Orgy of Classic Track

[Guest]

November 1 -- ESPN will show 6 1/2 hours of track and track-related material, beginnin at noon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tvlist ... network=18

[Guest]

Re: Orgy of Classic Track

Here is the breakdown:

1200-1300 Jim Thorpe
1300-1400 Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1400-1430 Florence Griffith Joyner
1430-1500 Bruce Jenner
1500-1530 Richmond Flowers

Then Bud Greenspan's Reflections
1530-1600 The Sprinters
1600-1630 Edwin Moses
1630-1700 Mal Whitfield
1700-1900 "16 Days of Glory"

Thank you, ESPN.

[Guest]

Re: Orgy of Classic Track

I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but Richmond Flowers? Once again proving that if you played for the NY Giants (or any NYC pro team, of course) that your worth is blown out of all proportion. Flowers is what, the 200th best hurdler in U.S. history?

[Guest]

Re: Orgy of Classic Track

I tune in to sports century almost everyday to get the least bit of track stuff. I'm so glad they'll be showing some track, even if it is just once or twice a year. I just want to know, have they ever done a story on Michael Jhonson? And if they'll be showing the story on Wilma Rudolph anytime soon?

[michael lewis]

Re: Orgy of Classic Track

Richmond Flowers is a business located in Richmond BC. About equally interesting. More seriously, it is great 6+ hours of track will be on tv in North America. Is this a first?

[Guest]

Hey, man

Richmond Flowers is a great story. A blown hammy prevented him from a very good chance at winning gold in '68. He'd have to rank a little higher than 200th.

If it were track alone, they probably wouldn't have done a story on him. But when you add the football career, his dad's controversial career as attorney general of Alabama, and his physical condition as a kid, it all makes for a very good story. There's a thread on the Historical board about him with a link to the ESPN profile on him.

[jlanza]

Re: Hey, man

I agree that Flowers is a great story. I followed him closely as a kid, wathcing him at Millrose, etc. However, he was potential unrealized. He might be higher than 200th, but the performances without the potential considered, do not put him much higher.

And as a defensive back he was okay, no better, on the pro level.

[Guest]

Re: Hey, man

Flowers might have been WR holder (auto timing) for a couple of hours - 13.50y(=l3.54/110m) in '67 NCAA semi, before McCullouch ran 13.47 in final. Calhoun's 13.2 was WR, but Lauer's 13.2 was 13.56 auto. Davenport's 13.50y ('66) was best auto time (I think) on day of Flowers' 13.50

[Guest]

Re: Orgy of Classic Track

>I tune in to sports century almost everyday to
>get the least bit of track stuff. I'm so glad
>they'll be showing some track, even if it is just
>once or twice a year. I just want to know, have
>they ever done a story on Michael Jhonson? And if
>they'll be showing the story on Wilma Rudolph
>anytime soon?

I think they have, since their SportsCentury intro includes Johnson yelling after his 19.32. I figured out a while ago that ESPN Classic is the largest source of track programming in the USA (even if we already know who wins). I scan their listings as soon as they are listed on the website (about 6 weeks in advance of air).

A summary of track & related programming:
http://personal.bgsu.edu/~jsquire/tv.html