of popularity.  And it doesn't mean that it is going to drive the Ivy League to be more of an athletic power **IN THE CONTEXT** that Another was using.  (See, let's go back to the original point of the thread...and not turn it into something else it wasn't meant to be.)

Believe me, my kids ran cross country in high school.  Running is the in the Olympics too, and a lot of people like to go to random cross country meets even if they don't have a rooting interest.  And I absolutely loved going to the meets and being part of that.  But even I know that this doesn't mean that cross country is another more than a small drop in the American sports pond.

[keefe]

It is marginal in the sports world of America today...which is exactly the context in which AnotherMU84 was making an argument.

No one doubts that Harvard Crew is important to alumni of Harvard.  No one doubts that there are a fair number of people who are interested in Crew as a sport.  However, that doesn't mean that the sport has a wide degree of popularity.  And it doesn't mean that it is going to drive the Ivy League to be more of an athletic power **IN THE CONTEXT** that Another was using.  (See, let's go back to the original point of the thread...and not turn it into something else it wasn't meant to be.)

Believe me, my kids ran cross country in high school.  Running is the in the Olympics too, and a lot of people like to go to random cross country meets even if they don't have a rooting interest.  And I absolutely loved going to the meets and being part of that.  But even I know that this doesn't mean that cross country is another more than a small drop in the American sports pond.

AnotherMU84's point is that the Ivies are competitive in a number of sports and can become so in football with changes in financial support. He also argues that the Ivies are now competitive in significant sports, which includes Crew. Your opinion that Crew is not a major sport is just that - your opinion. In the history and ongoing life of certain universities Crew is a vital element of what constitutes their identity. Your ignorance of that perspective notwithstanding, Crew has helped define the collegiate experience of students in many countries since before the American Civil War.

[GGGG]

AnotherMU84's point is that the Ivies are competitive in a number of sports and can become so in football with changes in financial support. He also argues that the Ivies are now competitive in significant sports, which includes Crew. Your opinion that Crew is not a major sport is just that - your opinion. In the history and ongoing life of certain universities Crew is a vital element of what constitutes their identity. Your ignorance of that perspective notwithstanding, Crew has helped define the collegiate experience of students in many countries since before the American Civil War.

I know that crew is important in the lives of some universities.  I even acknowledged that.

But that doesn't make it a major sport.  It is a fringe sport with a small, but passionate, fanbase.  You can call me ignorant all you want, but you simply are unwilling to admit the obvious.

[keefe]

I know that crew is important in the lives of some universities.  I even acknowledged that.

But that doesn't make it a major sport.  It is a fringe sport with a small, but passionate, fanbase.  You can call me ignorant all you want, but you simply are unwilling to admit the obvious.

Crew is a major intercollegiate sport governed by the NCAA. So is Track and Field. And Lacrosse. And Baseball. And Volleyball. Why you say otherwise is puzzling.

[GGGG]

Crew is a major intercollegiate sport governed by the NCAA. So is Track and Field. And Lacrosse. And Baseball. And Volleyball. Why you say otherwise is puzzling.

Duh.  Because it has a small fanbase when compared to the major sports.

Seriously...stop being so intentionally obtuse. 

[Nukem2]

Crew is a major intercollegiate sport governed by the NCAA. So is Track and Field. And ed spLacrosse. And Baseball. And Volleyball. Why you say otherwise is puzzling.

All folks are saying is that most view those collegiate sports as "minor". Spectator interest and/or attendance for those collegiate sports is very limited other than rather limited situations around the country on a case by case basis.  Certainly these collegiate sports are of great interest to some, but most just don't care.

[keefe]

Duh.  Because it has a small fanbase when compared to the major sports.

Seriously...stop being so intentionally obtuse.  

