EARTH TO NBC, ANDREW WHEATING WAS RUNNING..

There isn't a person I've talked to who thinks they did right on not mentioning wheating. Not one. I've spoken with Wheating rivals who thought it was just bad ignorant commentating. The question they had was, who cares what Kiprop and Co. are doing unless they are running 3:45. Otherwise it's just the same old thing, different day. Wheating however was far from the same old thing.

It is impossible to tell which one you are. Simply devils advocate or just another oregon/wheating hater.

But your really barking at a lost argument here, maybe you and the TV crew can go out and have a beer and discuss the future of Lagat, Manzano and Lomong.

broken record wrote:

There isn't a person I've talked to who thinks they did right on not mentioning wheating.

Including me.

It is impossible to tell which one you are. Simply devils advocate or just another oregon/wheating hater.

That would be neither

But your really barking at a lost argument here, maybe you and the TV crew can go out and have a beer and discuss the future of Lagat, Manzano and Lomong.

If I were to out with them I would attempt to educate myself on how a broadcast is actually prepared for, put together prior to the meet, what the assignments are in calling the race and what information is passed to the on air talent before, during and after each individual race. Then I would offer some suggestions on how to best improve their broadcasts.

My comment is on the incessant whining from some...actually likely one....on this thread. That person or person(s) is a little too "invested" in the situation.

dhmh, you raise your c*** factor way higher when you blame Bolden for him not mentioning Wheating in the Bowerman mile - an event he does NOT cover!!!!

Ess Gee Ess wrote:

My comment is on the incessant whining from some...actually likely one....on this thread. That person or person(s) is a little too "invested" in the situation.

Haha, yeah, shame some of us are actually emotionally invested in this sport of distance running. Better to not care and watch it die.

Honestly, why do you care enough to respond to a running website where people are backing american distance runners? What are you so invested in? Arguing? Why don't you go ahead and tell us what you have invested in trying to prove us wrong?

Funny thing is, when you watch the replay video right at the beginning they are announcing Andrew Wheating and the crowd erupts. It would be impossible to miss, even for the announcers who are stationed right in the home grandstands 15 feet above the crowd.

But yeah, you're right, no story there.

Watching the race, I couldn't help but notice the one guy who was literally a head above the rest. I'd have to imagine that U.S. viewers would be wondering to themselves: "Who the hell is this 6'5 white guy with a giant "O" on his singlet and how is he keeping up with all these Africans?"

I was shocked that Wheating wasn't so much as mentioned seeing as how he stuck out like a sore thumb.

6 foot 5 weighs a f*cking ton wrote:

Watching the race, I couldn't help but notice the one guy who was literally a head above the rest. I'd have to imagine that U.S. viewers would be wondering to themselves: "Who the hell is this 6'5 white guy with a giant "O" on his singlet and how is he keeping up with all these Africans?"

I was shocked that Wheating wasn't so much as mentioned seeing as how he stuck out like a sore thumb.

You were far from the only one wondering. That is perhaps the biggest point, the average joe was wondering who the hell he was, not listening to the jibber-jabber about guys in front who they care less about and can't distinguish.

I was there at this meet and honestly didn't notice Wheating either. He wasn't competitive, at any point, to win the race. I'm not saying he didn't run well or have a good time, but symbolic of US distance running, you guys are trying to make his performance greater than it was. He wasn't competitive to win, who cares if they mentioned him?

Maybe the mention of Leo was a joke, but Lagat is always going to get that type of attention. He's earned it through US and World championships.

The bottom line is from watching Pre, the Americans aren't close to the Africans. If you actually saw that race, Wheating was never in it. Symmonds was never in the 1k. Flanagan was never in the 5k (although she might actually be the 2nd best person in the world in the 5k-10k, its a distant 2nd). We're second (maybe 3rd) class in distance running. I hope that changes, its certainly better than even 5 years ago, but realistically we've way the hell behind the africans still.

You've missed it once again. The story is not always about the winner. The story is where there is a story. There was plenty of time to simply mention wheating prior to race start and to mention him running thru the field on that last lap.

In various events they highlight people who are not going to win and really are not going to do anything of note. A college guy blowing threw a world class field is something of note. Nobody said he had to be the only story, the only one mentioned there, but why no mention whatsoever?

You really can't argue with that.

There is a reason he is going to sign for more than any of Lagat, Manzano, Lomong or Webb.

