TV TRACK

Well, that 1-0 cliffhanger demanded full attention and coverage. Then, of course, highlights. Pardon me, macenroe, but HIGHLIGHTS OF A 1-0 GAME! YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! Then Larry and Carol, the Boobsey twins. But at least it's on.

I wonder if they'll show Gail Devers, Stacy Dragila, Mo Greene or Terrence Trammel? Nothing like taking 3-4 athletes and ramming them down our throat at the expense of many other talented noteworthy athletes who don't get a second of airtime. Also, isn't it great to learn strategy in a 60 meter race? "Uh yea, I try to get out good, and run hard." I think I now have an understanding of the event Terrence.

Carol Lewis was tops as usual, although she sounded as fluid as Jesse Jackson compared to Seneca Lassiter. A few Lewisisms for this week: She began coverage talking about 6'5" Avard Moncur by stating, "He has big heighth!" She correctly identified David Krum-a-knocker. "In the hurdles, Wade wants to start and raise up in time to see the first hurdle." "The closer you are to the inside lane, the tighter the turns." "The rabbit is blocking the wind for the athletes." A pack of 3 together at the 800 mark of the mile, "All three men have a chance to win." "Karon Cartwright has been running in good form."

How about her saying that Gruber was "breaking the wind" in the men's mile (or didn't you notice that they were REALLY racing outdoors!) and "I haven't seen 99 pounds (referring to Rotich) in a long time" (second grade?)?

Does Larry Rawson say something about a "human hydroplane" EVERY time Laban Rotich or Geb race. I swear they all say the same exact thing week in and week out. They should try to talk a little less and show a little more track. By the way, I really am happy though that they showed the mile and 800m.

I keep trying to recall the meet that cow keeps referring to, "The Melrose Games". Anyone know where it is held??

Boys, no mention of Spike...was it there? I didn't see the meet cause I decided a Valentine's dinner with my female friend was a better idea. If I had been home, the Simpsons are a no-brain choice over track.

I'm guessing that Larry R and company pre-record their comments and they get dubbed in. If anybody has an e address for ESPN, please post it so we can share our LOVE about the announcers. Wonder how Larry R feels about working with Carol L?

mjr, I heard Miss Sawyer, er....a..... I mean Miss Lewis continually calling it Melrose also. I thought I was misunderstanding her with my bias that she is a product of the OJ school of track broadcasting (for those of you who date back to the Barcelona games). Thanks for confirming that I can think with an open mind and still realize someone sucks at something at which they are paid adequately.

observer wrote:

the OJ school of track broadcasting (for those of you who date back to the Barcelona games.

I watched the entire Triplecast, just wish I had taped all of it. Turn off the volume and that was the best T&F ever shown on US TV. Hopefully NBC is going that route again with their incredible increase in coverage (& live coverage) planned for Athens. I don't mind staying up late if I can watch the action w/o the fluff.

mjr, Although I did not have the triplecast, I do have the complete NBC standard coverage which included pretty much every heat and final of every event. My wife, a track athlete as well, and I, have every major meet on tape since '84 with no commercials, and Barcelona is still my favorite for distance events. The Skah/Boulami 10K, Boulmerka in the 1500, and of course Cacho in the 1500, maybe my favorite race ever for drama. In front of his home crowd of 60,000 screaming fans, eyes big as saucers, upsetting the heavy favorite. You could almost see the hair standing up on the guy's neck during the last 300 when he got by on the inside. Back to the point, OJ was hilarious. He tried, but had no clue what was what.

although it's nice to see that americans hate carol lewis as well....(thought maybe it was just us canucks) just be happy there showing any track at all. we here in canada get better coverage then you guys but i have a dish and see the espn stuff to.....but i'm just glad it's on at all....sure all of us would watch a whole meet but the average person wouldn't so of course there going to show the sprints and jumps....and the distance stuff and throws usually get left out.

and then you yankees are still obsessed with the mile so of course they'll show that.

someone else was mocking the stradegy of sprints though...i use to be a distance guy who thought sprinters were lazy too, but you just don't understand it until you do it at a high level....i find sprinting more mental....your technique has to be better, a million things can go wrong with your start, one little mistake and your race is done, where with a distance race you can even fall down and get back into a race.

may day, I was not mocking the strategy of any sprinter, just the one who said they hoped to 'get out and run fast'. This is much like the coach I once had who gave me this mile strategy, "Get out fast, pick it up in the middle, and kick like hell." I agree with what you said concerning coverage. I too appreciate anything, but I can still laugh when something is funny. Carol commenting on the mile strategy and mind set is like me commenting on curling. That too, would be funny.

Hey, any of you mavens remember the long jumper, I think he was from Australia, that did a forward flip into the pit. For those that are wondering, no, I'm not making this up. He went fairly far as I recall. Over 23' comes to mind. His technique was banned after that year. Anyway, his style would make for GREAT teevee.

Ah, man, some of the things that've been banned: Volzing. Settling the pole vault bar w/your hand as you go over. Dave Volz of Indiana was the inventer. I don't think you can leap toward the finish line. Shot off one hand, hi jump off one foot. But, I digress. Enjoy the Treadmill Trackstars...wherever they are.

k that makes sence....i took your post wrong, i just know from first hand that distance types seem to not think highly of sprinters, there lazy or it's easier blah,blah....when you would hope track athletes would respect other track athletes as we all tend to train hard...it's just different, sure sprinters do way less volume but then go lift crazy amounts of weights and then have to run the next day after they just tore there leggs up in the weight room the day before....i've done both so i just respect both now as before i tended to think sprinters were lazy....although some sprinter tempo is weak and i still tend to do my tempo alot faster then most sprinters/jumpers so i still have some distance roots...but recently i complained about running 300m intervals in practise and i caught myself and said wow, i guess i truely am a sprinter now...like 300's are far or something

peace.....but i think we can agree carol lewis is a moron!!