Have you ever peed in the pool? And should rowing get in on the jokes?

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Have you ever peed in the pool? And should rowing get in on the jokes?

July 23, 2013
Ed Hewitt

A massively blurred photo of OF SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW! that we took down this spring

I came across this youtube video posted by Universal Sports. Universal is the cable TV outfit that focuses on "Olympic and lifestyle sports," and which previously did a lot of the live feeds for international rowing events, and found it really refreshing.

As I field nearly all of the mail that comes into row2k, over time I have occasionally started to think that our own community has squashed our previously extremely reliable sense of humor concerning this kind of thing, and that more often if we post a photo of someone standing up in a boat, possibly doing something that elite swimmers talk about on video, i receive an email stating something along the lines of "TAKE DOWN THAT PHOTO OF SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW!"

Instead of always taking DOWN THAT PHOTO OF SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW!, do you think row2k should indulge in this kind of silliness more often? Or that all of us should do so? I know stuff goes viral, and that sometimes one person's mirth is another's misery, and that at least these swimmers get to be in on the joke, but it still sometimes seems the needle has swung too far to the PC side of the scale.

What do you think?

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tiffer1984 12/19/2013 1:26:11 PM Without watching this video, and I haven't competed in my single in a long time, like ten years, when I was training, when properly hydrated, taking a pee before the workout was essential (done in privacy, in a washroom at the boathouse). report abuse Boatnerd42 07/28/2013 12:19:21 AM When you consider Swimming in the way Ryan Lochte does, Rowing's kind of the opposite of Swimming: because first, you should probably start in a big boat, like an eight. Then move up to a smaller boat, like a four, or a quad. Then, and only when you're ready, should you try doing it in a single. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcyLs_few0E report abuse Sarge 07/27/2013 9:27:25 AM Well, there was always someone, this writer included, who would just have to pee on day one or day two overseas. Too much coffee, too much water, whatever. We always viewed it as "marking the course" and staking our claim on it. Keep up the good work Ed. This goes in the "lighten up Francis" category. report abuse BeachPants3 07/26/2013 4:06:45 PM I would like to think that rowers in general get it and laugh, or at least understand that this sport has it moments. Unfortunately this can get lost when people outside of the sport, such as family members of rowers or spectators, can't comprehend the situation the same way we can and give their (usually sane) opinion. Ed, your awesome. So just do what you do and know that all of us crazies love it. -Stitt report abuse Row2kLad 07/24/2013 6:28:58 PM All is well having a good laugh at this extremely common occurrence in the rowing world. However, posting a revealing picture on the internet of an athlete urinating with face and private parts clearly visible is taking that laugh a bit too far. Especially considering no censoring was included and consent was given by the athlete for this photo to be published. To say that he should not have put himself in this position if he didn't want this sort of exposure is ridiculous, no athlete should have to let the media get in the way of them performing to their best ability. I really appreciate what you folks here at Row2k do, however if you really feel that passionate about this type of photography then maybe you are in the wrong industry. report abuse Jim Ridge 07/24/2013 4:52:23 PM Given row2k's fine curation of ALL things rowing I'd like to paraphrase Barry Goldwater's famous quote - 'Extremism in the pursuit of humor is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of pleasing a small minority is no virtue!' I think you've got a pretty good compass for what your readers are interested in/entertained by. Don't let a small minority spoil it for the rest of us! Oh, by the way, rowers and swimmers aren't the only athletes who have to pee in the middle of competition! http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2011/07/piss.jpeg Keep up the fine work Ed! report abuse FeedMe 07/24/2013 1:04:59 PM 2 people like this Trying to pretend that rowing doesn't produce some of the most "interesting" characters doing "interesting" things is just naive. Some of my best stories are from summer club and college rowing where some questionable things may or may not have happened. Folks need to lighten up. Bring on the silly and questionable content! report abuse momofryan 07/24/2013 12:36:43 PM 1 people like this We could all use a good laugh, especially if it is at ourselves!!!! report abuse