I will never understand why they focus so much on team titles in the tv coverage.
Yes, they should update team standings and point out when a race makes a big difference. But they only discuss races in terms of how they affect team scores. A couple years ago they cut away from the finish of a race to announce a team had clinched the championship.
Let's be real: almost no one watching cares about team scores. Sure, tell us the score, but leave it at that.
^ What he said.
While I have my own complaints about CBS/NBC TF coverage, I can perfectly understand the team score aspect. In trying to attract more viewers outside of just the niche market of LRC that's going to watch anyway, they need to present TF in a format that the public can find comparable to other mainstream sports they enjoy. Discussing individual performances in a "team" scope accomplishes that aim.
Totally disagree with you. I like the fact that they keep us up to date on team scores. It gives more meaning to the next race, especially for fans like myself that have no "horse in the race."
Completely disagree. Sure, you shouldn't be cutting from races to show the team title winner, but this is the NCAA championships, where one team gets to claim the title of being the best team in the nation. Not to mention it helps keep some suspense for the viewers at home, and gives them something to come back to and watch.
The team title is a joke. You can win it with a handful of athletes. Does anyone care about the Olympics "Team Champion"? No. (Yes, I'm aware of medal counts.) They need to stop dumbing down our sport.
It's always presented this way, for the average college grad laying around ond the couch to get interested for 2 hours. This guy has it right, Americans are team-oriented, although very self-centered, so this format should be perfect. Unfortunately, there also physically lazy, so running track doesn't make any sense. At least it's on tv.