The IOC has become the slave to the television broadcaster, who dictate what is going to pull in viewers. It’s no longer about athletics, it’s about ratings and advertising revenues !
This was an absolutely hilarious strip today! I just wish it would’ve been a Sunday strip, so the mounting absurdity could have mounted a few panels higher! (By the way, isn’t the very definition of Sumo wrestling “shoving” ?)
Political correctness has nothing to do with it. Wrestling is a marginal sport with a comparatively small following in a handful of countries. And considering that one of the sports replacing it is rugby, which involves, among other things, the occasional tackle-him-by-yanking-his-shorts-down, I really don’t get how the “moral majority” is involved in this one..Look at it this way, kids: when this story first broke, ESPN did a phone interview with a former Olympic medalist. Guess who they picked. Dan Gable, the living legend? Nope. Cael Sanderson, the greatest wrestler this country has ever produced? Wrong. Rulan Gardner, the biggest amateur wrestling celebrity of the last twenty years? Nuh-uh..Kurt Angle. Yes, the guy who was in the WWE for a while..The plain and simple fact is that amateur wrestling has been dying as a spectator sport for years, and the IOC is actually playing catch-up on this one.
hawki79 about 11 years ago
It’s way early, but the 2013 SJOY should be the IOC.
pschearer Premium Member about 11 years ago
If there were an agreed-on definition of “sport”, the IOC could throw out maybe half the events.
Linguist about 11 years ago
The IOC has become the slave to the television broadcaster, who dictate what is going to pull in viewers. It’s no longer about athletics, it’s about ratings and advertising revenues !
JustPlainBob about 11 years ago
Ah. The moral majority has taken over. Ban two men rolling around on the floor half naked, but keep the rifle shooting events.
Godfreydaniel about 11 years ago
This was an absolutely hilarious strip today! I just wish it would’ve been a Sunday strip, so the mounting absurdity could have mounted a few panels higher! (By the way, isn’t the very definition of Sumo wrestling “shoving” ?)
Dr Lou Premium Member about 11 years ago
This line gives me even more reasons to claim why I never listen to sports call in shows.
phoenixnyc about 11 years ago
Political correctness has nothing to do with it. Wrestling is a marginal sport with a comparatively small following in a handful of countries. And considering that one of the sports replacing it is rugby, which involves, among other things, the occasional tackle-him-by-yanking-his-shorts-down, I really don’t get how the “moral majority” is involved in this one..Look at it this way, kids: when this story first broke, ESPN did a phone interview with a former Olympic medalist. Guess who they picked. Dan Gable, the living legend? Nope. Cael Sanderson, the greatest wrestler this country has ever produced? Wrong. Rulan Gardner, the biggest amateur wrestling celebrity of the last twenty years? Nuh-uh..Kurt Angle. Yes, the guy who was in the WWE for a while..The plain and simple fact is that amateur wrestling has been dying as a spectator sport for years, and the IOC is actually playing catch-up on this one.