I'd like to announce to the world that this post is my FIRST blog post EVER.
A lot of young skiers and snowboarders have a desire to be sponsored by companies and corporations. I know that I did. I think that it’s safe to assume that everyone would like to get paid to do something that the love.
Corporate sponsors use the fame and success of athletes to increase sales of products by associating them with the athletes, but are they really necessary?
Being sponsored carries responsibilities, as the company will want you to attend conventions to promote their product. They will want you to represent them at sporting events. Good sportsmanship and promoting their product at all times is at the top of the list of things to do – so what’s in it for the athlete other than free gear and a little bit of cash?
My young cousin Brytan just turned 8 years old last month and is in her second year ski racing while ranked #2 nationally in her age group. She skis independent (not associated with any particular ski resort) and has no sponsors. Her father pays for all of her gear, lift tickets and transportation. My uncle is a successful business man and from what I’ve seen has no reservations whatsoever in paying all of his daughters’ skiing expenses. Each time she goes on the podium she takes her skis with her, just like the pros, although the pros take them to make sure their sponsors get some exposure.
Brytan has one rule for skiing: If you’re not having fun – go home. Hopefully for her it will never be about money.
This is a news story I did about in my intro to broadcast class - take a gander if you like.
My questions would be these: (answer any, or your own if you like)
Do we perceive athletes that have a lot of sponsorships differently from those that don’t have any?
What other benefits do the athletes receive other than the money from the sponsors?
Do sponsorships take away from the lure of just being famous in the sport?
Do future athletes hope to make millions of dollars or to simply get paid well to do something they love?
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29 comments:
I think sponsorships catapult an athlete into the public eye more. People who are in the sport generally know who an athlete is before the sponsorships start, but for the general public, I think sponsorships become a way of determining which athletes are on the top of their game.
I think we percieve athletes who do or not do not have a sponsorship differently. When I think of the athletes who do have sponsorships I feel like they're playing just for the money. They're a product instead of a player. However, they are more popular and well known because of their sponsorships. Those who don't have sponsorships I wonder why they don't have one, but I unconciously seem to respect them more because it seems as if they're playing to play instead of playing for the money.
I think in the beginning that every athlete plays because they love the sport. But eventually when the money starts coming in, they lose that love just a little. I think their love for the sport turns into they have to be the best attitude or else they suck. And if they're not the best, they lose momentum.
I know I perceive athletes who are sponsored differently than those who aren't. But I agree with Jessica...I do it unconsciously. My first thought when I see someone sponsored is that they are doing it just for the money. I think I like the athletes more who are just doing their sport, or their hobby because they really enjoy it and not because the money.
I believe that sponsorships have done a world of good to sports that have not been heavily recognized in the past. Michael Phelps is a prime example of how he has used his talents and his sponsorships to help bring swimming to the forefront of national sports and television.
I made up a cool phrase: "Sponsored sport is the battering ram of capitalism."
Yeah, I came up with that.
In answer to question one: When I see a sponsored athlete, I think "do they deserve to be sponsored? If so, they must be really good!"
Then I think "Man, that sport must be a HUGE part of their life."
sponsorship popularizes an athlete and a brand. it's all a marketing ploy, but it seems to work because that's how an athlete shows up in the public and people think of the athlete as really good since they are sponsored.
I think that athletes who do what they love without sponsorships are to be admired; there's a certain raw quality about them. With sponsorship comes more than just money. You also have to represent the brand. I think the sponsors' demands could be difficult to conform to at times.
I think there is this idea that a successful athlete is someone that is making tons of money and getting tons of endorsements. I think there are a lot of great athletes in the world, not recognized by big corporations and sponsorships. I think sometimes people get lucky.
Does popularity lead to sponsorship or does sponsorship lead to popularity? Either way I think sponsorships only help athletes become regular household names.
Besides the money, sponsorships open up a lot of opportunities. They increase popularity and publicity. They allow for more contacts and entry into more events (especially in sports where you rely on a series of competitions throughout the year rather than league play such as the NBA). They get the athlete a heavy supply of jackets, shoes, shirts, hats, and other equipment, depending on the sport. Sponsorships do increase the athlete's yearly salary, but sponsorships mean far much more than that, too.
