Too bad no one on the mainstream media cares about or will even mention Ritz

Well the AP did mention Ritz in their recap of the meet. To quote:

"Dathan Ritzenhein, a former middle-distance star who has concentrated more on the marathon in recent years, broke the United States record in the 5,000 meters at the Weltklasse meet in Zurich. Ritzenhein finished in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds to place third, breaking the 13-year-old record of 12:58.21 set by Bob Kennedy. Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, the world champion in the 5,000 and the 10,000, won the race in 12:52.32."

I just find it strange that they call him a former middle-distance star.

Can we focus on the positive? All of you who are doing whatever jobs you do and complaining about track coverage, but get out there and do it! You can freelance! Write what you can. If it's written well, people will read it. Make it engaging and different from any horse race coverage that's out there. DO NOT write like the Johnson brothers, please, by saying "gas in the tank" and surrounding the cliche with quotes to seem ironic.

All of you seem to have an idea of what the media shouldn't be... so, what should it be?

The people are the media. The internet makes it even easier. Do it, or stop complaining.

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-28-ritzenhein-record_N.htm

6:00 wrote:

ESPN goes with only "Dathan Ritzenhein finished third in the 5,000 in 12:56.27, setting a new American record. Ritzenhein, who improved his personal record by nearly 20 seconds, is just the third American ever to run under 13 minutes."

Bolt gets 8 times that much coverage.

Isinbayeva gets 5 times that much coverage.

Richards gets 4 times that much coverage.

...as they deserve to, seeing as they all have a sizable record/medal collection

STOP THE PRESS!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-28-ritzenhein-record_N.htm

Ummm... That story is tucked away. An afterthought. Ritz lost to Bekele.

Even if this were true, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHY MAINSTREAM MEDIA DOESN'T FEATURE TRACK AND RUNNING MORE.

And you are a f***ing tool.

Whatever you say, Hawking, whatever you say.

Caveman wrote:

So what? Screw the mainstream media. They are tools of the big corporations. Since Track has a small following, the corps and media arent interested. god forbid that they should report on anything not involving money. I know I'm in a small sport but I dont really give a rats ass.

Yes, exactly. Why do runners have to whine that our sport doesn't get attention in the US? I don't lose sleep over it at all.

Caveman wrote:

So what? Screw the mainstream media. They are tools of the big corporations. Since Track has a small following, the corps and media arent interested. god forbid that they should report on anything not involving money. I know I'm in a small sport but I dont really give a rats ass.

I second that. Dathan next to the 'Dancing With the Stars' winner or 'The Biggest Loser' winner? No thanks. The reason runners aren't popular is that being fit isn't popular. In America the average person is over weight or obese... they just don't get it.

Great post Black King....stop bitching and do something about it. Don't talk about it, be about it.

black king wrote:

Can we focus on the positive? All of you who are doing whatever jobs you do and complaining about track coverage, but get out there and do it! You can freelance! Write what you can. If it's written well, people will read it. Make it engaging and different from any horse race coverage that's out there. DO NOT write like the Johnson brothers, please, by saying "gas in the tank" and surrounding the cliche with quotes to seem ironic.

All of you seem to have an idea of what the media shouldn't be... so, what should it be?

The people are the media. The internet makes it even easier. Do it, or stop complaining.