t-and-f: Measurements, indoors, XC, amateurism teams
Netters, Darrell wrote in reference to the proposition that one reason track is not popular in the U.S. is because of the use of the metric system in field events: "How many people have to tell you that it is not true before you get the point?" Darrell is right. Using the metric system for field events is not a major reason why track is not more popular in the U.S. But, Gary is right that the average fan in the U.S. should get to hear English measurements. It is the way we do it here. Don't worry about conversions at all just give both the way it always done. It won't make track and field one iota difference in popularity using one or the other because that is simply not the problem. Darrell the wrote: "Gary called the Brit screwed up because he uses multiple measurements, but you are advocating field events in imperial distance, and have no problem have metrics on the track." He has you there Gary. Darrell further wrote: "The amateur mentality that dominates the minds of track is killing track. When people start to see this as a professional entity, a lot of things will change for the better. We can get away from thinking the athletes should be thankful they are on the track,and start understanding that they have earned every thing they get." Now this is getting closer to the truth though I sincerely believe that is has to be taken even further. In order for Americans to watch track there must be meaningful TEAM competition. I have mentioned this before but until we have head lines like "Bob Kennedy leads the Indiana Invaders against John Godina and the L.A. Lions." We are going to be 5th page news. Team competition would solve almost every problem we have in TF today and people would be interested. My father does not care about Milrose but give him a local team like the Albany Patroon's of the CBA and he'll go watch. I'd like to hear some other comments on team/league competition. I have put a great deal of thought into it and would like to share those ideas. Good Training Michael Rohl
Re: t-and-f: Measurements, indoors, XC, amateurism teams
Mplatt asks: Why does it work for Gymnastics and it sure seemed important and exciting at my collegiate conference track championships. To the extent it works for college teams the reason is simple: school spirit. That's what binds the team together, not the game itself. The "game" of track can't bind the team together because they don't compete together. They're all off doing their own various events. The give-and-go, the Hail Mary pass, the squeeze play, all do do not exist in track and never will - those a creatures of true team play. Nationalism can be substituted for school spirit to create a sort of "team" for track and XC and big international championships. And same for tennis too - Davis Cup play results in a sort of team even if the game itself does not. But for day-in/day-out pro track, forget it. You are never going to get the team concept going. Creating a new multi-city pro track league in a sports landscape already cluttered with sports leagues with real team sports sounds like a good way to waste a few million dollars. kurt Bray _ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
Re: t-and-f: Measurements, indoors, XC, amateurism teams
In a message dated 2/21/01 4:28:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Well, like metrics, we've done this thread amny times before too. And I'll say again what I always say: Team Track will never catch on. It will not catch on for the same reason that Team Tennis never caught on. Track and tennis are both intrinsically *individual* sports. There are relays, but those are just one more event. The track "team" does not compete as a unit in a central game. Instead we add up a bunch of scores from individual competitions and call it a team score. When the Lakers and Jazz play each other, you know that Shaq and Malone will be shoving each other under the basket for the rebounds. Each will be running plays with their respective teammates. But when the "Indiana Invaders" face the "LA Lions" in track, Kennedy and Godina might as well all be standing on different continents for all the direct competing they will be doing against each other. If NBA basketball were played the same way as team track, you would have two opposing guards face each other in a free throw shooting contest. The centers would stage a slam dunk competition. And for the final event the forwards would compete in a rousing game of HORSE. Then the individual scores from each of these events would be added up to determine which "team" won the "basketball meet". I say give it up. Track is simply not a true team sport. If it were they would give Olympic gold medals to all members of the winning team as they do in basketball and soccer. But it's not, so they give separate medals in each event, as they should. Kurt Bray Why does it work for Gymnastics and it sure seemed important and exciting at my collegiate conference track championships.
