Maybe sports like running are seen as something to do to get in shape for other sports. Running by itself could be seen as by some as a conditioning routine not a sport on to itself.
Maybe sports like running are seen as something to do to get in shape for other sports. Running by itself could be seen as by some as a conditioning routine not a sport on to itself.
I agree, it most surely is the USATF.
Do you think poker just became big because the public started thinking poker was awesome one day?
No, the proper sources made sure it was positioned correctly, and put money into making it the next big thing.
There is a lot to love about running, and more people in the "public" run than play any other sport, so it should be an easy sell.
The USATF just sit on their asses and do nothing.
Advertising and marketing works, otherwise companies would shell out billions for it each year.
You think you make your own decisions, but they are heavily influenced by what you are provided.
You are not always told what to like, but you are certainly given choices. Regardless of what you choose, someone's client wins.
The USATF isn't even giving you a choice.
It has nothing to do with the media, the public, other sports, etc. it is simply that the USATF does not do what is necessary to get the sport coverage, earned media, anything.
When they do happen to get something on TV, the USATF doesn't provide announcers, background, etc. Therefore, NBC/ABC goes out and gets anyone they can find with a connection to running and the result is horrible.
Correction:
"Advertising and marketing works, otherwise companies would NOT shell out billions for it each year.
Scotty B., I completely agree with you. The sad thing about running is that most people don't know anything about it because it is seen as a recreational activity. Its like when I go bowling and if some pro bowler were to come up and ask me who the top 3 bowlers in the country are. I wouldn't know and I don't really care. I'm only bowling because its a fun recreational activity. If you ask high school kids who run track and field who the top 5k runners or sprinters in the country are in CC and on the track- they wouldn't know because they don't care. They care about the football game and dance on friday night, not world class running.
I think as american distance running improves, there will be more attention paid to these rising stars. Younger runners won't have to go to obscure web sites to read about records being broken as faster times are ran- they will hear about them on the news and read about them in the paper- and maybe, just maybe, it will motivate them to run more, not go out and try to play baseball like d-wade or basketball like a-rod.
I suppose time will tell.
My 2 cents...
I don't care if the US media cares, should you?
Saints Fan for Today wrote:
I don't think it's televised start to finish. Isn't it just a recap - with heavy emphasis on Lance?
So your telling me that you want to watch the whole marathon two and half hours of it on TV? I like running but it's not like they are running plays out there. I think we all know it is pretty long-winded.
Joerr wrote:
The simply answer to the above question is "no". It is almost as if distance running is operating in a different universe compared to the other mainstream American sports. Webb, Lagat, Broe, Teg, and Hall are only celebrities on sites like this one and on Track and Field news. Oh, WABC may show some clips from the Millrose games, but they will not go into any real detail on the events. On this board Webb's name recognition is probably close to a 100%, but in the mainstream sports world I would say that number is around 10%. Among the general public I would say only 3% know who Alan Webb is. I mentioned Alan Webb's name once at a sports bar and somebody replied, "oh that guy from Dragnet, what a great show that was!” This is further evidence that distance running fans are like a small cult of devoted followers who are just not in the mainstream.
If either Webb or Lagat break Scott's AR, will it make the front of the USATODAY sport's page? I think we all know the answer to that one.
I don't know about USAtoday but the story would be on the front page of the sports for the NYT.
Stop whining. You follow a sport that's not popular with the mainstream public or media. Deal with it.
NY runner wrote:
My 2 cents...
I don't care if the US media cares, should you?
"media" is the plural form of "medium"
should be
"...if the US media care..."
Cough Wheeze wrote:
BLAME THE USATF.
ANYTHING CAN BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC, FOR THE RIGHT PRICE.
USATF DOES NOTHING TO ENHANCE THE IMAGE OF THE SPORT.
agreed. running needs to work on it's pr, as it often hides its light under a basket. take letsrun as an example. the news coverage is great, but the letsrun message board is clearly the most notable aspect of the website. now look at the attention the brojos give it on the homepage.
um, hey pot, not to bust your chops, but you're also black.
its...first sentence.
That post by "When in Rome..." made me laugh.
The "proper sources" who made sure poker was "positioned correctly" were the on-line gambling sites who stood to make a lot of money with a renewed interest in games like Texas Hold 'Em. These sites needed a place to advertise, so they threw a boatload of money at ESPN to televise the WSOP and other similar events. The average Joe watching ESPN in the middle of the day sees some lucky sap get a good hand and win big and thinks "Hey, I could do that." So he logs onto Bodog and starts draining his bank account.
Ask yourself, who would profit from a greater exposure of running in America? The running shoe companies? They're doing well enough without extra sponsorship.
The rest of the post was hilarious too...
Why should the USATF provide announcers for track meets? Is the NCAA prodiving the commentators for March Madness? Is the NHL supplying the play by play on Versus?