Small fan base? As evidenced by the hundreds of thousands who watch the Harvard-Yale Regatta? That figure is more than the total home season attendance of Marquette basketball. Add in the 50,000 at each Harvard-hosted Regatta on the Charles and Marquette's home attendance is dwarfed by Harvard Crew. I guess, then, that Marquette Basketball is minor compared to Harvard Crew.

Stop being so obtuse. Intentionally so, I presume. Seriously.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Small fan base? As evidenced by the hundreds of thousands who watch the Harvard-Yale Regatta? That figure is more than the total home season attendance of Marquette basketball. Add in the 50,000 at each Harvard-hosted Regatta on the Charles and Marquette's home attendance is dwarfed by Harvard Crew. I guess, then, that Marquette Basketball is minor compared to Harvard Crew.

Stop being so obtuse. Intentionally so, I presume. Seriously.

Television.

[GGGG]

Small fan base? As evidenced by the hundreds of thousands who watch the Harvard-Yale Regatta? That figure is more than the total home season attendance of Marquette basketball. Add in the 50,000 at each Harvard-hosted Regatta on the Charles and Marquette's home attendance is dwarfed by Harvard Crew. I guess, then, that Marquette Basketball is minor compared to Harvard Crew.

Stop being so obtuse. Intentionally so, I presume. Seriously.

Is crew broadcast on any major network?  No.
Does the total crew attendance rival total football or basketball attendance?  No.
Do you find crew highlights regularly on ESPN and their ilk?  No.

Minor sport.

[keefe]

Is crew broadcast on any major network?  No.
Does the total crew attendance rival total football or basketball attendance?  No.
Do you find crew highlights regularly on ESPN and their ilk?  No.

Minor sport.

Actually, Crew/Rowing is broadcast. Globally. By ESPN. Numerous cable outlets. The BBC. Global Television. Fox Aus. Sky TV. J Sports. Sony Six. Sony Sport. BT Sport. Euro Sport. Total global viewership of all Crew/Rowing Events in 2010 exceeded 800 million.

Major Sport.

Stop being so provincial. Reminds me of the Texan who said, "Hey, there's a city in France named Paris, too!"

[Nukem2]

Actually, Crew/Rowing is broadcast. Globally. By ESPN. Numerous cable outlets. The BBC. Global Television. Fox Aus. Sky TV. J Sports. Sony Six. Sony Sport. BT Sport. Euro Sport. Total global viewership of all Crew/Rowing Events in 2010 exceeded 800 million.

Major Sport.

Stop being so provincial. Reminds me of the Texan who said, "Hey, there's a city in France named Paris, too!"

Suspect we are speaking of the USA.  Crew and Rowing are almost invisible here from the perspective of the greater public.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

This is one of the dumber arguements I've ever seen on here.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Small fan base? As evidenced by the hundreds of thousands who watch the Harvard-Yale Regatta? That figure is more than the total home season attendance of Marquette basketball. Add in the 50,000 at each Harvard-hosted Regatta on the Charles and Marquette's home attendance is dwarfed by Harvard Crew. I guess, then, that Marquette Basketball is minor compared to Harvard Crew.

Stop being so obtuse. Intentionally so, I presume. Seriously.

Here you go Keefe.  The latest Yankee Magazine has an interesting article on the Charles River Regatta.  Interesting read about the women's crew team who was posed to take gold and break the Communist rower's block, but never got the chance due to the 1980 Olympic boycott.

http://digital.turn-page.com/i/155274/107

[Carl Spackler]

Marquette doesn't have crew but many schools do.

everyone who rowed crew at Marquette would disagree.  i rowed at the Head of the Charles--the largest crew regatta in the world.  100,000 people line the bank of the Charles.  that doesn't make it a major sport.

http://marquettecrew.com/

[GGGG]

Actually, Crew/Rowing is broadcast. Globally. By ESPN. Numerous cable outlets. The BBC. Global Television. Fox Aus. Sky TV. J Sports. Sony Six. Sony Sport. BT Sport. Euro Sport. Total global viewership of all Crew/Rowing Events in 2010 exceeded 800 million.

