Tesco: Greedy Company Which Does Not Sponsor Sport

Berk Bonebonce

Have you seen that Tesco Mobile TV ad where they try and make themselves look clever by not sponsoring sports? Well, Mr Cohen and chums, why not get yourself a lesson in corporate social responsibility and do something about our looming national obesity crisis and put some of your millions into the sponsorship of sport? And not couch potato sports like cricket and F1, but a sport like cycling.

Is there a more greedy and s*** for brains company on the face of the planet than Tesco?

nwallace

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

And not couch potato sports like cricket and F1, but a sport like cycling.

Last time I looked Cricket involved sprinting, and all levels of motorsport require a reasonably good level of fitness, the faster the car the more critical it being.

meanredspider

nwallace wrote:

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

And not couch potato sports like cricket and F1, but a sport like cycling.

Last time I looked Cricket involved sprinting, and all levels of motorsport require a reasonably good level of fitness, the faster the car the more critical it being.

Yup - F1 is a couch potato sport:

McLaren driver Jenson Button has been tweeting about his bike ride in Hawaii with Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong. Just the 171km, followed by a 1km recovery swim.
Full story: Jenson Button on Twitter

:roll: :roll:

bails87

They do the school equipment for sports thing too. Probably helps more kids than AIG did when they sponsored Man U.

Buckled_Rims

If people want to eat and drink like pigs, why should I pay extra for my food to get them fit?

rolf_f

meanredspider wrote:

Yup - F1 is a couch potato sport:
:roll: :roll:

Yep, anyone who has driven a proper go-kart on an outside track for more than 5 minutes will have some feel for how physically destroying F1 is going to be and how ridiculous it is to suggest F1 is a couch potato sport. I'd bet good money it is one of the most physically demanding sports there is.

dodgy

Rolf F wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Yup - F1 is a couch potato sport:
:roll: :roll:

I'd bet good money it is one of the most physically demanding sports there is.

More demanding than it looks, certainly, But there are many sports waaaay more demanding. Not trying to take anything away from F1 drivers though, I can't do what they do, they have a fantastic mix of fast reflexes, vision, physical fitness - but I verfy much doubt that pure physical fitness is the defining attribute of a successful F1 driver.

I'd say fell running, XC mountain biking, pro road racing, marathon running, Triathlon and more rate much higher on the scale of sheer physical demands in terms of sport.

meanredspider

Rolf F wrote:

. I'd bet good money it is one of the most physically demanding sports there is.

Anybody remember the days of "Superstars" on TV? Even in the days of James (the breakfast of champions) Hunt, F1 drivers used to do well. These days they are supreme athletes - albeit usually small athletes! Filipe Massa is tiny and has legs like sticks. But many of them regularly compete in triathlons and MTB races.

I don't much like Tesco but they do stuff for schools from time-to-time including the above-mentioned school sports kit And I would prefer the money went there than paid the over-inflated salaries of footballers.

*AL*

Rolf F wrote:

Yep, anyone who has driven a proper go-kart on an outside track for more than 5 minutes will have some feel for how physically destroying F1 is going to be and how ridiculous it is to suggest F1 is a couch potato sport. I'd bet good money it is one of the most physically demanding sports there is.

I don't argue for one minute that F1 isn't physically demanding, but only for 20-odd drivers world wide, to the rest of us it's a couch potato sport.

meanredspider

*AL* wrote:

I don't argue for one minute that F1 isn't physically demanding, but only for 20-odd drivers world wide, to the rest of us it's a couch potato sport.

And watching the TdF on TV isn't?

Hammyhamster

Tescos used to sponsor the early incarnation of Go-ride for BC and have recently announced support/sponsorship for GB Canoeing, both sit down sports I know but putting their money where their......

*AL*

meanredspider wrote:

*AL* wrote:

I don't argue for one minute that F1 isn't physically demanding, but only for 20-odd drivers world wide, to the rest of us it's a couch potato sport.

And watching the TdF on TV isn't?

Watching F1 isn't going to inspire thousands/tens of thousands to spend multi millions of pounds buying a F1 team so they can become a little fitter.

Publicising cycling might encourage them to sling their leg over a bike a sweat a little bit though.

unixnerd

Ah but if I watch the TdF I'm motivated to go for a pedal. If I watch F1 I'm motivated to drive down the A9 at 140mph (which I believe the local constabulary object too).

rolf_f

dodgy wrote:

More demanding than it looks, certainly, But there are many sports waaaay more demanding. Not trying to take anything away from F1 drivers though, I can't do what they do, they have a fantastic mix of fast reflexes, vision, physical fitness - but I verfy much doubt that pure physical fitness is the defining attribute of a successful F1 driver.

I wouldn't count on it. I did a short go kart endurance race. Halfway through my second 20 minute stint I was having to try to wedge my arms against the kart to hold the steering wheel against the g-forces. The third stint nearly killed me! F1 drivers suffer much greater G forces for over two hours. I certainly reckon that karting session was tougher than my ascent of Hardknott pass! Maybe wrong but I'd take some convincing that there is much comparable aside from pro road racing - a potentially good debate!

