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Distance_Guru
World Class
Joined: 09 Mar 2002
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Location: Nebraska
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 Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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To tell you the truth the only championship that I felt was "real" this year was the EU's. Maybe it's just my perception but it seemed like that had the deepest fields and the best performances of the year. The US champs don't really seem to count in non-WC or Olympic years, because many of the big names skip them. And the Commonweatlh Games just seem strange to me for some reason. Here's a stupid question why isn't the US involved with the Commonwealth Games, I know there exclusive to former British colonies. So what's the deal? Did we not fill out the proper exiting the Empire paper work, or was it that whole war for indendence thing, because that is so 226 years ago...  
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Distance_Guru
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Joined: 09 Mar 2002
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Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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Here's another rather silly question. I found this article about LA getting the 2006 World Cup track meet. Is this the same meet that were so unenthused about this year? And if so I wonder if having it in the US will raise our spirits about the meet, possibly by motivating more US stars to compete.
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Dan
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Joined: 22 Mar 1999
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Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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I've always been curious about that, too. I figure it has to have something to do with declaring war on them...
Paul, I assume that quote if from Montgomery? One more reason why I've decide most quotes attributed to him are rubbish... I keep seeing him supposedly having said it was cold weather in Paris, yet Justin tells us the weather was lovely and the ESPN2 broadcast showed beautifully blue skies and a very pleasant 72 degrees. I suspect Tim is one of those people that has a very different take on reality in many situations...
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, first time the World Cup has been hosted by the US. It may well be a good thing, as some savvy promoter might be able to play up the "us vs. the world" angle (that could be us as in you and me or us as in U.S., either works).
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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I had always assumed that we were not invited ot play at the Commonwealth party because of our ability to dominate it ... The way it is now Mother Britain get to do that ... And I say that is a nice way ... It wouls seem odd I think for the core of the Commonwealtlh NOT to be the dominant factor ...
As for that being a Tim quote - it figures ... And yes I think you are right Dan .... Tim seems ot be completely detatched from reality .. Another reason that I DON'T see him be the dominant force in the 100 ... A force yes ... But not THE dominant force ...
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Justin
Varsity
Joined: 08 Oct 2001
Posts: 312
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 6:14 am Post subject: |
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Well, the way things are right now it may be more appropriate for the UK to become the 51st state of the USA rather than the USA join the Commonwealth!
Let's not forget that Europe was not the only continent to have champs this year, all continents bar North America did (although I guess the US champs come close!) The African champs in particular threw up some good marks.
Does the pining for world events mean we all now approve of bi-annual world champs? Most thought this diluted the event when the move was made from a four year to two year cycle. I like bi-annual events personally, it means I have something to look forward to every single summer.
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 6:52 am Post subject: |
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I always get confused if bi-annual (or bi-weekly) means twice a year or every other year...
I've always felt that Track & Field -- ignoring Indoor for the time being -- should have one championship every year. There is obviously a place for national championships, but those should be mandated by the international governing body to be at a specific time, making them more like regional qualifying meets in a typical championship format. Don't want to play by those rules? No problem, don't go to the WC/OG, either... We've got individual qualifying windows, why not national/regional meet windows?
Maybe things are seen differently overseas, but I don't believe any sport will ever be taken seriously in the US that does not have an annual championship. Even worse is a year like this that has 3+ supposed championships that even fairly serious fans of the sport cannot discern which is the main one. 
I'm still not sure what to do about Olympic years. I like that the World Championships can offer something different from the Olympics if they chose to, but I think it might be better to make them as similar as possible, maybe even presenting a plan to the IOC to incorporate them on many levels, for continuity between years. Heck, they could even officially say the OGs are the WCs, just with added events for the occasion.
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Distance_Guru
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Joined: 09 Mar 2002
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Location: Nebraska
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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| wrote: | | Heck, they could even officially say the OGs are the WCs, just with added events for the occasion |
I think that would be a must. At least it would be if you want to keep this sport alive in the US above the college level. For most of your average American sports fans the Olympics are the only place they ever see track at the elite level. Most barely even know of the existence of the WC's.
As for yearly vs bi-anual championships I'm a little torn. I love the idea of having a major championship evey year something that both athletes and fans can point to as the most meaningful meet of the year. But I also like the idea of non-championship years from the athletes stand point, a year to tinker, to adjust, to refresh from the grind. But I suppose if things aren't working they probably do that during championship years too. So for whoever is counting I'll cast my vote in favor of a yearly championship. As for format, I'd just run a World Championship every non-Olympic year. With the Olympics counting as the WC's every fourth year.
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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As for the 1 athlete per team rule for the World Cup, I see there were actually 9 teams (Spain fielded a team as the host country, which apparently isn't always the case). So, unless they have a 9 lane track, the one heat theory for placing that restriction is out the window...
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry about that. I just assume everyone here is a couple of steps ahead of me!!  The quote is from the WCP home page from IAAF.org. Here's the link: http://www.iaaf.org/WCP02/index.html
The quote was from TM.
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Paul
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 28 Apr 2002
Posts: 1610
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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Dan said: | Quote: | Paul, I assume that quote if from Montgomery? One more reason why I've decide most quotes attributed to him are rubbish... I keep seeing him supposedly having said it was cold weather in Paris, yet Justin tells us the weather was lovely and the ESPN2 broadcast showed beautifully blue skies and a very pleasant 72 degrees. I suspect Tim is one of those people that has a very different take on reality in many situations...
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Which could mean Marion has made another horrendous relationship choice. My guess is that this could run its course by next Spring when Marion bolts to HSI and takes up with Slow-Mo.  |
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Conway
Olympic Medalist
Joined: 25 Aug 2001
Posts: 3570
Location: Northen California
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| Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2002 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Track needs a world championships event every year !!! It needs the recognition ... And we need the excitement ... And the athletes need something to focus on each year !!!
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Paul
Olympic Medalist
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Location: Oregon
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Dan
Chief Pontificator
Joined: 22 Mar 1999
Posts: 9334
Location: Salem, OR
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| Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2002 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Rambling is right...
| Quote: | And we saw Yegorova, who was lucky to escape an EPO ban last year on a technicality, come back from a mid-season operation to win the women's 5,000 metres.
All this can make the old and sentimental among us yearn for a simpler time, when athletes just run and jumped and threw, and you could believe that what you were seeing was result of just talent and hard work. |
Unless the "simpler time" was the 1950's or earlier, Mr. Till is confusing media/fan awareness with changes in athletes' mode of conduct. Other than more money entering the sport, there is no indication that I have seen which would indicate what is being hinted at has changed significantly, with the possible exception of athletes bowing out of races due to bad lane assignments for fear of hurting their rankings.
Like I said in a recent best-ever thread, very few people are willing or able to look beyond the period which was most influential to them in the sport, without becoming heavily biased. I'm no different, but at least I'm willing to admit it...
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