May 21st, 2004 - 12:56 AM
Lance drinks too much champagne on last leg of tour, falls over and loses race.
[just kidding]
3 weeks in July is now over...well, Le Tour is over and Lance came out on top. Read all about it at the link below. Or any myriad other places. I for one am disappointed, not with the athletes but with the coverage.
This was my first tour (first time I have followed it daily). I want to used to 'television events' along the lines of EcoChallenge. I am sure some people will cry BLASPHEMY at my assertion that a "Real World" style show could improve a 100 year old tradition but when I talk with people who know road racing and have followed this stuff for years, I get more of an 'experience' than I do from watching the t.v. or (more often) listening to the web simulcast.
I propose a 3 part coverage system.
Le Tour de France IS a 100 year old tradition but it is also a VERY eXtreme sports, and love it or leave it the (near) future of sports is the more eXtreme and also more personable. We deserve to see these men as humans, it would make there super-human feats all the more impressive.
Again, this is simply a critique of the US market television coverage.
I am an American it is all I know
(p.s. I ain't a republican)
I propose a 3 part coverage system.
- FOCUS: the sport - Live coverage from the back of a motorcycle with some british guys commenting
- FOCUS: the personalities - daily 1 hour "Real World" style behind the scenes
- FOCUS: the drama - daily 1 hour (delayed if necesary) film, shot and produced by the undeniable NFL Films
Le Tour de France IS a 100 year old tradition but it is also a VERY eXtreme sports, and love it or leave it the (near) future of sports is the more eXtreme and also more personable. We deserve to see these men as humans, it would make there super-human feats all the more impressive.
Again, this is simply a critique of the US market television coverage.
I am an American it is all I know
(p.s. I ain't a republican)