I was reading a good piece by Martin Fritz-Huber this afternoon on Chicago. It's largely about whose performance in Chicago - Kiptum's or Hassan's - is likely to resonate more.
In wondering that, he quotes Molly Seidel.
Fritz-Huber wrote:
At one point, Seidel also offers her two cents on the eternal question of how her sport can hope to engage audiences. For people to care, Seidel suggests, athletes have to do more than run fast. They need to have a certain emotional resonance. This is not a particularly radical take, but it’s one worth keeping in mind in a sport where the significance of elite performance is so often boiled down to numbers on a clock. While it’s possible to be moved by the mere fact of witnessing physical genius in action, even the most audacious record needs some kind of narrative bolstering. “I hate conversations like, ‘Who’s the GOAT?’” Seidel says in the Runner’s World piece. “Who fucking cares? Who’s got the story that’s going to get people excited?”
What do you think of her quote?
For me, I love the GOAT talks. That story gets me excited as I treat running like a pro sport and the competition is what excites me. Yes, knowing the backdrop helps a little and having good commentators is important, but I don't care too much about MLB stars back stories. The game (score/results) is key for me. What about you?
I think his column is worth a read:
The Seidel quote that he cited came from this piece:

