I find parts of this funny since so many track fans cannot stand Rawson.
I find parts of this funny since so many track fans cannot stand Rawson.
Has he been this terrible the entire time?
Been doing it a long time, has Rawson.
Seriously mate? wrote:
Has he been this terrible the entire time?
I wouldn't make of him mate...he's a household name for T&F commentary. He's got the contract and the big bucks at ESPN, what do you have? (daily postings at LRC? 😄).
Terrible broadcaster. He says so much stupid shit. I hear ESPN is going down the toilet though, not sure they would be able to hire anyone better.
Down to your local high school track go, and on your feet two slices of bread put. If around the track you ran one time for every year Rawson has worked for ESPN, 20000 meters you would run, which is over 12 miles!
luv2run wrote:
I find parts of this funny since so many track fans cannot stand Rawson.
http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espns-larry-rawson-calling-50th-ncaa-track-field-championship-week.html
Not one LR poster could do a better job, that's what's so funny about all the complaints against Rawson. He has to appeal to the general public, not to a bunch of rarely to never been laid basement dwellers who pretend they have or had running ability or careers.
I would bet that any number of posters could do as well as Larry had they 37 years of experience to improve. Rawson is just as inane as he was decades ago. He knows he can mail it in.
Casca the Warrior wrote:
He has to appeal to the general public, not to a bunch of rarely to never been laid basement dwellers who pretend they have or had running ability or careers.
Can we please stop this charade once and for all? They don't need to appeal to the general public. The general public DOES NOT WATCH TRACK MEETS. Imagine a "typical American" who has accidentally flipped on the Pre Classic in the middle of the 5000m. Just when he is about to change the channel, he hears "go down to your local track and try running a lap at this pace, 63 seconds per lap..." - how in the world does that convert to this "typical American" deciding to watch the end of the race???
Casca the Warrior wrote:
luv2run wrote:I find parts of this funny since so many track fans cannot stand Rawson.
http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espns-larry-rawson-calling-50th-ncaa-track-field-championship-week.htmlNot one LR poster could do a better job, that's what's so funny about all the complaints against Rawson. He has to appeal to the general public, not to a bunch of rarely to never been laid basement dwellers who pretend they have or had running ability or careers.
So if some doctor botches my meniscus surgery, just because I can't perform the surgery myself, I've no right to complain?
I met him years ago at Boilermaker. Very nice guy.Hope he continues on. He is very knowledgeable about track and field and all the athletes.
sports commentary died when quit of boxing of
cosell
Wow, he has been doing shi**y commentary a long time. It's almost like we could use more "turnover" in commentators in this sport.
...turnover.
Get it?
Bring Back the 880 wrote:
Wow, he has been doing shi**y commentary a long time. It's almost like we could use more "turnover" in commentators in this sport.
...turnover.
Get it?
You are hereby ordered to go to your local track (as if everyone has access to the local track) and run several 400s as PUNishment (GET IT?).
MackSmith wrote:
Been doing it a long time, has Rawson.
POD
He said so many dumb things during the races I watched tonight. Simple things like identifying the runners incorrectly to really dumb things like seeing the guys go through in 68 and calling it "4:50 pace".
It's non stop with him. Always has been.
Stones is no better. Much better as a color commentator for field events than leading the broadcast.
Dodge Ball Gold wrote:
So if some doctor botches my meniscus surgery, just because I can't perform the surgery myself, I've no right to complain?
Stupid comparison...you can sue your surgeon for medical malpractice and then find one that can do the job right!
Big As Hell Runner wrote:
He said so many dumb things during the races I watched tonight. Simple things like identifying the runners incorrectly to really dumb things like seeing the guys go through in 68 and calling it "4:50 pace".
It's non stop with him. Always has been.
Then why don't you submit a resume to ESPN and see if can get hired and replace Rawson. I'm sure ESPN is looking for some hot shots from LRC for consideration as commentators 😉.
He said something tonight about relay runners starting 5 yards before a 20 meter zone and passing the baton 25 or 30 feet later.
Can not wait to hear him explain the new IAAF rule that now includes the fly zone as part of the exchange zone.
I agree off air he is a great guy to talk track with is Larry Rawson
Larry Rawson has faced adversity before, but never from the likes of the most powerful man in the world, President Barack Obama.
In a press conference from the White House Rose Garden, President Obama used his harshest language yet to denounce Larry Rawson�s torturous broadcasts, most recently on display in April�s Boston Marathon. �We are a nation of laws and exciting commentators. We do not and should not torture track fans with worn out metaphors and poorly researched statistics. This affront to our values and color commentary will not stand. I call on Larry Rawson to resign immediately and I am initiating a Truth Commission to look into the blabbering inaccurate statements made by Mr. Rawson during recent telecasts.�
Fans of track and field have often described Larry Rawson�s broadcasts as torture, but the Obama administration has previously called the broadcasts �enhanced commentary techniques.� In February 2009, a damning report by the International Red Cross was leaked to Doug Logan�s Shin Splints blog, documenting the use of tortured analogies in over 30 marathons since 1986. �Over one dozen track fans who tuned into the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials were subjected to a brutally oversimplified analysis of race strategy. The repetition of meaningless facts, such as the weight of racing flats as compared to a slice of bread, have worn down track fans to the point of dementia. These broadcast techniques are ineffectual and run counter to the great tradition of sports broadcasters in the United States, like Marv Albert and Charles Barkley.�
In his Presidential Election bid, Obama frequently campaigned for change in track and field announcing. At the 2008 University of Oregon Invite, Obama gave a stirring speech, calling on all track fans to unite against Rawson. �This isn�t a partisan issue. This is something that can bring all of us together. There�s not happy fans of track and there�s not sad fans of track - there�s the united angry fans of track and field. We are one group, all of us pledging hate toward Larry Rawson, all of us defending track and field to mainstream sport fans.�
This can be completely cut out �- Long before Obama was even pondering a career in politics, Rawson was dreaming about calling suspense-filled races with his monotone vocals. In previous interviews, Rawson traced his much maligned affair with track and field broadcasting began in 1954, when at age 12 he heard the famous John Landy and Roger Bannister �Miracle Mile� via radio from his home in New England. He went to have a heralded track career at Boston College around the same time of the United States and Cuba trade embargo and began commentating in the 1970s. He has long been suffering from dementia-like symptoms and even recently admitted his own disgust with his broadcast of this month�s Boston Marathon. �I confused the Kenyan women�s winner for an Ethiopian, that�s like confusing me for Dwight Stones. Oh wait, no it�s not, we both suck.�
Despite his struggles of late, Rawson stands by his controversial announcing career. �Announcing is hard work. Just try going down to your local high school and blathering on for two hours while people run around. That�s what I have to do twice every year!�
(I hope that Carol Lewis reads this!) :P