Major Sport.

Broadcast sparsely and only when there are special events.  Seriously, how many times is it broadcast on ESPN and the like?  Now contrast that with college basketball, football and even baseball.

Minor sport. 

I know it is really hard for your elitist nature to believe that you are into something that isn't all that popular, but you'll get over it I'm sure.

[Lennys Tap]

I know it is really hard for your elitist nature to believe that you are into something that isn't all that popular, but you'll get over it I'm sure.

I always thought that the true elitist was, at least in part, defined as one looking down on what is "popular". An elitist insisting his hobbies, sports, etc., seems contradictory to me.

[GGGG]

I always thought that the true elitist was, at least in part, defined as one looking down on what is "popular". An elitist insisting his hobbies, sports, etc., seems contradictory to me.

Yeah, as soon as I typed it I thought the same thing.  But I'm not going to bother to edit it.

[keefe]

Here you go Keefe.  The latest Yankee Magazine has an interesting article on the Charles River Regatta.  Interesting read about the women's crew team who was posed to take gold and break the Communist rower's block, but never got the chance due to the 1980 Olympic boycott.

http://digital.turn-page.com/i/155274/107

Thanks, Nutmeg. I liked the vignette on Arlett. I had heard the format was brought over from the UK but didn't know details. HOCR is quite an event. Amazing how such a minor sport has such an enthusiastic global following.

This is my favorite time of year in your neck of the woods. Middlebury always had Parent's Weekend at the peak of foliage season and it was always stunning. I can smell the wood fires and picture the burst of colors. New England in Autumn is fabulous.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Thanks, Nutmeg. I liked the vignette on Arlett. I had heard the format was brought over from the UK but didn't know details. HOCR is quite an event. Amazing how such a minor sport has such an enthusiastic global following.

This is my favorite time of year in your neck of the woods. Middlebury always had Parent's Weekend at the peak of foliage season and it was always stunning. I can smell the wood fires and picture the burst of colors. New England in Autumn is fabulous.

The timing of that article was too coincidental.

I'm near Long Island Sound, so my leaves (as well as all of coastal Connecticut) change much later than the rest of the New England.  Most of my leaves are still green other than some of the hickory trees which are starting to turn.  It'll be 3 weeks until peak in my yard.  When my wife and built a home addition over a decade ago we included a bay window in our master bedroom overlooking the backyard specifically for this time of year.

[CTWarrior]

Believe me, my kids ran cross country in high school.  ...  And I absolutely loved going to the meets and being part of that.  

Holy cow, you're a great dad!  I love my son, but I went to one cross country meet and that was enough for me.  Watching them run off into the woods and then see them come out 20 minutes later for the finish isn't exactly thrilling.  Enjoyed the baseball games very much, though.

Last year my son rowed crew at Lehigh.  He's a big kid and was recruited on campus after never having rowed before and eventually ended up on the Novice (Freshman) 4 boat.  Talk about an elitist sport.  I ran into a bunch of MU alums at the Dad Vail Regatta (the year end regatta for many schools) in Philadelphia.  I was surprised t see Marquette now had crew and. as usual, Marquette alums were a fun bunch.  Of course, Marquette isn't all that good at crew so they were eliminated the first day while my son's boat won their heat and raced day 2.  So I hung around with the Lehigh folks on that day.  I wasn't at the Lehigh tent for 5 minutes when I overheard this,  "I hope he finishes his race early today.  I was supposed to go shopping for a new polo pony."  Not my crowd, to say the least.

[keefe]

The timing of that article was too coincidental.

I'm near Long Island Sound, so my leaves (as well as all of coastal Connecticut) change much later than the rest of the New England.  Most of my leaves are still green other than some of the hickory trees which are starting to turn.  It'll be 3 weeks until peak in my yard.  When my wife and built a home addition over a decade ago we included a bay window in our master bedroom overlooking the backyard specifically for this time of year.

