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
You keep referring to these "TV bosses." If there is a secret society of bosses their jobs depend solely on their ratings. If Americans gave a wet whoop about swimming, it would be on a lot more. It's not some conspiracy, it's called CAPITALISM.
You go on and on about golf. Take a look at golf lately. It is killing the ratings due to Tiger. What you state as watching grass grow is viewed by the rest of the world as historical winning. Maybe swimming needs to emulate golf. I bet if swimming could generate this type of publicity, it would be on a lot more.
Your Australian rantings are so out in left field (that's a baseball reference, Ion) that they are without any merit. Why can't you just appreciate the Aussies for what they have and the same with us? Is it so bad that we kick butt in all sports (save luge and cricket) and they are only good at swimming?
You went over the top with comments about the media buzzing at USMS meets. I swam a 25.52 free at my last SCY meet and it was my best ever after two years back swimming. How many people in their right mind want to watch some 34 year old dude swim his best time ever and be many, many seconds behind world record pace, not to mention others guys in his own age group? While it may have been my greatest day ever and my team was happy for me, who cares beyond that? Here's the promo at CBS - "Why watch Tiger go for the grand slam when you can watch old cats swim sort of fast?" I bet you could get dozens of viewers worldwide.
I suggest you surface from time to time and realize there are land based sports that are very popular, fun to watch/play and can enhance the quality of one's life.
You keep referring to these "TV bosses." If there is a secret society of bosses their jobs depend solely on their ratings. If Americans gave a wet whoop about swimming, it would be on a lot more. It's not some conspiracy, it's called CAPITALISM.
You go on and on about golf. Take a look at golf lately. It is killing the ratings due to Tiger. What you state as watching grass grow is viewed by the rest of the world as historical winning. Maybe swimming needs to emulate golf. I bet if swimming could generate this type of publicity, it would be on a lot more.
Your Australian rantings are so out in left field (that's a baseball reference, Ion) that they are without any merit. Why can't you just appreciate the Aussies for what they have and the same with us? Is it so bad that we kick butt in all sports (save luge and cricket) and they are only good at swimming?
You went over the top with comments about the media buzzing at USMS meets. I swam a 25.52 free at my last SCY meet and it was my best ever after two years back swimming. How many people in their right mind want to watch some 34 year old dude swim his best time ever and be many, many seconds behind world record pace, not to mention others guys in his own age group? While it may have been my greatest day ever and my team was happy for me, who cares beyond that? Here's the promo at CBS - "Why watch Tiger go for the grand slam when you can watch old cats swim sort of fast?" I bet you could get dozens of viewers worldwide.
I suggest you surface from time to time and realize there are land based sports that are very popular, fun to watch/play and can enhance the quality of one's life.
