Jenner on NPR

[Guest]

On NPR's Morning Edition this AM, going through the list of famous people born today, Bob Edwards mentioned Bruce Jenner.

Is there any other track and field athlete who would be mentioned in this context? I don't think Ryun would be. Nor Mathias nor Rafer Johnson. Perhaps Carl Lewis or Michael Johnson or Jackie Joyner-Kersee? I doubt it.

Why has Jenner become a public persona in a way that other equally-talented or superior athletes have not? Is there a lesson for our sport here, or is Jenner just unique?

I don't have any answers, just questions.

(Moderators: I posted to current events since this post really has to do with the present state of the sport. But if you think it belongs in historical, that's fine with me.)

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

He's a good looking guy, who parlayed his 15 minutes of fame into being a infomercial 'celebrity.' He was/is one of my all-time favorites and deserves anything good that comes to him.

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

Well, here's one answer at least, from my response to a question on another thread.

"Olympic fame is a distinctly cruel and fickle thing: athletes step into the limelight of "fame" by being athletes, but they can only stay there by then being perceived as something else entirely: as "cute"--that is, warm, fuzzy, glamorous, likable, and telegenic. That's the kind of fame that leads to cereal box covers ($$$) but it has little to do with anything else."

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

>He's a good looking guy, ....>

No, he's a formerly good looking guy who ranks behind only Michael Jackson in the having-your-face-ripped category. Love the cute little nose though.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: Jenner on NPR

several reasons for his initial, and to some extent, continuing"fame.:

1. he was/is white

2. he was handsome

3. he had a glamorous wife

4. he won the most glamorous event, and not far from home

5. He has continued to "travel" in the fast lane of athletic/media personalities both professionally and personally.

6. Can't remember here.... is his "OJ connection" through his first wife or his current wife ?

[steve]

Re: Jenner on NPR

It's obviously because he spent some time on CHIPS, perhaps the all-time best TV show in the history of television. Didn't realize he was an Oly gold medalist

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: Jenner on NPR

6 5.5steve here to Steve:

are you serious ? you did not know he was '76 Oly Decath. champ and WR holder ?

Well, I did not know he was ever on CHIPS .

Was he trying to "out-hunk" Erik Estada ?

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

see the smiley?

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: Jenner on NPR

answering my own "OJ connection" question, I believe Jenner's first wife ( Christie ? ) ended up married to OJ's lawyer buddy Bob Kardashian, who just died about a week ago. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

Decathlon is THE glamour event: "world's greatest athlete" clearly beats "world's greatest miler" and edges out "world's fastest man." He did all the right things in waving the flag, too, and that was an era in which to make a lot of money you had to be a celebrity and do the hack stuff to keep your name and face out there -- so he was seen a lot by the public.

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

But ohhhh, that nose... Why Bruce, why?

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

>answering my own "OJ connection" question, I
>believe Jenner's first wife ( Christie ? ) ended
>up married to OJ's lawyer buddy Bob Kardashian,
>who just died about a week ago. Someone correct
>me if I am wrong.>>

Jenner's first (of many) wife was Chrystie. A google for Kardashian and Chrystie yields nothing. One obit says his wife of recent acquisition was Ellen Pierson.

[Bob Duncan]

Re: Jenner on NPR

Check out the bio at http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0421063/bio

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

Apparently Bruce wasn't the only one to go Hollywood. A deeper google into Kardashian turns up former wife "Kris." How kute!

Let's hope Chrystie didn't change her middle name to something like Karlie, or when she was married to Kardashian her initials would have been KKK.

[Guest]

Re: Jenner on NPR

I think Bruce Jenner's lasting appeal has to do with his memorable acting in the film "Can't Stop the Music" with Steve Guttenberg, Valerie Perine, Felipe Rose (Indian), Glen Hughes (Leatherman), Alex Briley (GI), Randy Jones (Cowboy), Victor Willis (Cop) and David "Scar" Hodo (Constuction worker).....the latter six know n to most of us as "The Village People." ...afterall...it is fun to stay at the YMCA!