fencing and the US media

[nahouw]

Originally posted by Mo
Fencing already is TV friendly if there is an announcer that knows diddly squat.
When the US starts winning medals in fencing, which it is now, it will be on TV, like it is now.

Was Sada J. on TV because that particular event was more friendly??
HECK NO! She was there because she won.

The American Public likes to win and think of themselves as winners by what American Athletes can do.

I totally agree with Mo. Fencing is already TV friendly if there is an announcer that knows something about fencing. When I was in Holland several years ago, I got to watch the World Championships in Switzerland live. Of course, a truer gauge of what is media friendly in the US is if the USA wins medals.

At the World Cup in NY, there were ESPN announcers there doing commentary while the finals bouts were going on. I don't know if anyone educated them about fencing, or if they just did their commentary on the fly, but some of what they were saying was pretty funny. For example, at one point, they were looking for more crowd reaction and response for either fencer, obviously to make it more exciting for TV. But, unfortunately, they were asking for this during the Gold Medal bout in Men's Sabre, with 2 Italians -- everybody in fencing knows that you shouldn't cheer one way or the other when two compatriates are fencing -- it is not proper protocol. And then another funny incident was when one of the women's sabre fencers needed to tie her shoe lace -- the commentator actually said so-and-so is tying her shoe lace -- I mean, what's with that -- she is just tying her shoelace, a normal occurrence in any bout -- if you are a commentator and are used to constantly talking, you would fill the air with that -- the better option was to just let dead air space -- viewers could she that she was just tying her shoe lace -- it isn't anything related to any action, so it is something that shouldn't be comentated upon. There were other peculiar comments from the commentators, but I won't list them...you just had to be there......

In Havana, there were televisions crews looking for Sada and Keeth (I think there was ABC and CBS). Never, have any television crews looked for American fencers in Havana, and probably anywhere else in the world; however, their strong finishes in NY got their attention.

[schlager7]

Originally posted by remise
Participation and education. Most people honestly believe that fencing involves swinging from chandeliers, curtains, and jumping with swords down a flight of stairs. Hollywood has damaged fencing more than helped it.

I have had the occasion to approach several TV personalities and ask them if they would like to come to our local club and give fencing a try. Their response,"I am not athletic enough to swing from a curtain or a chandelier."

These were faces that Marylanders see on TV all of the time. Perception is 9/10ths of reality. We have GOT to change the perception, first.

These words come from Maryland? Where the state sport is jousting?

[arcon]

It may take 50 years but fencing (WILL) change. The only damn thing in this society thats consistant is change. A new generation will make it more colorful,more "tv friendly" and we will be watching from our rocking chairs. It starts with a few rebels then becomes a movement. If you dont believe this then look at the changes in other sports(especially individualistic sports). Many have become more extreme and full of color. Its just a matter of time

arcon

[Inquartata]

Yet you assume that TV and sports-viewing ( and chairs? ) will still be the same by then?

Maybe we will have moved on to different technologies entirely by then...

[sabresamurai]

my opinion is that fencing is not a sport for spectation....it is very fast and most people would have no clue to what just happened. however if you ever have fenced in your life before you will know what happened so i think to understand fencing you need to fence

[SJB]

355,

The CFF has made deals,tenatively,to get the CBC to broadcast both the elite nationals and the Epee world cup this year.

The elite nationals were supposed to be broadcast last year as well but they were not due to a paperwork snafu.

[CSports]

I have had the opportunity to view 5 tournaments in the last year.
What I have seen, is that the t's are fencer friendly, however they are extremely difficult for a spectator to view and I did question the consistency of the Judging.

I am a former Rugby player and referee on a territorial level and We in the Rugby community did not see a substantial increase in TV until we did two things- First Improved and standardized the refereeing and cleaned up the sidelines. At a recent event, I saw some truly great refs and on the other hand, I saw some abysmal people calling themselves refs one man was turning and waving to his friends during matches he was supposed to be watching?). The two things that we in the Rugby community had to learn and it was a very hard lesson- Just because someone speaks with an accent, does not make them an expert and just because they are a great coach, does not make them a good ref. A saw a man that had earlier refereed, chastising a referees during the match! He did not call him aside to help to understand what he needed to improve- he basically yelled to stop the match and correct(?)no he admonished The referee. I thought to myself “HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THE BLAZER- THE UNIFORM”
I believe , as a new spectator, that T’s need to clean up the side lines- It is almost impossible to get a clear picture of the mat. Fencer and coaches will come and stand directly in front of you and look at you with a p** off attitude or tell you or tell you that if you mention that you have been sitting there to watch the match. You need to furnish and enforce seating for the fencers and their equipment. You need to package your product so that it is viewer friendly. At another recent T, the condensing of the direct elimination rounds came to be in a very hap hazard fashion, very hard to follow the flow ( a DE round and then a beginning pool. There was a set off section with grandstands- It would have been a very valuable tool to locate ALL semi and Finals held in that area- the best viewing for the best matches. Give the final some respect whether it be 12 year olds or division 1.



thanks you
Chris
this is just a newbie's to fencing oppinion, but I HAVE gone thru with this in Rugby. Just think you are now seeing rugby in commercials and on TV.

[Event Horizon]

Originally posted by Craig
The USFA only has 17,000 members. The USTA (US Tennis Assoc) has over 700,000. 700,000 registered members and still not a lot of tennis on the tube.

I wonder how many people are actively fencing that are not members of the USFA. I know it wouldn't be as high as the numbers for the USTA but I imagine it has to be in the thousands.

[Wizardly]

I don't recall where I read this (USFA newsletter maybe?), but I read that estimates place the number of fencers in the country above 100,000. It might be helpful if the USFA had some kind of census membership, no fee, just leave a name and be counted.