That is a great point. I think the public wants someone that they can
watch progress and for younger ones to look up to. Much like Tiger
Woods. Someone that just shocks the nation.
- Original Message -
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2001 9:18 am
Subject: t-and-f: Webb could be the one
> Listers,
> I have been reading Ed Grant's posts about lack of coverage
> for track in
> NJ and I have to tell you it is the same thing here in CT. My
> local paper
> will usually only put a 3 inch column for any track news and even
> the local
> track stuff is sometimes a day late.
> But I just read the AP article about Webb's heat at Nationals
> by Bert
> Rosenthal in todays paper. Besides making the cover of the NY
> Times, getting
> an article in Sports Ilustrated and making the rounds on many TV
> talk, I have
> heard many non track fans talk about him. I hope Alan doesn't
> read this
> because I don't want to put unwanted pressure on him, but he could
> be the one
> athlete that could bring track back in the minds of everyday
> Americans. We've always had our sprinters, but we need an
> American distance runner
> out there if we want to get Joe Public's attention. Just look at
> the make up
> of this list. There is probably more written about distance
> running than any
> other event. Track was big in America when we had Prefontaine,
> then Scott,
> then Rodgers and Shorter. If Webb and Ritzenheim are able to live
> up their
> potential, we might have found our people that can sell the sport.
>
> Tiger did it for golf, Jordon for basketball and Gretsky did
> it for
> hockey. Hopefully as these young men mature and reach their
> potential, track
> and field will take its place as one of the more popular sports in
> American
> again.
> M.O.
>