In ancient times, announcers did their homework. They either knew off the top of their heads; or, had notes about each competitor. But then, during ancient times, the USA was the innovative leader of the planet. Today, people are too lazy to do their homework; just, as the USA has transformed itself into a society of consumers, only. These are two of the down and dirty reasons neither Wheating nor Wright were acknowledged. 2008 American Olympians are a thing of the past unless the person is other than caucasian; or, not a naturally born citizen of this country. I do admire Lagat and Manzano; but… Phoebe Wright is again a caucasian, born in this country; and, until Saturday, her only accomplishments were a 11 or 12 straight meet winning streak, was the star of the collegiate female edition of the Penn Relays, SEC champion, regional champion, NCAA champion; and, now, the fastest female 800 meter from the USA this season. How many people were able to beat Anna in the 800 during the past twelve months.

Lastly, Dwight the high jumper, use to do his homework. On a moment's notice he was one of two announcers of the Friday Penn Relays' events. Within hours he was acceptably knowledgeable about collegians and high schoolers who had competed earlier in the day. Today, he seems more interested in hearing himself speak, without regard to his content. Just another sad example of the transition this once great country is experiencing.

Chris Barr

Mook Curer wrote:

dhmh, you raise your c*** factor way higher when you blame Bolden for him not mentioning Wheating in the Bowerman mile - an event he does NOT cover!!!!

...and I did that where?

THERE....

dhmh

RE: EARTH TO NBC, ANDREW WHEATING WAS RUNNING.. 7/4/2010 8:49AM - in reply to Perspectivation Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

hammond and bolden are just awful. they have no idea what is going on...i was astonished they couldn't find wheating in that field or mention his name once.

and the 200 was even worse. they are so hell bent on creating melodrama out of nothing: "...AND TYSON GAY HAS MADE IT PAST THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER OF THE FIRST 20M WHERE HE PULLED UP IN 2008!..."

what complete idiocy.

how hard can it possibly be to find two competent people to call these races?

You don't get it wrote:

You've missed it once again. The story is not always about the winner.

On Letsrun its about the fastest white dude.

You've missed it once again. The story is not always about the winner. The story is where there is a story. There was plenty of time to simply mention wheating prior to race start and to mention him running thru the field on that last lap.

No actually I didn't miss it. You missed it. I didn't say they should only talk about the winner, but they should talk about people with a story. Wheating has done absolutely nothing of note on an international level. (Don't give me the making the US team in 2008 in the 800 crap, outside of Symmonds we're an absolute joke in that event) He was in no way competitive to win that race. It doesn't make it a story just because an American had a halfway descent time.

The announcers talked about people that either were competitve to win, or they thought had a chance (IE Lagat).

Wheating's performance was the equivalent of a no name NBA player dropping 40 points in a game that his team was down by 20+ points the whole time. ESPN wouldn't mention that either because it's totally irrelevant.(See Danny Granger for numerous examples)

Lets give NBC credit for even putting the meet on TV, that's a step in the right direction. It'd be great if some athlete in the 800 or greater actually ran a performance that was close to winning.

iwasatpre10 wrote:

Lets give NBC credit for even putting the meet on TV, that's a step in the right direction. It'd be great if some athlete in the 800 or greater actually ran a performance that was close to winning.

"you want me to shit in a box and mark it guaranteed, i will. but in the end you're left with a guaranteed piece of shit."

we should be grateful for the fact that nbc broadcast pre? they've been broadcasting pre for years - hardly a step in the right direction. take the retards off the commentators and broadcast with zero audio, and the broadcast would be an improvement. now THAT would be a step in the right direction.

It seems the majority on this board disagree with you and what is storyworthy. Perhaps you are wrong?

There was plenty of time to mention every single person in the race, even more if they jut did Americans. They could have cut out all the no heights and long jump fouls and hamstring pulls. They had no problem listing everyone in the women's 800. The broadcast also doesn't have to be so short. Like I said earlier, They could just put it on Vs. or some other network that has time for 20 hours of bike racing a day, or a 4-6 hour meet once every two weeks. Would've liked to have seen the 1000 too even though it was a bust

NBC uses local T&F people as spotters who work one meet at a time for the TV director & producer. You see the same familiar faces at meets over and over again who work as spotters. They have headphones on in the infield, in the TV truck, and in the Mixed Zone. The spotters are runners, throwers, coaches, etc. and they didn't think Wheating's performance was important enough to mention.