Beach Volleyball.

[blowero]

@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

Oh, it’s Mr. Particular.

And why shouldn’t it be a side benefit? If you play a fringe sport, which beach volleyball certainly is, then you DO want to fill seats. Cheesecake gets people to the games. Hopefully interest keeps them there. But one way or the other, the more successful the Tour is, the easier it is for the players to make a living at volleyball and not have to wait tables in the offseason. No “real” job offers months off for National Team training. Mine didn’t. Neither did those of any other National Teamer I’ve met (and that’s been quite a few).

Women who watch the NFL go ga-ga over the butt factor (Sorry, ladies, but most of it is padding). If you think many women at NBA games are there exclusively for the purity of the sport, you’re mistaken. That may be part of it, but it’s not all of it, and who cares?

I like beach volleyball. I think it’s fun to watch, and I get ito the matches. But I’m not ignorant of the fact that Misty May is ridiculously hot, and I refuse to pretend to be.

Uh, didn’t you say that the first time, and didn’t I say that I didn’t think the Olympics should be about T&A, regardless of whether they sell the seats, and didn’t you then bust my balls because I was just “agreeing” with you, and aren’t you now back to saying the exact same fucking thing again?

I’m changing your name from Mr. Particular to Mr. Both-Sides-of-the-Fence.:rolleyes:

[Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup]

What I said, in order.

First post: “cheesecake = good.”

Second post: “doubtful that the fact they’re being objectified occurs to the players while competing, and otherwise, doubtful they care.”

Third post: “I agree with McPeak. Bikinis = adequate trade-off for spectators.”

Fourth post: “hey, blowero, buts in seats = good, in this case, no detraction from game.”

Fifth post: “cheesecake/beefcake factor is everywhere. If it helps sell, then let it.”

I dunno. I think I’ve been pretty consistent in my views.

You have come out as pro-cheeseckae, but then you’re off on some “integrity of the sport” tangent. What sport do you play where the bigest threat to its integrity is what the competitors wear?

There’s a gigantic cheesecake factor in rowing. But it’s incidental to the fact that the uniforms we wear help us perform the rowing motion more efficiently. If the volleyball players can play volleyball as well in the bikinis as they can in anything else, then the integrity of the sport is not harmed. So let them have the chance to fill some seats.

[Waenara]

I was just watching some track and field coverage on TV (women’s pole vault and 200m heats), and I noticed that their outfits are pretty much as skimpy as any volleyball players.

The attire varied a little from individual to individual (in track), with some having “boy cut” briefs, and some cut high on the thigh (like beach volleyball), and some of them had slightly looser tops that went farther down the ribcage (maybe an inch more), but many had tight bra-like tops like beach volleyball. But they were all basically bikini-ish two piece outfits. Does the IAAF regulate this?

Searching their website, I found International Association of Athletics Federations - Competition Rules 2004-2004. Warning: PDF file

The only thing I could find was on page 96:

RULE 143
Clothing, Shoes and Number Bibs

Clothing

1. In all events athletes must wear clothing which is clean, and designed and worn so as not to be objectionable. The clothing must be made of a material which is non-transparent even if wet. An athlete must not wear clothing, which could impede the view of the Judges.

At all competitions under Rule 1.1(a) to (e) (Matches), athletes shall participate in the uniform clothing approved by their National Governing Body. At all competitions under Rules 1.1(e) (Club
Cups) to (h), athletes shall participate in national uniform clothing or in club clothing officially approved by their National Governing Body. The Victory Ceremony and any lap of honour are considered part of the competition for this purpose.

So the IAAF’s regulations are way more vague than the FIVB’s, and yet the athletes still choose to wear “cheesecake-factor” clothing, just because it’s more efficient and works well for their activity - much like the rowing example given earlier in the thread.

Basically, I think that it doesn’t matter what the athletes wear, as long as they’re comfortable with it. Some people would be drooling over them even if they wore less revealing clothing, that might hinder their performance. So knowing that more people will be drooling while wearing clothing that actually helps their performance probably isn’t going to bother athletes that much.

[blowero]

@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup

You have come out as pro-cheeseckae,

WTF??? When did I say that? I said the fencing women were cute, but they’re wearing a thick suit that covers their entire body, for Christ’s sake.

but then you’re off on some “integrity of the sport” tangent. What sport do you play where the bigest threat to its integrity is what the competitors wear?

Huh? Why do I have to play a sport to be able to comment that I think the Olympics ought to maintain dignity?

There’s a gigantic cheesecake factor in rowing. But it’s incidental to the fact that the uniforms we wear help us perform the rowing motion more efficiently. If the volleyball players can play volleyball as well in the bikinis as they can in anything else, then the integrity of the sport is not harmed. So let them have the chance to fill some seats.

Again, I disagree. I don’t think sexy uniforms ought to be used to sell seats at the Olympics. Don’t think I can get much more clear on that point. The Olympics ought not to be about sex. It is about nations getting together in a spirit of friendly competition. It’s not about T&A. Period. Verstehen? You want sex - rent a porno.