Author: Marcus Brown

IMG_8087 Freddy Krueger & I at the 1987 Nationals, Okeeheelee Park, waiting for something important to happen

The Way Forward | Marcus Brown

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The way forward

IMG_8087 Freddy Krueger & I at the 1987 Nationals, Okeeheelee Park, waiting for something important to happen

Freddy Krueger & I at the 1987 Nationals, Okeeheelee Park, waiting for something important to happen.

By Marcus Brown

I’m worried about the future of Water Skiing. Just last week, Nautique held the US Open in Orlando, FL. It was only the second time the US Open was held since I won in 2007. It seems whenever I win an event, it gets canceled the following year(s). Nautique finally resurrected the Open last year. Gold stars for them for sure. However, this year was tough for me and many other “pros”.

The Big Dawgs (think Senior/Masters Skiers) were included in the event for the first time ever. Fine, thats totally fine. BUT, the tough part is they got paid more than the Pro skiers. They got paid more than the best skiers in the world. AND they got paid more than the best Jumpers in the world….guys that literally put their lives on the line to jump 80 yards off a 6 ft ramp!! Whats even crazier than that, to me, is that NO ONE is speaking out about this. The BEST SKIERS IN THE WORLD are second fiddle to the “Senior Tour” skiers…

Full article at marcusbrown.net

These guys are the future

Living the Dream, Chapter 2: The End of a Sport? | Marcus Brown

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Living the dream, Chapter 2: The End of a Sport?

These guys are the future

These guys are the future.

By Marcus Brown

Why aren’t we changing the rules to allow us, as individuals and role models, to be the best example of what we want our kids to be when they grow up? In a system where we lean on the judges call, I don’t think that a person who accepts the judges call to grant a re-ride can be crucified for doing so.  They are playing by the same rules you are playing by. If the rule is you have to go around the buoy, then I don’t think you should get credit for not going around a buoy…..even if the judge “gives” it to you.

To me, those situations are chances to lead by example… Add a rule –> Change the system –> Change the paradigm ….and we give ourselves a chance to change lives and individuals for the better…forever. That’s pretty powerful. Who’s with me? I’m willing to take this to USA Water Ski & IWWF….just need to feel like I’m not the only one….

These guys are the future: We only get to guide them for a short time….what lessons do we want to leave them with? Oh, and maybe next year we spend a bit less on Big Dawg finals lights, and a bit more on giving the best Junior Skiers in the country a bit better banquet than a stuffy room with a bunch of tightly packed chairs facing 1 direction. You know, something they can look forward to…

Full article at marcusbrown.net

The Big Dawgs

Living the Dream, Chapter 1: The Big Dawgbacle | Marcus Brown

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Living the dream, Chapter 1: The Big Dawgbacle

The Big Dawgs

I’ll leave you with this thought puzzle: Why is Golf so huge?

By Marcus Brown

I’m driving to lunch one day, on my lunch break from a REAL JOB (that could have some significance next month, or whenever I have time to get to “Living The Dream, Chapter 2”), and I see a Twitter post regarding something called the Big Dawg World Tour.

The Big Dawg Series of water ski competitions, for folks who aren’t tournament skiers, is a 35 yr old+ series (think masters) of semi-self funded tournaments in which a bunch of decently well-off folks with the passion and desire to train hard enough to be pretty damn good, travel around the country (or World) and compete. Sounds harmless enough, right? Hell, my brother even skis in the thing, so believe me when I say I see value in the Big Dawg World Tour. But more on that later….

So without much thought, other than the few electrical impulses it takes to recall some earlier conclusion stored deep in the center of my brain…I started writing a tweet. Pretty much exactly the same manner in which all tweets start…without a whole lot of thought. AND, I remember the moment before I posted it…my finger hovered over the button…the traffic light turned green…and I had a tiny feeling that I might tick someone off….and then I thought “tough shit” and I hit post. I had good reason for what I posted…and it wasn’t some self-centered, greedy reason seated in a sense of entitlement and laziness. Unfortunately that’s what folks thought…and apparently I pissed off more than a few people.

Full article at marcusbrown.net