Good News Track TV Ratings Up

Now, I know I say this a lot, but bare with me one more time.

Go down to your local high school running track and run one lap as hard as you can. Chances are you won't be able to run as fast for one lap as these guys are running for FOUR laps!

Just incredible...

ktown wrote:

So strength and athleticism are unrelated? Are you serious?

There is more to being athletic than your precious lactate threshold.

The night before Prefontaine, one of the best (if not THE best) shot put throwers was in Vegas drinking beer, gambling, and took down two burritos and was looking for a third.

THIS is a fact...

Now, you tell me the differece between a shot put thrower, a bowler, a golfer, etc...

And then compare then to a 1500, 5000, 10000 runner or any other athlete....

[quote]tipsFromTheTop wrote:

1. stop showing false starts of the sprint events.

2. don't treat the audience like they don't know anything by having to define every small detail with an example. Most Americans are aware of the events and chances are ... if they are watching they are with someone who can explain it to them or they know it already. (You don't see NBA announcers explaining every small detail do you? or better yet..look at poker on TV.)

Wrong. the average american knows very little about track and field, and has very little appreciation for how athletic these people truly are and impressive the races are. Therefore, the explanations, while they sound dumb to us, really make it worth watching for someone who sees the shot put flies and thinks to themselves "heck, that doesen´t look that hard".

Good point. The average person has no clue how difficult it is to run that fast until they decide to get healthy and can't run 1/4 mile with out stopping, and then they're sore the next day. I think the idea that the athletes are doing something that the average person cannot do (as well as the athletes do it) is appealing.

Oh and Dauby- shut up, you're stupid.

I'm stupid?!?

You have a potty mouth dummy head.

You're hurting my feelings. Now go sit in the corner for 10 minutes.

The British announcers are excellent - I forget the two guys' names, one was a world class miler in the 80s I think. Carol is of course horrendous and would never have a job if this were covered like a revenue producing sport and we cut Larry Rawlson some slack but he's really not that good either. Bobby Kennedy on one of the marathons was excellent. I'd rather hear what Michael Johnson has to say and have Carrie Tollefson do interviews if she's not running.

Dauby wrote:

So watching an over weight man throw a heavy object is exciting?

Because they have been televising that for years on ESPN on Strongman Contest, and that blows goats too.

I'm not trying to light a match here, but shot put throwers are "athletes" but their event is based more on strength than being athletic.

Anyone who can drink beer, eat hot dogs, burritos, etc. the night before and day of an event loses credibility IMO.

You're joking right. The World's Strongest Man competition is awesome.

combowombo wrote:

You're joking right. The World's Strongest Man competition is awesome.

Sure it is. If you have insomnia and want some quality shut eye.

Thank, Dauby, you for verifying what I said and many people know.

Yes the British announcers are better. I watched the Bislett Games on OLN and the British announcer did an excellent job. I also remember Tim Hutchings calling the Paris Marathon on OLN a few years back. It was excellent commentary on the races and major runners. None of that fluff stuff that we get when a marathon is covered on TV here.

Dauby wrote:

I'm stupid?!?

You have a potty mouth dummy head.

You're hurting my feelings. Now go sit in the corner for 10 minutes.

Yes, please. Shut up.

First, you don't know what the word athleticism means, if you don't think men like Christian Cantwell or Virgilijus Alekna, are athletes.

Second, you're comparing two very different aspects of sport. Which, your mind can't handle.

Dauby wrote:

ktown wrote:

So strength and athleticism are unrelated? Are you serious?

There is more to being athletic than your precious lactate threshold.

The night before Prefontaine, one of the best (if not THE best) shot put throwers was in Vegas drinking beer, gambling, and took down two burritos and was looking for a third.

THIS is a fact...

Now, you tell me the differece between a shot put thrower, a bowler, a golfer, etc...

And then compare then to a 1500, 5000, 10000 runner or any other athlete....

Are you serious? There are a number of shot putters that can dunk on you; they train to be explosive.

Anyone who has seen the Alan Webb Ostrava '04 video: that's a pretty good job of announcing.

Ultramiler wrote:

Anyone who has seen the Alan Webb Ostrava '04 video: that's a pretty good job of announcing.

I have that video on the link below...

Personally I think athletics is no more boring to watch on TV than Golf. I'm glad the sport is getting more coverage!