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If basketball were covered in the same fashion as track and field in the United States it would go something like this.

The game starts and the camera turns to cover the commentators. They explain how important the game is, who the key players are and how they overcame great odds to be where they are today.

You would be shown most of the best shots of the first half, but few of the misses. There would be no need to show any of the up-court transition since it only mattered if it ended in a basket.

They'd prepare you for the second half by watching an up close and personal interview on the first half’s leading scorer. All action shown in the second half would follow them, what they do away from the ball, how they sit pensively on the bench and how well they pay attention to the coach during time outs.

It wouldn’t matter how well they did. Succeed or fail they would still be the story.

Sound farcical? Hardly! Anyone who watches track and field on American TV knows the routine. The night is spent hyping one match-up that can never meet the build-up. And forget calling it track and field – this is track. To see someone jump or throw is the exception and always out of context.

Dwight Stones, and I love him dearly both for his first name and the knowledge he brings to his craft, unfortunately gets more air time now then when he was revolutionizing the high jump.

Don’t get me wrong. I savor every minute of track I get to see on television, but to appreciate a sport you’ve got to understand it. To do that you have to see it. Newcomers to the sport can gain from insightful commentary, but you don’t have to explain everything. Just show them everything.

Which brings me to what started this diatribe. I recently watched German television coverage of the Norwich Union meet in Birmingham, Great Britain. Three hours of track and field! Live!! Meets are like a three-ring circus and that’s what I saw. It was like being there. No down time, no breaks. I hardly noticed the commentary was entirely in German.

The applause for Colin Jackson would not escape even the newest of fans. His icon status in the UK is undeniable.

No amount of explanation could replace actually seeing the first round of the triple jump. With a measure board clearly showing the jumps, a dozen athletes proceeded to cluster at the 16M mark. Then Jonathan Edwards, at age 36 with gray tinges and all, proceeded to bound 17.44. After all these years being involved in track all I could say was “wow”. His jump shown without the context of the others would have meant nothing.

Basketball must be shown in its entirety. A last minute three-pointer over the outstretched hand of an opponent is impressive only if you’ve seen the fallibility of players over the course of the game.

Track and field has to do the same. Don’t just let the viewer dip their toe in predetermined puddlesof action. Fully immerse the fan within the meet. They can decide for themselves what’s important and what isn’t. Appreciation of track and field is both an acquired taste and different for everyone.

Let’s take a lesson from our European friends. The best parts of track and field are found in the subjective “eye of the beholder”. Let them see it and judge for themselves.

P.S. It was refreshing to hear the announcer get excited as races progressed. I’d hate to think we need to get horse-race announcers to work our meets, but people should get excited watching the ebb and flow of a race. Passive analysis should be left for after.

By the way. Haile Gebrselassie smashed the two-mile world record while Kelly Holmes attempt at a 1500M record failed with a disappointing 7th place. More on the meet can be found here.