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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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 Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 11:45 am Post subject: thoughts about the "new and improved" meet format |
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Originally posted by myself in a Fantasy T&F thread, but more relevant here:
| Quote: | I've been meaning to ask -- probably better for the general forum but I'm already here and the topic has been broached -- who does the abridged meet format appeal to? My thoughts:
- definitely not the athletes
- probably not the spectators (unless ticket prices have been reduced 50%)
- US TV shouldn't care, unless they find a shorter meet makes their chop shop editing less time consuming...
- international TV perhaps, if they show it live in its entirety
- meet promoters most likely, as they probably draw just as much gate receipt and ad income, but have much less to pay out in the way of appearance fees and prize money (less athletes), shorter meet (electricity, officials), etc.
Any other areas I've missed? Sure seems like the wrong people are benefitting in this... |
For those that haven't followed along, the issue is that a third to half the events are not included from meet to meet, with the apparent intent of compacting down the event schedule. The end result is a huge loss of copmpetitive opportunities...
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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Steve Cram wrote a piece on this very subject. I can't remember if someone posted it or if I read it while going to one of the BBC or UK sites that Conway mentioned. His thoughts, if I recollect correctly, were along the same lines.
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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I did notice that there were events missing in recent meets. It stinks if it's your favorite evnt that gets cut. But in the grand scheme of things if it helps the meet organizers make money (as in stay in business) and helps get track meets on the air I'm okay with it. That is of coarse so long as it isn't the same event every week.
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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Paul, if you remember where you saw that, I'd be interested in reading it.
DG, it pretty much is the same events each week... A few changes here and there, but for the most part the women's 800, both long jumps, and men's high hurdles, to name a few, have been missing in action this summer.
I don't know the financial status of the smaller meets, but I doubt the big Golden Leaguers are hurting for money...
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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I just emailed it off to you. Not everything he touches on is part of the discussion here, but it is written in the same vein. But the main question of this topic is who benefits. I can't answer that, and the fact that we can't come up with some kind of concrete answer means that the situation has definitely gone awry. Any kind of coverage is going to bring in the T&F junkies, but if one is trying to bring more people to the sport, then something different should be looked at. Unfortunately, I have few suggestions myself. I thought the ideas about dual meets a few weeks ago were good.
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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
Posts: 1280
Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Just out of curiosity I'd like to hear how feisable it would be to have track "team" compotitions on a professional level. You could have a draft with every team getting so many choices. It could be run like a fantasy league. And there could be a team bonus for the team that scores the most points at certain meets. I wouldn't be surprised if it's been tried before but I've never heard of it. I just think it might add another level to pro track.
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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It's already been done! 
Seriously, the only thing I know of close to what you're talking about is the old US vs. USSR meets and the occasional US vs. the World type thing like at the Penn relays.
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Dan
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Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| There was a professional track league back in tihe 70's before when track was still "amateur" ... It was called the ITA (International Track Association) .. It had guys like Brian Oldfield who set the lone WR in the league with his 75 foot shot put that was NOT recognized until Barnes went over 75 feet about 20 years later !!! Other notables were Lee Evans, John Smith, and Ben Jipcho ... Was tough because once you went with ITA you lost your amateur status ... Some of hte meets were televised (I think CBS) ... They had pace lights around the tracks that they competed on to serve as pacers for the distance races instead of an actual pace setter ... Of course it didn't last long because the big draw in the sport was the Olympics and few wanted to risk not being able to compete in that arena ... |
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Distance_Guru
World Class
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Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 9:19 am Post subject: |
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Is that the same league that offered Pre $250,000 to turn pro?
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
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Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 9:22 am Post subject: |
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Jim Ryun also went to the ITA after '72, and John Radetich tied the world high jump record at 7'6 1/4". Radetich is the only jumper I can think of who straddled and flopped over 7 feet.
Oldfield, by the way, can't walk now without 2 canes, his knees are so bad.
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 9:26 am Post subject: |
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| Distance_Guru wrote: | | Is that the same league that offered Pre $250,000 to turn pro? |
I believe so ... But don't quote me on that one ...  |
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Did that league have team competition or just individuals similar to the current Euro circuit? I don't recall ever hearing of teams...
Dan |
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