YES ... YES ... YES ...!
Last night I watched tape of the ESPN2 coverage of the M 10k last week.
For at least a minute, the three announcers discussed how many laps an NFL
player could complete at the pace the 10k'ers were going (about 65-68 a lap
at the time).
Stunned by how irrelevant the comments were, I started to lose focus on the
race, which ended up being alright as they stopped showing the race and
showed a little "bull session" between these three guys while the race went
on in the background.
At least the TV guy (not Dwight or Larry) suggested that he didn't think
many football players could do more than 2 laps at 65 ...
I realize they are trying to "hold onto" those watchers who may be losing
interest in the skinny black guys running around for more than 45 seconds
... and I realize this is a valid concern ... but what makes them think that
seeing the on-air people discuss the race and the racers is somehow more
entertaining on the whole to viewers than the race itself?
Keep in mind, this was shown from 1AM to 3AM.
In the middle of the night, they can show the first 2km, then 2 min
commercial, then the middle 2km, then a 2 min commercial, then the final 2
km.
Like others have said, it's NOT an issue of how much time is available. They
showed Marion's 200m HEAT 4 times. You can devote 12-20 minutes of air to
the 5k or 10k.
-----Original Message-----
From: Reuben Frank [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2001 11:49 PM
To: Phil Weishaar; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: t-and-f: track and TV
How much are the problems with track and field on TV
related to the announcers gearing broadcasts to those
who have never witnessed a track meet?
Has anybody ever seen a 400IH race on TV without the
announcer explaining in slow deliberate tones that
even on the turn you can tell who's leading by who
gets over the barrier first?
Or a 5,000 without the announcer explaining how fast
the runners are moving with the crusty "go down to
your local high school track and try running a lap in
64 seconds. Now imagine doing that 12 1/2 TIMES IN A
ROW" adage.
Etc.
Seems to me the people who are watching understand
the basics of the sport.
Can you imagine a baseball announcer explaining in
painful detail what a bunt is every time somebody
sacrifices? Or a football announcer going into
terrible condescending detail about how the
quarterback's job is to THROW the football to the
RECEIVERS, whose job is to CATCH it?
If we could ever get some more advanced analysis, I
think the broadcasts would be a lot more watchable.
Roob
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