I couldn't agree more about the need for teams in track and field. This idea is already out there, with Nike now having different uniforms for the different Oregon training groups, but it's not even close to enough. I'm talking full fledged track teams, field events through the 10k, and scored meets. A season that lasts for a few months, and cities that the teams represent.
The sport is dead because it makes no attempt to connect with spectators. No athletes represent their hometown, meets aren't run quickly and broadcast accessibly, athletes have nothing in mind aside from running fast in a few key races, fans never come into the thinking of this sport and it's athletes. It's a shame just how selfish it's become.
When Rupp DNSd and then Solinsky dropped out, I just couldn't believe it. I'd been jacked about that 10k all day, some friends came over and we put it on the big screen and cracked some beers. Then suddenly our "team" is not in the race. It's as if on Sunday afternoon in the fall a Bears fan sat down to watch his team play only to be told the coaches decided they can't risk their big game next month so they're sitting this one out and the other team is going to scrimmage itself. It's pathetic. Now I realize I'm demanding a lot of these guys by saying they should suck it up and race anyway, but if we can't demand a lot from the professional athletes of track and field then that's exactly why in the eyes of America this sport sucks. Actually, scratch that, in the eyes of America, this isn't even a sport.
If every race were a part of achieving something in this sport, and the accomplishments of the athletes were more than just them climbing the world leaderboard and gearing up for one race overseas, people might watch. If time after time the best around showed up to run, jump, and throw as well as they had to to beat the other guy, to score one for the team, and to excite the fans with a gutsy performance, maybe someone would tune in.