By the way the race metioned on the front page was acually won in 31:24, not 30:24, which makes it worse. I watched it and it was pathetic. they had like three elites that jogged for like 4 1/2 miles and then raced in
By the way the race metioned on the front page was acually won in 31:24, not 30:24, which makes it worse. I watched it and it was pathetic. they had like three elites that jogged for like 4 1/2 miles and then raced in
Track Fan wrote:
1980- 1 hr. tape delayed overage on NBC.
1984- Same as 1980. Wm got 60min delayed coverage.
1988- Wm- 30 second highlight during the Leggs 10K, Men live 2.5 coverage on ABC. By far the best to date.
1992- Wm- 30 min tape delayed on ESPN. Men 60 min. tape delayed on NBC.
1996- Wm and Men were interwoven during a 2 hr. tape delayed covereage on NBC. Not oo bad.
2000- OLN tape delayed coverage of both races. NBC butchered it down even more to be shown after OLN showed their's.
2004- NADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
'96 was not a two hour tape delayed program. The men's race was actually shown in real time with interwoven taped coverage of the women's race held a week earlier.
I'm also sure that '84 was shown live in its entirety. I purchased my first TV for the occasion and I'm way too cheap to do that for a one hour tape delay. And, like others on the thread, I recall the shock of Pfitz's kick.
wejo wrote:
10 years ago if people thought we could be doing a better job with anything, it was a lot harder for them to voice their opinions or find information on anything.
See, here's the problem. Ten years ago things were discussed, debated and voted on openly. There were no top secret negotiations. That's what's created this mess.
wejo wrote:
...discussion can lead to people coming up with new ideas. I mainly started the thread because I disagreed with it being called "record" coverage, wanted to draw a little attention to it, and wanted someone to answer my questions about the coverage in the past.
Public opinion and accountability can make a difference. The internet disseminates information much faster than in the past.
10 years ago if people thought we could be doing a better job with anything, it was a lot harder for them to voice their opinions or find information on anything.
wejo, if you really wanted somebody to answer your questions, you would've been better served to seek out the source of your discontent: an official w/in USATF. It's fine to disagree w/USATF's claim to 'record' coverage but singling out a single event to support your claim isn't fair in the overall picture. Please don't think I'm happy w/30 minutes of men's Oly Trials Marathon coverage- I'm underwhelmed by it...but I'm familiar w/the ways of commercial tv. Commercial tv= you pay me, I'll play you.
Rounding up those who'll do the paying ain't easy.
You're right that discussion is good. However, little I've seen on this thread is enlightening or helpful toward the cause of more Trials coverage. If asked I'd say what appears on message boards has only a modest, very modest chance of influencing opinion/affecting change on serious issues. Voicing your opinion is fine; finding information will set you free.
"stubborn things" wrote:
"'96 was not a two hour tape delayed program. The men's race was actually shown in real time with interwoven taped coverage of the women's race held a week earlier."
The 1996 men's race was at 9 AM. The TV coverage was in the afternoon -- otherwise how could I have watched myself get my behind handed to me while sipping a Budweiser at Fat Tuesday's a block from the finish?
Things to consider:
the coverage was better for 1984 & 1996 - Why? The Olympics was in the US!!!!!!! It was TV's build up to the big show.
We all love road racing, for most of us it's our passion,our love, even our lives - but remember the marathon is only one of 21 men's events in the sport of athletics....all competing for a spot on the olympic team. Most sports fans (outside of ldr) find watching a marathon very boring....think about it.
Yes it was tape delayed. The race was held in the am, and the coverage was shown that afternoon. Sorry but you are mistaken sir.
There may have been some live coverage of the '96 Trials by a local Charlotte station. The national coverage was broadcast that afternoon, but it was pretty good coverage. Much better than what Marathon Trials since have received, and it sounds like it's going to be better than what we'll get this year.
i was watching the men's race from a bicycle and watched it on TV that afternoon. it was not shown live.
there couldn't have been two more different events. Columbia was warm and there were thousands of people all along the way. people decorated their yards and schools on the course had contests to support the race. the finish on main street was lined with folks all the way - almost like a mini-Boylston
Charlotte was very cold and there was no one on the streets and only a few hundred at the finish line
Joseph McVeigh wrote:
"stubborn things" wrote:
"'96 was not a two hour tape delayed program. The men's race was actually shown in real time with interwoven taped coverage of the women's race held a week earlier."
The 1996 men's race was at 9 AM. The TV coverage was in the afternoon -- otherwise how could I have watched myself get my behind handed to me while sipping a Budweiser at Fat Tuesday's a block from the finish?
"Real time" doesn't necessarily mean "live"; sorry if I wasn't clear on that about '96. My point was that it wasn't a fixed two hour program since it obviously took more than two hours for Bob K to win and there was some coverage before and after.
'84 I still believe was live.
No live coverage in Charlotte (1996) either, just the same afternoon coverage you probably saw elsewhere. I was on the course during the race, and watched the race later that afternoon, but I wasn't sure if it was local TV only or a national show. The old Charlotte Observer marathon used to have same day, but delayed TV coverage locally as well.
There were more people on the course than previously mentioned, but the cold kept a lot away. There were generally more spectators for the early Jan. Charlotte Observer marathon/10K in the 80's and early 90's. The women's race in Columbia the week before had incredible crowds.
It's funny how many people posting on this thread were out there on the course in '96. I was one of the many guys who rode a bicycle near the lead pack most all the way. That was a great race to watch. I almost wrecked my bike a couple times trying to ride and take pics. Got some good ones though and had a blast that day.
calbuffalo, coverage of xc nationals is to be included in the tyson coverage (IIRC). obviously this means the coverage will not be particularly extensive.
if you look at some of the shots of the men's race, you can see the "peloton" of bikes.
i actually got run off the road - intentionally - by a state trooper on his motorcycle when i got off the sidewalk in one section, but later on we were allowed to ride very close to the guys
i also got great photos. got a couple of them autographed by Brantley and Coogan at Boston in April ( i was running, not just a spectator) it was cool, they kept the line waiting at the NB booth for a long time while they looked through all my shots.
Brantley said it was too funny, he and Mark knew every time Bob K hurled, he said you could hear the bike crowd go "ooooohhhh"
chuck d wrote:
calbuffalo, coverage of xc nationals is to be included in the tyson coverage (IIRC). obviously this means the coverage will not be particularly extensive.
Sorry, that's a joke, (and the previous whining is validated). The USA XC meet doesn't get it's own show? How much are they going to air, 5 minutes? I'd rather have a full hour at 3am (Tivo anyone?) then be an afterthought to indoor track of all things.
blame ESPN and the disinterest of most people. espn pays usatf for exclusive coverage; unfortunately, both tyson and xc nationals fall during "rivalry week" on espn. they'll show track on tape delay, of course, because visa has got the muscle; but sending a crew out to boulder for an xc race? we all know the answer to that one. i'd rather have the thing on at 2am, as well, but that's our sport. honestly, our sport is considered a joke by most viewers and is treated as such.
Live streaming of the OTM; pay per computer view. It ain't free but neither is the stuff that makes my missus happy.