Not Broadcasting Coloreds

1st off let me state that i'm a fan of michael phelps and think what he did was amazing and we probably wont see anything like it ever again, hopefully...The news media is having way too much fun with the story. Phelps this, Phelps that, look at michael phelps mom and sisters. Its the kind of sensationalizing I would love if i had any prior interest in these people. But see the thing is the united states is only interested in such athletes every four years, and only if the 42 year old soccer mom would approve. I'd hate to think its a racial thing.
NBC did a few segments on his mom preceding his races and it quickly turned into over kill. Then came Dara Torres and Misty May-Treanor and a bunch of other stories that all superceded any track events. They let you know well ahead of time that they were showing Dara Torres at 10:37 PM and Michael Phelps was 7 minutes after that. That left me sitting there for 3 plus hours wondering when the hell are they going to show the 100 meter final? I'd like to get on with my life. I guess theres no intrigue in the 100 meters anymore since we're all on that stuff. Or is there no intrigue becuase usian bolt isnt a figure that white americans can embrace? I'm sure that's part of the equation. All i know is beach volleyball, while mildly entertaining, should never under any circumstance get more air time than track and field. And Michael Phelps mom doesn't deserve more camera time than David Oliver or Lauryn Williams.

A Bolt Past the World Record

I tried my best to come up with one of those corny headlines sports writers always use, i think i did pretty good. Usian Bolt broke the world record saturday night and beat tyson gay in the process. Tyson Gay being the world champion in the 100 and 200 in 2007...Thats pretty big if you ask me. It is likely that running against Tyson will scare you into running faster but he probably was going to break it soon anyway. The best part of it was, it was on national TV in NY city where people who dont really care about track (92.4% of americans) could actually see it or at least hear about it. Congrats to the Bolt.
NOW...The worst part of it is, it was on national TV in NYC where every track cynic can see or hear about it. It wasnt just people who dont follow the sport, it was people who are knee deep in it too that started the negativity. Being that its an olympic year they decide they want more track to come through your television set and with that ESPN is showing Golden League meetings in europe and where ever else. So the day after Bolt broke the record the Istaf meeting in Berlin came on ESPN2. They also ran the 100, but the winning time was "only" a 10.07 by my man Nesta Carter. So dwight stones gets on the mic and says "thats his all time best time...not really impressive after what we saw in NY last night...usain bolt, what a star hes going to be." My opinion is that track is suffering in the states and dwight stones, who covers pretty much all major track events, shouldn't be shooting other athletes down like that if we're trying to get people interested in it again. Way to go Stones!
#2. I turn on Pardon the Interruption yesterday to see if they'd talk about it and sure enough they did. I was thinking man, this is great, track is getting some media attention. They finally get to talking about it and the 1st thing they say is they dont think its a legitimate record. Stating that either the timing was off or that he's on some magic pills. I mean, why it gotta be all that? I guess you're just damned if you do in track. The 1st thing you think when anyone does and thing remarkable is that they're on that stuff. I sure hope he isnt, but im not gonna bedowngrade the man for running that fast. I hope he breaks it again...actually i hope asafa breaks it. Im out...

"The Olympics is Just Another Track Meet"

Every now and then you hear something that you just cant believe and it would take a personal experience to either confirm or deny. The other day me and an olympic athlete were having a discussion about competition abroad and traveling and a whole lot of other track related stuff. Somewhere along the way he pauses and says "dre, honestly, the olympics is just another track meet." I was almost offended. He offered his reasons why, stating that television makes it look all big and glamorous and the most prestigious thing you could ever be a part of. He says its all of the same athletes as any other track meet he goes to; a lot of the people hes competing against are people he lives with, trains with, knew from college etc. Initially it sounded crazy but as im in more and more meets with olympians and world champions and their ilk, it does start becoming the same and i can imagine how it just doesnt have as much luster as you'd expect. So with that said, i need to find out for myself.