January 24 2007 at 10:13 AM No score for this post
Brian (no login) from IP address 4.230.108.14
I was watching tv the other night and stumbled on an airing of an agility competition. It was pretty cool and the dogs were well trained and impressive. The handlers were well dressed. I thought it was pretty cool .... but the onhand crowd was less than your typical sanctioned weight pull crowd would be. Why cant we get the weight pull sport on ESPN or one of them? Man one show like this could blow the lid off the sport and could possibly alter the perception of the dogs as a whole. Bates and I have worked on this but the problem is ultimately garnering sponsorship. I did notice that this particular event was sponsered by Purina.
We need to come together in a cohesive way clubs and individuals and make a push to make something like this happen for the sport of weight pull. All it would take is one big sponser and we could get a foot in the door.
weight pull is what NASCAR was in its infancy...basically a bunch of folks who have like interests competing in a cotton patch. With the help of sponsors and some creative driven people NASCAR is a multi billion dollar affair now. Until we get out of the cotton patch the sport will continue to languish in the shadows known only to the people who are involved. The sport of weight pull being seen as the legitimate replacement for dog fighting the general publics perception of the breed could change dramatically.
SPIN...everything in todays world is spun, advertising, politics, business etc. for the most part smoke and mirrors (dont look at the man behind the curtain). Until these dogs and sport of weight pull have some savvy spinsters on their case the breed will continue its downward spiral due to piss poor public perception.
Feel free to disagree or agree ....but be positive in your assesement!!
Brian
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(Premier Login jamesbates) Forum Owner 205.188.116.8
My thoughts!
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January 24 2007, 12:07 PM
Brian,
You have known for a long time my exact thoughts on this...at some point and place in time,the right person with proper financing and corporate sponsorship will tackle this sport and bring it full circle...it takes dedication,loyal,cohesive people with the same goal in mind working as a team...it's gonna happen one day...they probably are never going to air an entire event of weight pulling,because it takes so long to get thru all the classes...but you take the Heavyweight class for example and just watch...it is not gonna happen with 100-200 lb drops either it's gonna be bam...bring it or go home...it's only a matter of time...I have a few sponsors who have stepped up and helped me in the sport and I'm constantly seeking others,I strongly urge others to do the same,it brings light unto the dark side of a sport that not many even know exist! You watch and don't be surprised when ESPN airs the 1st national televised broadcast on Cabela's great outdoor games!
I will continue to do my part and keep pounding away with my thoughts,the right door will open some day and I'm gonna hit it running...leaders step forward and make things happen and I'm definitely not sitting idle...I have a strong passion and desire to help take this sport to the next level...hope you all can say the same...then we'll see who will say...I'm not in the sport for the money or about the dogs for the money...none of us who truly love them are...but who would be foolish enough to turn there back on the great American dream of prosperity...it just may be a multi-million dollar business somewhere in the near future!As we speak I have composed a letter and addressed it to whom I feel will look into this and just see if there any possibilities available to pursue this vision.Thanks!
James
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I think it's a good idea but the sport just seems to have limited appeal as a viwership sport. The last two weight pulls I went to had more people behind the scenes competing than in the stands watching. I enjoy watching it but it's very hard to get new people to sit down and watch the tapes I have of it.
What would need to change is the way it's done. Professional announcing, hype, pyro any kind of way to make it more exciting would be good if it were to be on TV. There's no reason it couldn't be as exciting as, say, Worlds Strongest Man on ESPN2.
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Marcos I agree totally with you. I have felt for a long time that it should be akin to pro rodeo and include some flash and the like. I dont feel like it has mass appeal because there isnt exposure to it. How many people you meet that arent into dogs that know weight pull even exists? If it had some mass exposure you would get an interest stirred from the general public. Then announce an event upcoming as they do any other event. This interest would also translate into more people viewing the dogs as a way to be involved in a popular sport. Rest assured it wont just happen by itself. As I said in an earlier post Bates and I have discussed and cussed this for a few years. He would be the kind of guy to be out in front of a deal like that if we could stir some interest.
Brian
ps if they can show 30 minutes of Labs jumping off boat docks then by god I know weight pull is worthy.
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I will disagree with the limited appeal thing. The dog show on animal planet is one of the most watched programs every year on that channel. I think that it would appeal to a similar crowd.
Ryan
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Brian, that's funny you bring it up. I've always wondered when or if this could happen and what it would be like. Sponsorships is where it's at. I think it would be huge. Not to mention an explosive weapon breed or breeds. I'm approached all the time by people when they find out what I'm involved in an they are just fascinated by it.
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AKC HAS APPROVED WEIGHT PULLING AS A SPORT. I WILL HAVE A FEW OF MY STAFFS READY WHEN THE FIRST SHOW HIT'S.
LOOK FOR AKC TO BE THE 1ST TO AIR IT ON NATIONAL TV.
AKC HAS THE MONEY, REPUTATION, AND SPONSOR'S. THEY HAVE AN UNLIMITED RESOURCE OF EVEN MORE.
SO TO ALL, WHO WANT TO POKE FUN OF ME FOR COMPARING THE OTHER REGISTRIES WITH AKC, THEY ARE THE PREMIER REGISTRY IN THIS COUNTRY.
Are you sure they approved weight pulling or did it read Carting/Drafting?? Carting/Drafting AKC style and ADBA-APA-UKC weight pull are totally different things....
CrossPost from another board....
