Pyle of List

Last night ESPN ran the Qualifying and the Final of the 2007 World’s Strongest Man Competition. Did you know about it? Probably not, considering I’ve never seen a commerical for it. But if you passed it while flipping channels, it probably held your attention. Why the 4 letter and it’s parent company don’t push the event more, I’ll never know. Who doesn’t like the World’s Strongest Man competition? My wife and I spent the entire evening watching the qualifying rounds and the final. But we didn’t just watch it, we actually got involved: cheering for our favorites and encouraging the athletes as they tried to complete one last Herculean task. It’s the first time I’ve stood up and cheered for a televised sporting event not involving USC in quite some time. Same goes for my wife. It was among the most satisfying things we’ve watched from any entertainment medium in weeks. That realization only leaves me with more questions. For example, in an era of DVR’s, why would ESPN tape delay an exciting event like this for 3+ months? But the most important question is this: why wouldn’t an exciting sport like this with international recognition and competitors be in the Olympics?

Strength athletics will never rival any of the major sports, but it’s inclusion in the Olympics is a no-brainer. Not only is it made for TV, it’s a legitimately exciting competition with very simple rules. Since it’s not a team sport, any country could send a representative. There are already country-based qualifying structures in place to determine representatives, so nothing would have to change. But the main argument for WSM’s Olympic inclusion is the “Wow Factor”. In the Summer Games, there aren’t a great deal of events that people really care about anymore. Even fewer possess the ability to captivate an audience like the feats of raw strength that are commonplace in Strongman competitions. It’s always fun to watch somebody run fast, but a man carrying a car or pulling an 18-wheeler is an attraction. Especially when they only have a limited amount of time. In the past WSM has been written off as a sideshow attraction of genetic freaks, undermining the increased athleticism of the competitors and their commitment to training. These guys are athletes now, plain and simple.

With the ridiculousness of attempting to add things like poker or ballroom dancing, a legitimate contender for inclusion like strength athletics is easily lost in the shuffle. It’s time for the powers that be behind the World’s Strongest Man and the Olympic Committee to meet and ensure it can earn a spot for the 2012 Games, leading to increased visibility and a more prominent position in the American sports landscape.

Here’s a great sample of what WSM has to offer, from the Final Event in the 2006 Competition:

USA! USA! USA!