It all depends on the person. Sponsorships have the ability to change the way an athlete behaves in many ways. For instance Michael Phelps- sponsored by Kellog's and loads of other companies, but when his scandalous bong photo came out, he lost several sponsors, notoriety, money, etc. I think knowing an athlete is sponsored, you can sometimes assume the best in that athlete, that they wouldn't do anything outrageous to lose that sponsorship.
For athletes sponsors are a necessary evil. With the perks come stress, hard work and lots of time. Most athletes that are the best in their individual sports have no real talents of skills besides the sport they play. This is because they have put so much time and effort into being the best that they had no time for anything else.
Theres pry a ton of kids trying to get sponsorships just to support them as they get better at doing what they love. That is an amazing situation your family member is in where she doesnt need the money from sponsors to do what she does, but Im sure the majority of people would need some help to maintain that lifestyle. Sponsorships might be their only way to do that.
It's sad to see how sports are changing into such a money driven business. I loved the discussion that we had in class about this. I think that most athletes are striving to get sponsored, since it seems to be the seal of approval that you have finally made it big.
I don't think we think of the sponsored athletes any differently then we do the non-sponsored athletes. Then again, I couldn't tell you who they would be or not. I think sponsored athletes get a lot more publicity--like a pic on the wheaties box, but I don't look at an athlete and think "man, they've probably trained their whole lives to be on that box."
I think future athletes hope to both make millions and make good money while doing something they love. I don't think someone could be good enough to play a sport at a professional level and not love it, because you really have to practice and work hard to become that good. I think everyone has a dream to make lots of money while doing something they love.
Sponsorship is what fuels most extreme sports today. I love the X-games, but it probably wouldn't be where it is today without sponsors. I think it can be perceived sometimes that all they care about is the money, since they are the ones on commercials and wearing brand names during their performances. However, they love the sport. It cannot be argued otherwise. It takes a great deal of dedication and sacrifice to end up where many of professional athletes are today whether it looks like it or not. A lot goes on behind the scenes that we are rarely exposed to. Let's give these talented people the benefit of the doubt!
I think that when you are sponsored, that's pretty much all you live and breathe and is why they are being placed so high up in society, when they have the same downfalls we have. Maybe no sponsorship is much better because you live how you are supposed to instead of trying to hide things from the world since they are able to be in your private life because they help pay for your endorsement through the things they buy...
Sponsorships create notoriety and establish the athlete as more than just a player, but an idol. For example, we all know who Kobe Bryant is; regardless of how much of an adamant basketball fan we are, and we all recognize him as one of the good players. It seems to me, that if you're good, you're sponsored.
I think that somehow when an athlete lands a huge deal, they have "arrived" so to speak. And the quality of the brand or sponsor also weighs in on the perceived greatness of the signing.
I don't view sponsored athlete's any different, I'd like to meet an athlete that has been offered a sponsorship that would give them the best gear for their sport and pay them to do what they love who turned it down.
Whenever I see someone sponsored by Nike I assume that they are the best. Nike always has the best athletes endorse their products.
I see nothing wrong with sponsorship. I have a few cousins who are pro surfers. They still absolutely love their sport. Being sponsored gives them opportunities they would not have otherwise--Traveling, exposure, money, gear...
congrats on your first post ever. proud of you I am. sponsorship is great and helps many athletes have the ability to compete. However, in rare cases, like your cousin's, she doesn't need the chance because they're financially set.
I have a friend in from high school who skateboards and was sponsored by reef. In his case it obviously was a good deal because he got a free pair of shoes every other week in a sport where shoes get absolutely destroyed. At the same time it was interesting to see how all my other friends who skateboarding kind of resented my friend for his success.
i think fame and gaining sponsors is a cycle — the best athletes are the most famous, so companies want them as their sponsors, making them more famous. i dont think most athletes participate in the sport just hoping for sponsorships. i think they hope they can make a living doing something they love, and the best way to do that is to be the best at their sport so companies want to sponsor them.
I think sponsorships can make an athlete look better than they actually are. I'm sure there are other people who can do some of the same things but are not sponsored so few people actually see them.
Of course your cousin is lucky: she can ski without a sponsor because she has a wealthy dad. Refusing sponsorships is a noble/inde ideal, but it also is a luxury of the wealthy. Young athletes who are not privileged have no choice but to accept sponsorships, to become what William C. Rhoden calls "Forty Million Dollar Slaves."
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