While doing an easy hour swim yesterday, I starting wondering about how T&F would be different if "amateurism" had never really been the dominant financial model in open competition for all those years and "professionalism" had been the norm.
I wonder how much faster the world records might have developed and where they might be now.
I wonder if the Olympic Committee (and other sports organizing groups) would have less power than it does.
What about the effect on individual athletes, such as Jim Thorpe, Nurmi, et al?
Would the sport be more or less popular than it is?
Would events like racewalking even exist or would they actually be more popular.
Lots of other "wonderings"....
Opinions?
I wonder how much faster the world records might have developed and where they might be now.
I wonder if the Olympic Committee (and other sports organizing groups) would have less power than it does.
What about the effect on individual athletes, such as Jim Thorpe, Nurmi, et al?
Would the sport be more or less popular than it is?
Would events like racewalking even exist or would they actually be more popular.
Lots of other "wonderings"....
Opinions?
Comment