More Coverage for Non-Mainstream Sports!!!

I would like to pass this letter along, written by a very active parent on SwimTeam; I hope it will be printed in the paper:

Dave Allen
Sports Editor
Marin Independent Journal

Dear Mr. Allen;

On behalf of the entire Marin Swim League (MSL) I would like to voice my disappointment with the coverage of our July 16 annual Championship meet at Indian Valley.

The Marin Swim League is a non-profit youth swimming organization that represents 10 independent swim teams in Marin County. The MSL is the single largest youth sports organization in Marin county representing 1,500 individual swimmers and approximately 1,000 families. Members reside across the entire county from Sausalito to Novato. There are two teams in Mill Valley, one team in Corte Madera, four teams in San Rafael, two teams in Novato and one team in San Anselmo.

On July 16, 2005 we held the 44th Annual Championship Meet at Indian Valley College Aquatics Center in Novato. Unfortunately, this event did not get a fair coverage in the IJ.

During the 19-20 week season (usually May-Mid July) every Saturday the 10 teams participate in a dual meet. While the league has the option of broadcasting the swimmers’ league wide standing immediately, it has been a tradition to announce the results on Wednesdays in the IJ sport section. Despite the MSL’s faithfulness to the IJ, with much dismay, the IJ’s coverage of this important event is getting smaller and smaller.

In sum, this year, the IJ has disappointed 1,000 of its faithful subscribers, 1,500 hard working swimmers plus their grandparents, relatives, and friends. We expect our local paper to pay more attention to our local news and be more supportive of our most valuable treasures, our kids!

Respectfully,

Sonya Perez

2005 MSL Co-President

Let's have more coverage for non-mainstream sports in local papers! Swimming is a LIFELONG SPORT, unlike baseball and soccer. Let's ENCOURAGE SWIM!!!!! Let's give it the coverage it deserves, locally AND nationally!!!! For instance, consider the following... why isn't this a New York Times story?? (I do not know a lot about Beard, but we are HUGE fans of Gary Hall Jr.. As many of you know, Hall has Type 1 Diabetes and is a 10-time Olympic medalist, garnering the GOLD at Athens in 2004 in the 50 m Freestyle):

Hall, Beard target 2008 Olympics

Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 21, 2005 12:00 AM

Gary Hall Jr. and Amanda Beard are skipping the World Swimming Championships in Montreal, but a fourth Olympics are still in their plans.

"2008 is a very real possibility," Hall said in a e-mail from Miami Beach, Fla., where the former Phoenix Swim Club sprinter has lived the past few years. "It remains the plan."

Beard of Tucson and Hall decided against the World Championships for several reasons, including a busy schedule of endorsements....

Hall is second among American men on the all-time medal list with 10 - two silvers and two golds from 1996; one bronze, one silver and two golds from 2000; and one bronze and one gold from 2004. He is 10 for 10 - 10 Olympic events and 10 medals.

Now 30, he continues to work in the fight against diabetes. Hall, who is appearing in shaving-cream commercials on cable television, was diagnosed with the disease before the 2000 Sydney Games. He also continues to run his Race Club south of Miami.

"I am just getting back to training at a competitive level," said Hall, who stirred up controversy in Athens when he showed up at the starting blocks before his victory in the 50 freestyle in a red, white and blue boxing robe and matching trunks.

Hall's father, Dr. Gary Hall, said his son intends to compete at the masters level in the 30- to 34-year-old age group in national championships next month.

Hall's parents plan to leave Phoenix and join their son in south Florida. Hall's wife, Elizabeth, is pregnant with their first child.

"If it is a boy, I won't name him Gary Jr. Jr.," he said. {MORE}