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Originally Posted by 3798j
As Bernie gets kicked to the curb...think we need to also show concern any time there's talk of "broadening the fan base" of our enthusiast supported sport. Typical approaches to improve, sadly include: adding even more events, dumbing down the rules and the commentary (making it easier for the non-enthusiast to "understand"), making more players/teams eligible for the "Grand Prize" and televising in more convenient time slots (read: tape delays). Other than the NFL, there's a bunch of sports that found when they turned their backs on their core, they faltered and actually lost popularity.
Then, back to Bernie, he always had the enthusiast fan in mind. We owe him gratitude for saving Formula 1 (yeah, and making it profitable), making it safe, mandating that those TV rights buyers broadcasted the race in real time, creating an atmosphere where countries wanted to be included in the circus, and keeping manufacturers and teams not only satisfied, but also in line. Did his ideas always hit the mark? Well of course not....but he did bring us umbrella girls (today they're flag and banner girls)  .
Obviously nothing and no one goes on forever, but what he nurtured and brought to us was something special. |
Well said, the sport owes him. It's time for a change though, no 86 year old should lead an empire of this magnitude. The openness and sharpness of mind required to keep things fresh while also adhering to the core of the sport and traditions just can't be there.