All-Star Confused About Merger

[L5cheermom]

I'm one of those "buy local" kind is people and love purchasing from small vendors. I prefer handmaid to mass produced. Maybe we could utilize the Marketplace Forum here for you guys that do that stuff (I don't have the craft gene myself) to showcase your items. I don't like shopping at competitions because I already feel cash strapped with travel expenses, etc. I just quickly checked the Cheer Market and it looks more likes swap meet kinda thing. I know some of you probably sell on Etsy. If the Fierceboard thing is too full of other stuff, lets start a thread for people to post links to their store. I'd rather buy from someone on FB than a complete stranger. I know, I get the irony give the resurrection of the "fake social networking accounts" thread.

 

[12stepCheermom]

Monopolies themselves are not illegal. What is illegal is when a "monopoly" uses its position/power to limit or eliminate any competition.

Sherman Anti-Trust for better info (because it has been a really long time since I was in class ;) )

A for today.

-signed, A former US history teacher

 

[callmecoach]

I think where the idea of the Varsity monopoly gets a bit questionable is event judging.

I am not saying anything shady happens or has happened, but at some point I think it would be in the best interest of the sport to remove the judging from the "money making" part of this industry. It sure seems odd to me that the people who make money from the uniforms (shoes, bows, magazine subscriptions, etc.) are also hiring and training the judges.

For example, it has been discussed here how sub par the uniform experience is for some with "not GK.". I often wonder if, aside from the family plan discounts, the reason gym owners are not as willing to demand a better experience has something to do with not getting on Varsity's bad side.

Take the judging and rule making away from Varsity, and I could care less if everything else is run by Varsity. I realize this isn't just an easy fix, but think it is what the industry should be moving towards.

Great point. Any other organized sport would consider this a huge conflict of interest. What if Nike hired all the refs in the NBA? Wouldn't they have a huge interest in, say, keeping teams with big name players wearing their merchandise in the spotlight (aka going farther in the playoffs thus receiving more airtime and publicity)?

I'm sure Nike wouldn't do anything overtly unethical just as I'm sure Varsity wouldn't, but it is certainly a conflict of interest. Who's to say that, although the company is ethically sound, there wouldn't be employees (refs, judges) who would falter in the task of being objective?

I don't think this is a huge problem right now in the industry but as the culture of the sport changes and specific teams as well as specific athletes become more well known and more publicly associated with the vendors they use (who doesn't know that F5's uniforms are GK? That Kelsey Rule is in the Varsity catalog?), while at the same time Varsity becomes more and more powerful, this could be a potentially real issue in the future.

 

[SharkDad]

Great point. Any other organized sport would consider this a huge conflict of interest. What if Nike hired all the refs in the NBA? Wouldn't they have a huge interest in, say, keeping teams with big name players wearing their merchandise in the spotlight (aka going farther in the playoffs thus receiving more airtime and publicity)?

I'm sure Nike wouldn't do anything overtly unethical just as I'm sure Varsity wouldn't, but it is certainly a conflict of interest. Who's to say that, although the company is ethically sound, there wouldn't be employees (refs, judges) who would falter in the task of being objective?

I don't think this is a huge problem right now in the industry but as the culture of the sport changes and specific teams as well as specific athletes become more well known and more publicly associated with the vendors they use (who doesn't know that F5's uniforms are GK? That Kelsey Rule is in the Varsity catalog?), while at the same time Varsity becomes more and more powerful, this could be a potentially real issue in the future.

What sport have you been following? I'm sorry if that sounds a bit snarky (using a common fierceboarder term) but anyone who doesn't see that the Varsity wide-spread influence is stifling the sport in all areas is missing out on the entire picture.

I will always give Varsity credit for bringing cheer much farther in the limelight than any other company or organization, but their single-minded approach has stifled the sport for too long in my opinion and is particularly damaging to the overall safety of the athletes.

 

[callmecoach]

What sport have you been following? I'm sorry if that sounds a bit snarky (using a common fierceboarder term) but anyone who doesn't see that the Varsity wide-spread influence is stifling the sport in all areas is missing out on the entire picture.

I will always give Varsity credit for bringing cheer much farther in the limelight than any other company or organization, but their single-minded approach has stifled the sport for too long in my opinion and is particularly damaging to the overall safety of the athletes.

Fair enough. I don't disagree with you and I am no expert. I guess what I was trying to say is not that the problem doesn't exist at all now, but that it's only going to get worse as more athletes and teams find the spotlight and more marketing (videography, athletes in catalogs, etc) is done surrounding them.

 

[SharkDad]

cheer.coach that was snarky, sorry.

I guess my point is that I disagree this is not a huge problem yet. It has been well past that for a while now.

IMO the fundamental issue with this sport is that it is an industry running a youth sport, not a youth sport that is supported. Your point is very valid, because as more businesses see more marketing dollars their judgement gets steered in more directions.

The worst thing that suffers is that the safety of the athletes is not near where it could be.