Footbag Spectators

Moxie · Post by **Moxie** » 25 Sep 2005 23:49

After using the search function but getting bored way too fast, I'm not sure how much this has been discussed. I don't have a clear plan for this post but I'm wondering what people think of the idea of a footbag spectator. It seems like people get upset at the idea of someone posting about footbag on this forum if the person doesn't play footbag, even if they are clearly interested in it. (I'm not making a reference to any specific person or situation.) I mean, there are always discussions about trying to get the sport to grow, and people often talk about trying to get the sport some exposure, but that's not just so we can recruit more players, right? With most sports that I know of, the spectators don't have to be able to do the activity to know a lot about it and the methods used to get good, etc. So as the sport grows, do you think people will get more used to the idea of there being footbag "fans" who don't play? Or do you think that's not the direction footbag is going?

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 26 Sep 2005 00:05

I don't think that the growth of footbag (beyond an underground sport) is a good thing.

I like the idea of being able to play with the worlds best players when ever they come to town.

I think having 'fanatics' would destroy the community that we're a part of.

Sure... people can watch me play. Hell, I'm doing it in the middle of the city! But I don't like the idea of 'fame' and 'fans' when it comes to footbag - beyond what exists already, that is.

I'd hate to see all todays (and tomorrow's) great players having to hide away in some secret hall, away from everyone else, in their own prestige circle every time there's an event on, for fear of being mobbed.

BalinorNZ · Post by **BalinorNZ** » 26 Sep 2005 01:35

I have the oposite point of view to Garth

. I would love to see footbag become that popular! Let's be honest, it's a hell of a sport to watch! I mean we all love to watch the best players in footbag, surley everyone else does too?

I must admit one of my secret desires is to have footbag fans

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 26 Sep 2005 02:26

When I play each week I have about 5 - 10 people who come along fairly regularly just to watch and hang around. I think it's great. Of course a lot more happens at a "hobart footbag club" meeting than just footbag and fair to say people come to socialise mainly, rather than watching my elite footbag skills but it's a start.

I would love footbag to become really famous and gain world wide recognition. I think that would be my main purpose in footbag apart from playing at the moment - to do what I can to promote the sport everywhere. I really can't imagine a great deal more players playing if everybody knew and watched the sport anyway but I'd love to see the dedication and hardwork of the top players rewarded more than it currently is. Safe to say everybody who plays play for the love of the game and I hope things stay like that - but you look at the way many people have basically dedicated their lives to the sport and it would be nice to get recognition for that.

I am happy to be mobbed by lots of screaming girls and I think considering pro skaters who come to Australia don't get mobbed at all, it's pretty unlikely that footbaggers will. In fact I saw James Hird walking through the Victoria markets once - James Hird = one of the biggest and well known Australian sporting stars (Australian Rules Football), Victoria Markets = largest market in Australia. If he doesn't get mobbed in such a highly populated place in Melbourne (Australian Rules Football capital of Australia) - I think footbag will have to be amazingling big for people to be getting mobbed.

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 26 Sep 2005 03:00

I think there is a difference between fan and spectator here. I think footbag spectators will eventually get bored at watching what appears to be people just doing the same stuff over and over again. Sure, we will always have a small crowd that watches us, but nothing serious. Fans on the other hand, are people who know the players and moves. I think the only real fans would be retired players (and possibly a few of our girlfriends

)

brian relly · Post by **brian relly** » 26 Sep 2005 04:10

NotHisRealName wrote:I don't think that the growth of footbag (beyond an underground sport) is a good thing.

Wow.

I honestly cannot believe you just said that.

I'm even more incredulous that other people agree with you....

DoctorJay · Post by **DoctorJay** » 26 Sep 2005 04:42

Right now I will go to the next kermis and will promote my club and try to get new members to the sport !

Just imagine how cool it would be when some of your neighbours give you props for blurry whirl and asked if you can make it symposium too .

---so I am off to introduce footbag to others

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 26 Sep 2005 04:46

Stephen Barnes wrote:
I'm even more incredulous that other people agree with you....

Are we reading the same topic? Or are you refering to other times when that view has been put forward?

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 26 Sep 2005 05:06

I guess I'm just selfish and don't want to share.

