I was reading on ironman.com that the Ironman brand is now going to be plastered on a mattress… COME ON what is this!! I understand that everything in life relates back to a business and everyone in turn has to make a dollar, but it just seems that things are going a little overboard!!
The M-dot logo is being plastered everywhere and on everything with complete disregard to sport. Just a few off the top of my head are baby strollers, life jackets, watches, bathing suits (not sport related) and sunglasses (available at Wal-Mart).
I just feel that the whole M-dot logo brand is getter farther and farther from what this sport is about… what has happened to the motto of just grabbing the good ole goggles, bike, and shoes and getting out there and doing the best you can!!
Shouldn’t the reward of finishing a Triathlon be enough without worrying about if you used the correct helmet in you training ride, timed your intervals with the correct watch, and sleeping on the correct mattress!!
I just wonder if those few guys back in day would approve of where the juggernaut company “M-dot” is taking out beloved sport…
Please don’t get me wrong Ironman does a wonderful job with the races but a Mattress!
some things in life just shouldn’t be about the money
I’m just mad that Speed Racer hasn’t gone after WTC and NAS. I think they stole the M-Dot from the Mach 5…take a look…just move that “5” up a little and that completes the dot.
I guess it shows how the sport is becoming a bit more main stream. Still in the UK most non triathlete’s would have no idea what an Ironman was. I remember when I joined the local gym to do some core work I had to do an induction session. I was asked my goals when I said to do an Ironman at some stage the gym instructor though I ment strongman - dragging trucks, lifting logs etc- At under 70kg it is no wonder she looked at me funny and said I would have to talk to one of the wieghtlifting guys to get advice on a progream for that.
WTC isn’t much different from Disney. They sell tickets to an event/experience and also make money from marketing the logo/brand.
I think they are getting too cheap about selling their name. In the short run, the immediate cashflow might be nice but it would be more ideal, in the long run, if they associated their ‘brand’ with quality, so that when you bought something with that logo on it, you knew you were getting something the best, something exceptional.
Or, better yet, not buy the stock in the first place and publicly scratch our heads at those that keep doing the same dang expensive thing over and over and over and over and over and over and…
I know, just like golfing, boating, car racing, bowling, tennis, marathons, skiing. I am beginning to see a pattern here.
If the corporation can make more money from sellin meaningless crap, doesn’t that make them more capable of providing better races without having to jack the price up for entry fees? I know the fees are already big, but they might be a lot more if the IM coffers weren’t being supplemented by all the other stuff they sell.
