Is it just me? (16)

Is it just me?
by Donald 22 years ago

Yes, just you .
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Donald 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Donald 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Peter 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Donald 22 years ago

Its just not cricket.
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Re: Its just not cricket.
by Donald 22 years ago

Re: Its just not cricket.
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Re: Its just not cricket.
by Donald 22 years ago

Re: Its just not cricket.
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Your Comments on the Killerspin Extreme
by Robert Blackwell Jr. 20 years ago

Re: Its just not cricket.
by Iany Ari 20 years ago

Re:This web site sucks
by Adrian 21 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Donald 22 years ago

Re: Yes, just you .
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Very well
by Donald 22 years ago

Fair Play
by Hawk eyed 22 years ago

Thank you
by Donald 22 years ago

The following message (subject: Re: Its just not cricket.) was posted by Donald, on 12/16/2002 10:43:20 AM:

Hello Hawk eyed,

Being familiar with Sean O'Neill's discussion board, I am certain that you are no stranger to the latest effort to popularize table tennis in the US in the form of the Killerspin Extreme Championships.

I applaud any effort to popularize the sport anywhere in the world but I fear that while the event will be a success, the stated longterm goal will be a failure. It may potentially serve to galvanize the one's in attendance who will mostly be USATT card carrying table tennis enthusiasts but how this one tournament will serve to convert the uninitiated is anyone's guess.

It is claimed that the tournament will be viewed by over 200 million people via television but who will comprise this number? The Chinese public? How will that serve to popularize the sport in the US?

I think Killerpsin certainly has ambitious goals and they have certainly thrown alot of money into this effort. In the end, however, I am exceedingly skeptical that this effort will yield the result of table tennis becoming a "major sport" in the US. It simply isn't going to happen except with a more mundane grassroots effort where it is introduced into the schools (and who then will teach?).

I have seen film footage of matches in the both the US and England where thousands were in attendance. This was back in the hardbat days of the 1930's and 40's. The "glory days" of table tennis in both these great nations has come and gone. I think it might actually be even worse in the US than in England. England has the better talent as evidenced by such notables as Mathew Syed who would come to the US every year and win the Sear's tournament without neary a scratch. England has an apathetic public and some talent. The US has an apathetic public and no prospect for an International level contender unless he/she is an immigrant.

I can turn on the television and will never see a single table tennis match but I can certainly view just about any other sport including bass fishing. BASS FISHING! The prospects for Curling becoming a major sport are greater than table tennis in the US.

There is little doubt that the Killerspin Extreme Championships will be a spectacular affair. I wish I could be In Chicago in a few weeks to see the plethora of amazing talent which will be on display. It may generate some excitement among the attendees and perhaps even the local Chicago media but I think that is as far as it shall travel. The kid in Omaha or Des Moines will be wholly ignorant of any "Killerspin Extreme" anything and will continue to practise shooting three pointers on his basketball goal.

Take care,
Donald

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