Omar Little

Can understand the point the OP was making - the proportion of people watching F1 who participate in motorsport beyond the couch potato level will be tiny whereas the proportion of people watching cycling on tv who also participate in cycling will be quite large. IMO one the sports with the closest watch on tv + take part in the sport ratio.

stevec205gti

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

And not couch potato sports like cricket and F1, but a sport like cycling.

You play much cricket? Long spells bowling. Field properly and you should be walking in on every ball giving you non stop walking for a good 2-3 hours. We won't go into batting and the 1+hr of 22yd shuttle runs.....

nwallace

*AL* wrote:

I don't argue for one minute that F1 isn't physically demanding, but only for 20-odd drivers world wide, to the rest of us it's a couch potato sport.

You're ignoring then that F1 is the pinacle of motorsport.
That's the 20 or so drivers that have got there.

Omar Little wrote:

Can understand the point the OP was making - the proportion of people watching F1 who participate in motorsport beyond the couch potato level will be tiny whereas the proportion of people watching cycling on tv who also participate in cycling will be quite large. IMO one the sports with the closest watch on tv + take part in the sport ratio.

That's because only cyclists are interested in watching cycling on the telly.

Football must be a couch potato sport too, as most watching on telly or in the stands probably don't even play 5's.

You don't know though, a large number of F1 telly watchers may actually be inspired to walk round the perimeter of their local race track for a day every non-gp weekend, or walk into Rally Stages.

Of course football and Cricket are relatively easy to get involved in and don't cost much.
Most kids have bikes but very few can afford 3/4 grand or more to get into Karting at 8.

dilemna

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Have you seen that Tesco Mobile TV ad where they try and make themselves look clever by not sponsoring sports? Well, Mr Cohen and chums, why not get yourself a lesson in corporate social responsibility and do something about our looming national obesity crisis and put some of your millions into the sponsorship of sport? And not couch potato sports like cricket and F1, but a sport like cycling.

Is there a more greedy and s*** for brains company on the face of the planet than Tesco?

You wouldn't by any chance have just had a bad shopping experience at Tesco would you? Or alternatively are you a patron of a rival supermarket?

Can't say I like Tescos or even shop there but they are a very successful company. They likely contribute as much as any of their competitors in supporting sport, education, the arts or community projects. I think maybe you want to reflect on your post as basically it's libelous bollox.

Smokin Joe

Why should Tesco sponsor sport? They're a retailer.

If you want your kids to get fit, buy them a football, turn the telly off and kick them out and over the park.

Too many people expect everything to be handed to them on a plate.

meanredspider

*AL* wrote:

Watching F1 isn't going to inspire thousands/tens of thousands to spend multi millions of pounds buying a F1 team so they can become a little fitter.

Publicising cycling might encourage them to sling their leg over a bike a sweat a little bit though.

Well, speaking for myself, F1 inspired me to go racing (just club stuff at Knockhill - though I am on the telly so couch potatoes can watch me too). Realising that I needed to be lighter to go faster, I lost 15kg through running and eating less. That inspired me to jump on a bike - et voila - now commute to work 30 miles a day. Frankly, watching TdF was never going to do that...apart from anything, it's taught me that to do well in cycling you need to take drugs.

Lots of the young racing drivers I know are very fit and cycle a lot. My guess is that people like Jensen Button and Mark webber do a huge amount to promote the benefits of cycling because F1 is so hugely popular around the world.

I think those who aren't familiar with F1's punishing fitness regimes would be very very surprised at what these guys are capable of. And, for every F1 driver, there's thousands of wannabes. Motorsport in general is pretty demanding. I have to have a medical every year and, now I'm over 45, that includes an ECG. Even our silly little club races are hard work and fitness really improves your performance. I've measured my HR at 183bpm. I've reached that running but never on a bike. Of course it's a combination of effort and adrenaline, but it does give an idea of the demands.

nwallace

Even Rally Co-Drivers are on fitness regimes now, and all they do is sit and shout.

RichN95.

Omar Little wrote:

Can understand the point the OP was making - the proportion of people watching F1 who participate in motorsport beyond the couch potato level will be tiny whereas the proportion of people watching cycling on tv who also participate in cycling will be quite large. IMO one the sports with the closest watch on tv + take part in the sport ratio.

No.1 for that is hockey. Nobody watches hockey and doesn't play (or used to play)

Berk Bonebonce

Seems that plenty of you do not get the idea of 'corporate social responsibility'. In the recent Tesco Mobile TV commercial, Tesco deliberately gloated at the fact that they do not sponsor sports.

Thankfully, some companies do sponsor sports. It is a positive way of spending money. A sport like cycling needs sponsorship to survive, and if seeing some guy called Bradley from London riding a blinder of a Tour de France, well it might even make some people, and amongst them a fair few kids, take up the activity of cycling.

