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In the Wake of Raw Unity: Can Unity Succeed?
Submitted by TheGymMuse on February 15, 2008 - 9:56am.
It has been great to read the positive responses to Eric Talmant’s Raw Unity meet. It appears success was found in a number of critical aspects of the meet; 1) it brought lifters together who otherwise would not have competed on the same platform, 2) a bond was made between many of the participants, 3) a LOT of effort was made to ensure that the lifter’s experience was a great one, including gaining support of several key sponsors and 4) there seems to be a commitment among most who were there and others who did not make this year’s event, to return next year. Considering the success had with this inaugural meet, can unity succeed?
Throughout history, it has been the will of those who are lead that brought about change. It is well documented that the masses took control of their own destiny and reshaped governance. When Eric first brought the concept of holding a Raw Unity Meet to everyone’s attention, it seemed to have been met with some skepticism. The negativity was no where near the level that befell the NERB though. There were concerns about drug testing and lifters competing where those, who are currently serving sentences for their indiscretions, would be involved at some level. There were also concerns that certain pieces of gear, like knee sleeves and wrist wraps, would be allowed into the competition. Despite those concerns, the lifters came and supported one another. Vendors who distribute gear, including; Titan and APT were sponsors. The product that Eric produced in a small amount of time speaks volumes about the cannot do attitude found in federations burdened by rules and those who expound the voice of doom that if by allowing some movement towards compromise would be tantamount to losing some perceived sense of purity in powerlifting.
Indications were that an effort was made to get the leaders of the various powerlifting federations to recognize and record the results of this meet into their records. But those who were nay sayers missed a great opportunity to tear down the invisible veil which artificially divides powerlifters. Despite the resistance on the part of the federation leaders, the lifters who left their home federations and participated did so for their own gratification. In doing so, it sent notice that formal records are not for which they compete. Instead, it is for the recognition and camaraderie of their peers, which seems to be more important to them.
The federations, who are riding the roller coaster of whose on top and who is the flavor of the moment, failed to grasp the golden ring. Instead of embracing something that could be shared by all and building a stronger base, they instead chose to worry about membership numbers, building political coalitions and remaining righteous to their cause. All selfish reasons! When Eric first announced that this meet would be a one-time event, it would have been too simple for federation leaders to agree to build on this concept in the future and make it grow. I wonder; did anybody think, for a moment, that in each subsequent year, a different federation could have sanctioned this event, based on their concept of raw lifting? All that needed to happen was for a few individuals to give up control for just a short moment to allow powerlifters to come together and see who the overall champion would be. At this juncture, it is my hope that Eric maintains the status quo and keeps the event on neutral ground.
The Raw Unity meet was not a back yard meet. A lot of planning, effort and lifter’s bringing their best efforts went into making it successful. A sense of excitement motivated both the organizers and lifters leading up to the event and an overflowing sense of excitement has become evident in its aftermath. What the federation leaders should be asking themselves is why there seems to be so much popularity in the sudden rise of non-sanctioned meets? Forgive me for my optimism, but efforts like Eric’s and Louie Simmons, with the IPA supported Pro-Am, seem to have ventured into an area which could ultimately lead to the promised land for powerlifting. The concept, if embraced, could be that which ultimately unites us all.
Submitted by TheGymMuse on February 15, 2008 - 9:56am.
It has been great to read the positive responses to Eric Talmant’s Raw Unity meet. It appears success was found in a number of critical aspects of the meet; 1) it brought lifters together who otherwise would not have competed on the same platform, 2) a bond was made between many of the participants, 3) a LOT of effort was made to ensure that the lifter’s experience was a great one, including gaining support of several key sponsors and 4) there seems to be a commitment among most who were there and others who did not make this year’s event, to return next year. Considering the success had with this inaugural meet, can unity succeed?
Throughout history, it has been the will of those who are lead that brought about change. It is well documented that the masses took control of their own destiny and reshaped governance. When Eric first brought the concept of holding a Raw Unity Meet to everyone’s attention, it seemed to have been met with some skepticism. The negativity was no where near the level that befell the NERB though. There were concerns about drug testing and lifters competing where those, who are currently serving sentences for their indiscretions, would be involved at some level. There were also concerns that certain pieces of gear, like knee sleeves and wrist wraps, would be allowed into the competition. Despite those concerns, the lifters came and supported one another. Vendors who distribute gear, including; Titan and APT were sponsors. The product that Eric produced in a small amount of time speaks volumes about the cannot do attitude found in federations burdened by rules and those who expound the voice of doom that if by allowing some movement towards compromise would be tantamount to losing some perceived sense of purity in powerlifting.
Indications were that an effort was made to get the leaders of the various powerlifting federations to recognize and record the results of this meet into their records. But those who were nay sayers missed a great opportunity to tear down the invisible veil which artificially divides powerlifters. Despite the resistance on the part of the federation leaders, the lifters who left their home federations and participated did so for their own gratification. In doing so, it sent notice that formal records are not for which they compete. Instead, it is for the recognition and camaraderie of their peers, which seems to be more important to them.
The federations, who are riding the roller coaster of whose on top and who is the flavor of the moment, failed to grasp the golden ring. Instead of embracing something that could be shared by all and building a stronger base, they instead chose to worry about membership numbers, building political coalitions and remaining righteous to their cause. All selfish reasons! When Eric first announced that this meet would be a one-time event, it would have been too simple for federation leaders to agree to build on this concept in the future and make it grow. I wonder; did anybody think, for a moment, that in each subsequent year, a different federation could have sanctioned this event, based on their concept of raw lifting? All that needed to happen was for a few individuals to give up control for just a short moment to allow powerlifters to come together and see who the overall champion would be. At this juncture, it is my hope that Eric maintains the status quo and keeps the event on neutral ground.
The Raw Unity meet was not a back yard meet. A lot of planning, effort and lifter’s bringing their best efforts went into making it successful. A sense of excitement motivated both the organizers and lifters leading up to the event and an overflowing sense of excitement has become evident in its aftermath. What the federation leaders should be asking themselves is why there seems to be so much popularity in the sudden rise of non-sanctioned meets? Forgive me for my optimism, but efforts like Eric’s and Louie Simmons, with the IPA supported Pro-Am, seem to have ventured into an area which could ultimately lead to the promised land for powerlifting. The concept, if embraced, could be that which ultimately unites us all.
