Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

[Guest]

Most Americans follow team sports more closely than T & F, and major events, Penn Relays,Melrose Games, the Mobil's aren't as popular or common on US t.v. as they were 25 years ago. Most only follow track during the Olympics. Having said that, most Americans are almost in shock when I tell them my favorite sport is athletics,or that the Olympic 4 x 100 mens and womens relay thrill me more than the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, or a heavyweight title fight.

Lewis, Jamaica's Ottey,Ashford,Nehemiah,Devers should be as vaunted in U.S. as M. Jordan and Barry Bonds.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

spread the faith......

[Guest]

Re: Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

I'm a big fan of relays but the 4 x 4 blows the 4 x 1 away.

[Guest]

Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

Hmmm. I'm curious as to why you prefer the 4 x 4? The reason is prefer the 4 x 1 is the baton exchange is more of a factor and the finishes, as a rule, are closer.

Respectfully,

Bijan

[Guest]

Re: Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

I wish there was an 8X100 relay or 8X 400 relay

[pickle47]

Re: Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

The 4x4 takes it. Yes, the 4x1 is faster; everyone is going top speed the whole way and it's exciting. However, sometimes you can't even tell who is truly leading until the homestretch.
The 4x4 is sort of like the mile or 1500 in that it provides time for the race to play out, the lead to change hands, runners to die out or tie up; it combines all the great aspects of racing!

[Guest]

Re: Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

4X4 over 4X1.

But, with regard to the most exciting events it depends, for me, on whether or not I'm at the meet, or watching it on TV. If I'm at the meet there is nothing more exciting than a great 5 or 10K. The drama that occurs lap after lap seems to whip up the crowd into a frenzy that is usually only seen in football or soccer games. On the rare occasion that these events are shown on television it always seems that none of the excitement is able to be conveyed.

However, when on TV, the 100m dash can be the most exciting even when the same reace may have been fairly average when seen live.

[Guest]

Re: Is 4 X 100 Most Exciting Event in Sports?

I can't verify this, but Clyde Hart tells the story of the nations two best HS 4X1's meeting in the Texas State Meet sometime in the 80's. After trading the national record during the year, this was the showdown. The final hand-off is dead even and there is a lot of bumping and jostling by both teams. The winning team met their coach afterward only to notice that they had the opponent's baton. Apparently in the fray, the batons went to the other team. Can any Texans give this story of an exciting relay finish any credibility?