But if people are happy with greedy companies taking their money and not putting anything back into communities or 'national life', that is their perogative. I am pleased to say that all companies do not think like Tesco's though, Sky being an obvious example from the UK.

anotheroneontheway

But if people are happy with greedy companies taking their money and not putting anything back into communities or 'national life', that is their perogative. I am pleased to say that all companies do not think like Tesco's though, Sky being an obvious example from the UK.

Other than the £3million they gave to Wigan Warriors RL a few years ago and the doubtless £millions they give to charities each year along with the Sports for Schools vouchers, why should they invest in sport?

This is a cycling forum so that's your interest (and mine), which is fine but there are things equally important to others to invest in - theatre, arts, design etc... Not my bag, but I'm not blinkered enough to think that if a company doesn't invest in sport they're a bad company.

I disagree with much of Tesco's business practise - buying up land and leaving derelict is my particular bugbear - but I've got better things to worry about in my life.

How much of your time do you give to helping out the local community, sports clubs etc.. That's not meant as a sarcastic remark, if you do - good on you, as said before though, many people seem to think these things are the responsibilities of others.

Not sure Sky should be held up as paragons of virtue though??

Having just re-read this post - I don't work for Tesco, although it sounds like it!

andyxm

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Seems that plenty of you do not get the idea of 'corporate social responsibility'. In the recent Tesco Mobile TV commercial, Tesco deliberately gloated at the fact that they do not sponsor sports.

Thankfully, some companies do sponsor sports. It is a positive way of spending money. A sport like cycling needs sponsorship to survive, and if seeing some guy called Bradley from London riding a blinder of a Tour de France, well it might even make some people, and amongst them a fair few kids, take up the activity of cycling.

But if people are happy with greedy companies taking their money and not putting anything back into communities or 'national life', that is their perogative. I am pleased to say that all companies do not think like Tesco's though, Sky being an obvious example from the UK.

Do a bit of research into News Corporation and their enthusiasm for avoiding paying tax and you might change your views.

andyxm

Rolf F wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Yup - F1 is a couch potato sport:
:roll: :roll:

Yep, anyone who has driven a proper go-kart on an outside track for more than 5 minutes will have some feel for how physically destroying F1 is going to be and how ridiculous it is to suggest F1 is a couch potato sport. I'd bet good money it is one of the most physically demanding sports there is.

Might by physically demanding, but it ain't a sport......

Cressers

For all their faults I think tesco should be commended for not getting on the corporate sponsorship band wagon. I won't use Vodafone because they waste money on F1, I won't fly Emirates because they sponsor Arsenal, or buy a Samsung product because they sponsor Chelsea. Rather then spend money on sponsorship I'd rather that companies reduced their prices.

orbeaorca

andyxm wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

Yup - F1 is a couch potato sport:
:roll: :roll:

Yep, anyone who has driven a proper go-kart on an outside track for more than 5 minutes will have some feel for how physically destroying F1 is going to be and how ridiculous it is to suggest F1 is a couch potato sport. I'd bet good money it is one of the most physically demanding sports there is.

Might by physically demanding, but it ain't a sport......

The definition sport ' an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature ' '

F1 is an athletic activity which requires skill, physical prowess and it's competitive ... which must mean it's a sport.

bompington

Tesco are a greedy company because they are a business and that's what businesses do. The only reason big companies sponsor sport is as part of their marketing budget, i.e. to make more money. If you're genuinely concerned about low participation in sport and levels of fitness, the issues are rooted in modern culture and lifestyle - Tesco would probably do far more to encourage physical activity by stopping selling TVs.

antfly

OP is easily fooled if he thinks Sky are so great and who says Tesco don't sponsor sport ?

http://sport.uk.msn.com/olympics-2012/a ... =155462046
http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/tes ... 77.article
http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/tesco- ... de-sponsor
http://www.mad.co.uk/BreakingNews/Break ... -deal.html

Perhaps do some research next time.

dodgy

Rolf F wrote:

dodgy wrote:

More demanding than it looks, certainly, But there are many sports waaaay more demanding. Not trying to take anything away from F1 drivers though, I can't do what they do, they have a fantastic mix of fast reflexes, vision, physical fitness - but I verfy much doubt that pure physical fitness is the defining attribute of a successful F1 driver.

I wouldn't count on it. I did a short go kart endurance race. Halfway through my second 20 minute stint I was having to try to wedge my arms against the kart to hold the steering wheel against the g-forces. The third stint nearly killed me! F1 drivers suffer much greater G forces for over two hours. I certainly reckon that karting session was tougher than my ascent of Hardknott pass! Maybe wrong but I'd take some convincing that there is much comparable aside from pro road racing - a potentially good debate!

Sorry mate, but I'm not convinced that carting or F1 for that matter can be as physically demanding as riding up Hardknott pass.
Good physical conditioning and a sharp mind will make for a great driver, but he's not suffering like a cyclist (of any standard) up Hardknott.