The latest bit of nonsense from the FIE, screwing with the rules, really has me thinking that the best thing that could happen to fencing is that it be dropped from the Olympic Games. Then perhaps we would lose some of the vast superstructure of officialdom and gratuitous rule-making that has evolved during the reign of Rene the Roach, and get back to fencing.

1. I'm not against change that improves the sport. I think electric scoring and the banning of continuous cross-overs has helped sabre immeasureably.

2. I am not against change that makes the sport more comprehensible or attractive to non-fencing audiences, via television. I would love to see a workable (read, not over-complicated or expensive) wireless scoring system, based on RF technology, with suitable encryption/anti-tampering capability. I am immeasurably irritated by random, "seems like a good idea" change that is not supported by the least bit of marketing research. I would put the visor masks (which I continue to believe are one of the greatest hoaxes ever) and the recent changes to foil and sabre timing in this category.

3. I believe that web-casting and other methods of promulgation are in fact the best way to promote the sport and show it to people who are interested/might be interested. IMNSHO, fencing is and always will be a niche sport--the challenge is to identify members of the niche group that might or already are interested in it, and market to them--not to try to market it across the board and compete with established mass market sports. Reality check--fencing is never going to be football, baseball, basketball, snow-boarding or beach volleyball. Quit thinking like it will. Also, people need to look at what happens to pop sports (racketball in the US, squash in Europe). Not that fencing would ever be a pop sport, but even a minor boom and bust cycle can hurt badly.

4. The key word is "research." Do the god-damned research. There is enough money in the sport to fund some real work into questions about who is interested in fencing, what do they like or not like about the current presentation of fencing, what would work and what would not work in terms of increasing participation and viewing audiences. The powers that be might not like the answers, but data is always better than guesswork.