Beijing Olympics, Gerek Meinhardt

[jjefferies]

Greg Massialis is rather pleased and posted this:
"A fencing story about Gerek making the Olympics will be
covered today on Ch 7 for their 6pm news (they say it
should be on about 6:25 or so). This is the ABC
affiliate in the Bay Area. We can see it on TV or over
the Internet"

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A San Francisco teenager
received the thrilling news that he'll be fencing for the
United States in the Beijing Olympics, a dream he's
had since he was ten.

"It was nice to know that after all the hard work that
my coach and I put in and my parents and everyone,
that it amounted to making the Olympics, which was
pretty amazing," said Gerek Meinhardt.

At 17, Gerek Meinhardt will be the youngest American
Olympic fencer ever. He'll be the only one representing
the U.S. in the men's foil competition.
see:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...cal&id=6039925

[Capt. Slo-mo]

And he's a great kid. A really great kid...except for that whole obsessive thing about carrying bouncing balls everywhere. I wonder if that's on his Olympic bio-sheet?

Anyway, congrats to Gerek, his Mom and Dad and Greg the coach!

[edew]

Why do news stories on (esoteric) sports always include irrelevant data. Sports and politics don't mix, according to Gerek, so whatever plans the newscaster had about getting information on Gerek's views of the Tibet debacle should be edited out. How about some information on how he qualified? First in the Zonal, top-8 in some Grand-Prix, blah blah.

They talk about all the fine details when NFL teams make it to the playoffs (The NY Giants need to win against Dallas AND the Redskins have to lose to New Orleans....) They certainly don't ask NFL players what they think about Tibet. Or cocaine use, or problems with fast women hanging around their hotels, or whether they drive a hybrid.

[epeemike81]

Why do news stories on (esoteric) sports always include irrelevant data. Sports and politics don't mix, according to Gerek, so whatever plans the newscaster had about getting information on Gerek's views of the Tibet debacle should be edited out. How about some information on how he qualified? First in the Zonal, top-8 in some Grand-Prix, blah blah.

They talk about all the fine details when NFL teams make it to the playoffs (The NY Giants need to win against Dallas AND the Redskins have to lose to New Orleans....) They certainly don't ask NFL players what they think about Tibet. Or cocaine use, or problems with fast women hanging around their hotels, or whether they drive a hybrid.

That's because the NFL playoffs aren't going to be boycotted due to Tibet (not that the Olympics are likely to be either, but the possibility has been suggested).

If there was a political situation which threatened to cause a disruption to the NFL playoffs, I assure you they'd ask the players about it.

-m

[edew]

Speaking of football and fencing, at the Youth PCCs several kids were tossing a football around during the lull (we kinda spread out the schedule too much). And I mused to Robbie Carrillo whether football players, during their breaks would pull out a couple of blades and go at it

"Hey Terrell, let's go five touches."
"Yeah, let me break out the reels and scoring machine."
"Nah, let's go dry."
"You kidding me, you never acknowledge touches."
"C'mon, we got to get ready for the second half. Let's go dry."
"OK."

[Hobbes]

Why do news stories on (esoteric) sports always include irrelevant data. Sports and politics don't mix, according to Gerek, so whatever plans the newscaster had about getting information on Gerek's views of the Tibet debacle should be edited out. How about some information on how he qualified? First in the Zonal, top-8 in some Grand-Prix, blah blah.

They talk about all the fine details when NFL teams make it to the playoffs (The NY Giants need to win against Dallas AND the Redskins have to lose to New Orleans....) They certainly don't ask NFL players what they think about Tibet. Or cocaine use, or problems with fast women hanging around their hotels, or whether they drive a hybrid.

I have to point out that for most people, the placement in Zonal or Grand Prix tournaments mean nothing for your average person. Heck i follow the results closely and don't even understand how the points work out. To keep a larger audience interested in the article, they have to hit on something that everyone knows about. Fencer makes it to the olympics, olympics are in China, China and Tibet are already news, it makes perfect sense. Couple that with the whole Olympics boycott deal, they just can't pass it up. Now if that article we highlighted here on fecning.net or in AF magazine, then Tibet might be completely out of place.

And as for football and other professional sports players, they are constantly interviewed about current events that affect their sport. Try to watch a baseball report without steroids coming up. After Sean Taylor was killed there were a barrage of questions about growing up on the street and out reach programs. After the VT shooting, you could not watch a college sports interview without hearing questions about campus safety or how they felt.

If the event ties into the sport, the media is going to ask about it. That is the way they work, they can get a bigger audience by pulling in more topics. Just tossing in a couple cents on the regarding that.

And on topic with the Thread congratulations Gerek, kick tail over there!

[KD5MDK]

I have to point out that for most people, the placement in Zonal or Grand Prix tournaments mean nothing for your average person. Heck i follow the results closely and don't even understand how the points work out.

There are several million people in this country who can tell you how the NEXTEL Cup points work in NASCAR (and probably hundreds of thousands who would be perfectly right). It's a matter of interest and publicity, not complexity.

[Mr Epee]

I can't wait till next season on the NFL. When will we find out if Tony and Jessica are still together? These are the things that I need to know.

Being a traditionalist, I'd prefer to hear the news directly from the horse's mouth. I'm going to freak out if news of their relationship leaks in an upcomming interview with Tank "check out my sweet ankle bracelet" Johnson. Last thing I need is people running up to me with second-hand spoilers...

Geez, edew, get a television and join the rest of us in the 21st century.
If it aint 24/7, then it ain't worth watching.

-------------------------

The reality of the situation is that the average person has no context for understanding Olympic qualification paths in obscure sport. The few people who do follow the sport closely enough to care.... aren't getting their information from their local ABC affiliate. In short, fencers aren't their target market. Anyone surprised? However, I appreciate the opportunity for a lower tier athlete to make the distinction between sport and politics. That reaches a much more human nerve than a member of US Basketball saying the same thing.

Congrats to Gerek, his family, his coaches, and others.

[jjefferies]

Geez, edew, get a television and join the rest of us in the 21st century.
If it aint 24/7, then it ain't worth watching.
:::::::::::
Congrats to Gerek, his family, his coaches, and others.

Yeah, and what's this Zonal thingee anyway?