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Now, at first I was a little jealous that Barry Ryan got to be my correspondent at the Olympic Trials. The origional plan was that I would meet him there and we would cover the event together. But alas, I'm left here on Cape Cod and starting to fume about it.

Here's why. The track and field competition has been tremendous - the coverage horrendous. I know I've been on this rant before, but if I didn't love track and field I couldn't stomach watching it. They (meaning the TV announcers and producers) couldn't be more inept.

During the first 25 minutes last night I saw exactly four long jumps - that's it! John Madden got more face time in commercials than all the athletes combined. So if you are a potential fan tuning into track and field for the first time - just forgetaboutit. Air time started at 10PM on this coast and by 10:15 most people were saying "Why bother."

The worst part is that there is a great product there but it is being packaged all wrong. Let me just touch on four problems.

#1. The drug angle

Balco has tainted these trials but enough is enough. I wish all athletes were on a level, drug-free playing field. They're not. So let the cheats try to cheat and let the drug inforcement authorities do the job of trying to catch them. And don't supplant the action by talking about it!

The pontificating was at its' worst after the Torry Edwards interview. Having just heard Torry's side of the story, some expert who none of us have ever heard of takes the bully pulpit to malign her. For those of you not familiar with the case, she tested positive for a stimulant during a meet earlier in the year. It was a nothing meet and she would have had to be crazy to to use a drug (which isn't a very popular choice for performance enhancement) to improve her performance. It just doesn't make sense. I am tired of lame excuses for those who test positive but in this case I'm buying it.

It is time to take a lead from baseball and football. We know of drug use in those sports but they don't stop covering the game to discuss it - that is left for the pre/pst games or the talk shows. Sp let's get back to showing track and field on a "track and field" telecast.

#2. Athlete interviews

I don't even think we need them. Do we have to hear every winner say something. I think their actions speak loud enough.

But if you are going to interview, how about asking a pertinent question. Jeremey Wariner wins the 400M with the fastest time in the world this year. The greatest 400M runner of all-time, Michael Johnson, helps coach him. What question do we give him? "How do you feel about your teammate not making the team?" Watching that interviewer approach an athlete is like watching the angel of death descending upon them. You know what's going to happen and it isn't going to be nice.

#3. Pacing

I mean of coverage. How about running more than one race before cutting to a commercial. Let's get a little flow going here.

#4. The announcers

How can so many knowledgable ex-athletes be so bad. Dwight - Marty - Carol etal. Do you know what you are talking about. Last night I heard analogies to golf and swimming that made no sense. I can imagine them doing a basketball game and saying' "Their feet are moving one after the other just like a track runner!" Inane!

All during the women's steeple chase we kept hearing how important it is to be tall and then the #2 man was the shortest guy in the race. The girls' barriers are 30". Height is over-rated in this event.

We were told that someone is a fast starter and doesn't worry about pacing themself because they were a swimmer. Huh?

How about discussing contrasting styles, race strategy and the fundementals of the event? I know they can do it. And please, I've seen Dwight Stones face enough.

Now I have to admit that one thing went right. During one race they went to the split screen so that you could still follow the on-track action while an interview was going on. I give it an A+ because I got to see what I wanted while the three people who wanted to listen to drivel could do so.

Recommendation : I've got a radical idea. Split screen for commercial breaks. Never leave the track but run nearly constant commercials in the sidebar. Sponsors could pay for either 1/4 screen, 1/2 screen, or 3/4 screen. They would pay less per commercial but they could run more often. I certainly wouldn't complain if they took over 3/4 of the ncreen during an up-close and personal look or a post race interview.

Here's how it would work in the 1500M. For the first 200m and last 400M the action would be full screen. That leaves over two laps where I'd be willing to have commercials take up some screen space. How would the bidding war go for a product banner over the top of the screen during Webb's race?

And who knows? I might just by the brand of cereal being pushed if my favorite runner had a good race. Suggestive selling! Shalane Flanagan and Ford Trucks - what a combination.

Well, I think its a good idea!