I just want to thank all the STCA Board members and everyone else who has supported the Drafting effort....I am VERY pleased to announce that after our little stink we raised a few weeks ago, AKC has added Amstaffs back onto the list of eligible breeds to compete in AKC Drafting should it be passed!!! WAHOOOOOOO!
The proposal as a whole is still with AKC and under review so we don't know yet about if it will pass and any other changes, but at least if it does pass we're in there!!!!
Ladies and Gentlemen start your carts!
Here is a link with information for this kind of event....this is what they are approving...
I was wondering that if we got some type of show together and got some professional video made of a show would that be the type of exposure that we would need to get it put on television. I have a friend who has a small production company and some bang up equipment and he is producing a couple of Evangelical and church events here in the area. His prices are reasonable and his work is pretty good. If we got some great footage of a good weight pull with some good commentary that could at least get this idea to be aired on some outdoor sports network. Only if the work is good enough. I agree that it would have to have some type of narration and we would need some sort of background commentary on the dogs themselves to really make the event stand out. The commentary of the Eukanuba and Westminster dog shows is what makes people watch the show, in my opinion, because if we were sitting there watching the dog show and an Afghan hound walks out we would have no clue as to what that dog is or is bred to do if there was no commentary and it would be awfully boring. I think when we were at the Texoma show in Gainesville in 2005 Brian did a wonderful show with the weightpull commentary and having been to shows and knowing background info made the show interesting for people who had never seen the sport before. I also believe that it would have to be an all breed show like APA format; number 1 because the shows are shorter in length and number 2 because by adding the other breeds you take some of the light away from our breed and show that we can compete at a normal event amongst other people and breeds alike. This was just my 10 cents or maybe even 25 cents LOL
Adrian
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Adrian,
Very nice job,very well articulated...I agree wholeheartedly...let's just keep banging away,sooner or later something bound to bust loose!
Johnny,
That's what I was meaning when I mentioned multi-million dollar business...would that destroy what we have a passion for??Would people then find something else to lash out in regards to money $$$ and the breed?I think not,to me it just entails being educated,having a business demeanor,some integrity,honesty and a little class...it will take a mature responsible group of folks to make it happen...I mean you can't be on national TV at an event in a tank top and shorts,it would definitely squander the whole image of weight pulling in general!
Those are some good thoughts folks!
James
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No arguments from me Mr. Bates. I've just seen for example, people have a passion for something and then the minute it gets recognized the passion turns to money instead of what it used to be. My thoughts were directed to people that will notice," Hey weight pulling is televised!" and just get in to make money. The thought of that really bothers me and I think it real disrespectful to all tht have put so much into weight pulling making it what it is today.
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Honestly, i think if the whole "lumber jack" thing is televised, and many people watch that, then there is no reason why weight pulling should not be. We here in Odessa texas have been trying to get our sport televised locally first- then once our community really knows about it I don't think it will be a big deal to get it televised nationally. I mean, we all have pullin dogs so we are used to a little elbow grease and facing adversity. One thing to keep in mind is the whole money issue. Obviously, once our sport is televised- winners will make money, I am just worried about the love for the breed diminishing under the spotlight of $$$$$. Just my thoughts.
PITBULLS FOR LIFE!!
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I think it would be the greatest thing that's ever happened to the Pitbull, I've talked about it for a couple years now, wondering if it will ever happen,
but one thing that would have to change is the Language,
the last show that I was at I had asked a older lady about 70 and her granduaghter to come and watch and all day all they heard was GD this and F that and so on,
nobody is gonna watch a show where all you hear is
Bleep Bleep, Bleep Bleep, thats not a good image,
the owners will have to be as trained as there dogs
about there Language, if they want it to work !!
something to think about ? or it will never happen,
just my 2 cents
Greg I agree. To be on TV we are going to have to 'dress-up' our attire and clean up our mouths. Also we will have to quite yelling at the dogs. That doesn't put out a good image to the public, to see us yelling in the ear of the dogs while they are giving all they have.
Its got to look nature to the general public. You don't see handlers in agility yelling like some in weight pull do. JMO
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We all strive to promote our breed in a positive way and now we need your help. We are in the process of trying to get weight pull added to the Fort Worth Stock Show. We were asked to host one leg of the king of rails here in Texas. We felt as a kennel that on such short notice that 2007 was not the right time to put on a quality show that we all deserve. We are now working with those that oversee the stock show to add it to the venue as early as 2008. We are trying to promote a positive attitude not just for our breed but for all breeds. We are getting outside investors to show interest in our sport and also from companies of products we use.
The weight pulling season will kickoff this year starting in Louisiana and we will be inviting investors and company reps out to the shows. Please believe that we will be looked at with a fine tooth comb on the way we dress, handle our dogs, our proffesonalism, sportsmanship, etc.. We also asked them to look at message boards.
We all don't agree with certain bloodlines but please let us respect the breed. They have seen enough hatred among the pittbull community, now is the time to show the positive. It is time to show that we can have intelligent conversations on a message board. People do pay attention to negative before they see the positive. When their is a pitbull attack we all are singled out because the majority of the time it was one of us that sold them the dog, not caring if the person is responsible but, because they had 500 dollars in their hand. A pitbull is not for everyone. We have turned down the sell of dogs here recently because the intentions were not in the best interest of our breed.
We need your support with this obstacle. If you support a dog food or a animal product by purchasing their product it is time for them to return the favor. We do have contact numbers to members of Hardwood Kennel on our website. If you have any questions feel free to call.
THANK YOU,
EARNEST
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