Footbag is an almost spiritual experience for me.
No! Scratch that. Footbag saved my life and IS a spiritual experience for me.
It was something I went out and discovered... I didn't have it in my face and think, "Hmmm. I'll be cool if I start playing!"

I've found that people tend to find footbag and it's those people who stick with it and make it a great sport to play. I've tried to 'teach' people in the past... tried to inspire them to see what I see in it. But they don't. To them, it looks cool but is ultimately too hard and they give up. I'm honestly sick of wasting my time on those people. It's the people who find footbag - that love it - THEY'RE the true growth of the sport.

Sure, play in the open and let the world see what we can do... but let that one person in a thousand come to you. They'll find you because it's exactely what they need in life, not because it's the 'fad of the moment'.

I definately don't hate you all for wanting to make this sport big... I just hope that it doesn't loose it's innocence. Right now, the culture is so broard. There's so many worldly cultures that make up the footbag community. However, with other previously underground sports like surfing and skateboarding... there's a kind of culture within, that everyone must adhere to - or you're a poser. I don't want footbag to go that way.

But that's just me.

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 26 Sep 2005 05:46

as it is im as much of a fan as a spectator...having favorite big-name footbaggers (lon smith

), etc. but i guess moxie did say fans who DONT play. im not sure what it is, but it feels like, at least at this point, there is something about footbag that causes people who watch it to pretty much always try to learn at some point. maybe the footbag community is too open and encouraging to people watching

like, whenever someone is watching me and they say something like: 'i could never do that' i tell them they could, and immedietly start encouraging them to try kicking it a couple times, or doing a toe stall. either they eventually leave and dont really look back, or they wind up playing themselves. perhaps the sport is too accesible or something? i dunno.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 26 Sep 2005 07:30

It is hard to appreciate the sport without knowing it's ins and outs, and frankly they are hard to learn without much direct involvement.

Think about it, even newbs that play the game and are *trying* to learn all the concepts and names don't get it all, how will some fatwad sitting on his couch be able to get much out of it beyond the obvious aesthetics of it.

This all said, it is going to happen in time. It is fun and cool enough to just watch on it's own and that will be what sells it.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 26 Sep 2005 07:43

yeah. I watch gymnastics on tv every olympics and I have no idea of anything about gynmastics - most of the time I don't even no the name of the "device" that the gymnast is performing on (although the commentators say it often enough) - I just really appreciate the level of skill and I guess the resemblance to footbag.

Faco · Post by **Faco** » 28 Sep 2005 17:07

While agreeing wih everything said, I would have to admit that I also came to realize the importance of keeping footbag underground. Underground "enough" that is.

I do not want Nike to make bags, I do not want Vasek to star in a Skoda commercial, I do not want people to play footbag just because it is cool.

But on the other hand, the sport must evolve...it is confusing!

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 28 Sep 2005 17:19

Faco wrote:
I do not want Nike to make bags, !

Yeah well, I don`t want Bush to be President either.

http://www.lionsport.hu/catalog/product ... ts_id=4777

Slowsis · Post by **Slowsis** » 28 Sep 2005 17:34

Faco wrote:I do not want Nike to make bags,

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h ... safe%3Doff

Wow, that sucks..........and it has the longest url of all time!!

EDIT: I'm a retard.....i didn't open the last link....

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 28 Sep 2005 17:35

All we want is to be recognized without too much population growth. We don't want any wannabies.

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 28 Sep 2005 22:23

Bander87 wrote:All we want is to be recognized without too much population growth. We don't want any wannabies.

That's pretty much what I want, too.

james_dean · Post by **james_dean** » 29 Sep 2005 05:12

I don't see what the problem with nike making bags is... I mean someone might see a nike bag, give it a try, and then find us online. It's no different to the guatamalans you see everywhere... hell they're probably better, at least they're panelled.

B_Man · Post by **B_Man** » 29 Sep 2005 10:51

Whether it gets worldwide recognition or not is none of my concern. The only thing that I hope footbag retains is the close knit community and friendly atmosphere associated with it.

Faco · Post by **Faco** » 29 Sep 2005 14:01

The only thing that I hope footbag retains is the close knit community and friendly atmosphere associated with it.

But that is (in my opinion) strongly connected to your first sentence.

modified

Footbag Spectators

With the sport of footbag, I would rather see:

Footbag Spectators