The award for the most ridiculous, self-absorbed, overzealous all sports entertainment network in the world goes to...
ESPN, for the 10th year running.
They have once again proven that outside the 4 major sports, Tiger Woods, and the Williams sisters, you're really not much of an athlete. Unless you count token consideration of Cael Sanderson and -ahem- Sarah Hughes (don't even get me started on figure skating).
No offense to college athlete of the year Sue Bird (UConn BB) but a certain swimmer from Cal who set at least 6 AR and 1 WR over the short course season would have had my vote.
Anyone else? Natalie Coughlin, female college athlete of the year as awarded by the USMS discussion crew?
-RM
Parents
Former Member
I seem to recall someone else suggesting this about 3,000 pages back. During the Olympics, there are athelets profiles (usually geared to those who have overcome... something... to get to where they are). I think it makes the coverage in general more fun to watch - you feel like you get to "know" the competitors better... then again, I have heard people complain that they wanted less athlete life stories and more action.
Is it you can't win for loosing?
And re Gary Hall, Jr. I suppose we could get into having to draw a line between typical (I know he'snot the only youngster to do weed) no-no's, and serious problems that are more life-threatening than doing a bong. But we'd need to go to sociology today's forum for that. :) But he also was the swimmer, I seem to recall, who got a lot of attention for his air-guitar playing that drew some nice, and some not so nice media attention and rivalry between us and the Aussies. I suppose if the playful jabbing is kept on a friendly level, that kind of attetion can help draw people to watch something they might not normally, as long as the competitors don't over do it and draw negative attention. That would stand, of course, for any sport... not just swimming.:p ;)
I seem to recall someone else suggesting this about 3,000 pages back. During the Olympics, there are athelets profiles (usually geared to those who have overcome... something... to get to where they are). I think it makes the coverage in general more fun to watch - you feel like you get to "know" the competitors better... then again, I have heard people complain that they wanted less athlete life stories and more action.
Is it you can't win for loosing?
And re Gary Hall, Jr. I suppose we could get into having to draw a line between typical (I know he'snot the only youngster to do weed) no-no's, and serious problems that are more life-threatening than doing a bong. But we'd need to go to sociology today's forum for that. :) But he also was the swimmer, I seem to recall, who got a lot of attention for his air-guitar playing that drew some nice, and some not so nice media attention and rivalry between us and the Aussies. I suppose if the playful jabbing is kept on a friendly level, that kind of attetion can help draw people to watch something they might not normally, as long as the competitors don't over do it and draw negative attention. That would stand, of course, for any sport... not just swimming.:p ;)