I recall you saying you were near New Haven. My cousins grew up in Greenwich and I made lots of trips to Fairfield and Stamford so I am familiar with the LI Sound atmosphere. GE Cap tried to get me to move there a few times but I wanted to stay in Asia. But I always appreciated my trips to that area, especially in Fall. And I'll admit one of my first destinations was always a small family-owned pizzeria in Stamford as it was impossible to find the real thing in Asia.

 

[Newsdreams]

Holy cow, you're a great dad!  I love my son, but I went to one cross country meet and that was enough for me.  Watching them run off into the woods and then see them come out 20 minutes later for the finish isn't exactly thrilling.  Enjoyed the baseball games very much, though.

Last year my son rowed crew at Lehigh.  He's a big kid and was recruited on campus after never having rowed before and eventually ended up on the Novice (Freshman) 4 boat.  Talk about an elitist sport.  I ran into a bunch of MU alums at the Dad Vail Regatta (the year end regatta for many schools) in Philadelphia.  I was surprised t see Marquette now had crew and. as usual, Marquette alums were a fun bunch.  Of course, Marquette isn't all that good at crew so they were eliminated the first day while my son's boat won their heat and raced day 2.  So I hung around with the Lehigh folks on that day.  I wasn't at the Lehigh tent for 5 minutes when I overheard this,  "I hope he finishes his race early today.  I was supposed to go shopping for a new polo pony."  Not my crowd, to say the least.

Marquette had crew club at least since '79 when I was a freshman and they always went to major regattas and competed against some major d1 teams.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Holy cow, you're a great dad!  I love my son, but I went to one cross country meet and that was enough for me.  Watching them run off into the woods and then see them come out 20 minutes later for the finish isn't exactly thrilling.  Enjoyed the baseball games very much, though.

Last year my son rowed crew at Lehigh.  He's a big kid and was recruited on campus after never having rowed before and eventually ended up on the Novice (Freshman) 4 boat.  Talk about an elitist sport.  I ran into a bunch of MU alums at the Dad Vail Regatta (the year end regatta for many schools) in Philadelphia.  I was surprised t see Marquette now had crew and. as usual, Marquette alums were a fun bunch.  Of course, Marquette isn't all that good at crew so they were eliminated the first day while my son's boat won their heat and raced day 2.  So I hung around with the Lehigh folks on that day.  I wasn't at the Lehigh tent for 5 minutes when I overheard this,  "I hope he finishes his race early today.  I was supposed to go shopping for a new polo pony."  Not my crowd, to say the least.

CTW - I think you live close to me.  Is it Stratford?  I'm a X-Country veteran from high school and I still run.  I can admit viewing XC is not as exciting as it is running it.  My now middle schooler is following dad's footsteps and she's running XC this fall.   A meet against one team is not as exciting as an Invitational when you have 20+ teams in a race and they jockey for position before hitting the trail portion and then there's the final sprint with a large group (OK - kind of like horse racing). 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I recall you saying you were near New Haven. My cousins grew up in Greenwich and I made lots of trips to Fairfield and Stamford so I am familiar with the LI Sound atmosphere. GE Cap tried to get me to move there a few times but I wanted to stay in Asia. But I always appreciated my trips to that area, especially in Fall. And I'll admit one of my first destinations was always a small family-owned pizzeria in Stamford as it was impossible to find the real thing in Asia.

 

I'm like a 12 minute drive from Yale U. & DT New Haven.
Good call staying in Asia.  I used to love my business trips to China.  I switched jobs back in 2007 simply because it would take me to Asia (not just China) more often, but that ended in 2009 with the economy crash.  A must do in a visit to Connecticut is pizza.  My brother and other friends (born Nutmeggers) when they visit home, their first request is always "can we go somewhere to get a real pizza please."

[CTWarrior]

CTW - I think you live close to me.  Is it Stratford?  

Yup.  Which side of New Haven for you?