Runnerville

Realizing this is now a weekend old (and that Runnerville has been down for months), but did anyone else watch the live cut-in of Usain Bolt’s 100m from Toronto on ESPN Sportcenter last Thursday night? 

If USATF ex. dir. Doug Logan wanted to witness the floor in the recession of this sport, all he had to do was pay attention to that presentation.  With the NBA Finals game four coming up next, the two Sportcenter anchors couldn’t have found a more entertaining or comical interlude if they’d switched on The Comedy Channel.

“Note to self,” mocked one after the first of two false starts.  “Never schedule a live cut-in with a false start.”

His partner was already in hysterics.

“It was the smilling guy in lane eight,” he said referring to the inimitable Bernard Williams, the Nathan Lane of sprinting.  Of course the smug ESPN boys had no idea who any of the sprinters in the race were except Bolt.  Not that that didn’t keep them from ridiculing the entire offering. 

 ”Here we go again,” they guffawed as the interminable re-starts continued. “And we’re all wearing bright colors.”

This is the image of track on the premier sports television outlet in the country, not only is it not taken seriously, it is ridiculed and laughed at.  So study this tape, Mr. Logan, if you want to know why this road less travelled that track, field, and road racing have been on for the last generation has been so less travelled by everyone else.  Your first goal should be to get them stop laughing.  

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