Posted on 09/25/2013 3:13:34 AM PDT by Jacquerie
It is Tuesday evening, September 24, 2013, and earlier today the United States representative, Oracle Team USA, tied the New Zealand team in the America’s Cup to create a tiebreaker scenario for whomever will be the 35th victor in the ultimate sailing competition.
And one aspect of this cup series has become glaringly evident: members of the United States sports media should be ashamed of themselves due to their lack of coverage of this event (and I am speaking directly to the major players in that profession such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN—both electronic and print, AP, and Yahoo).
If weather allows, tomorrow will see one team go home with the cup, but even if the United States loses its defense this time, all of those sailors can leave San Francisco with their heads held high because I doubt there has ever been a more thrilling series of heats for this trophy, and that means in terms of both the vessels themselves as well as the way the competition played out.
Here is why sports reporters everywhere should be forced to recite a mea culpa.
First of all, there is the way the series went. After demolishing all other challengers, New Zealand looked invincible. In the semi-finals against Italy, the only loss Team Emirates suffered was the heat in which the boat was, literally, dead in the water. In other words, the Italians could only win a race in which they were the only boat. And the Italians were not bad sailors.
To make matters worse, the Americans were penalized two points before even starting the nine-point contest, so they started two in the hole.
New Zealand certainly lived up to its reputation, taking the first three heats before the Americans were even able to register a win. Then, the Kiwis went on to win another three heats, so that when the Oracle USA boat won another, it was 6 – 0. That appeared insurmountable: the U. S. boat needed to win nine more while New Zealand could coast to victory simply by winning every third race, a more than expected goal given their previous record.
Then—and this is no hyperbole—Team Oracle USA began perhaps the greatest comeback in sports since the 2003 American League series, when the Yankees, trailing three games behind Boston, were able to get to the World Series. Without going into details, they have now tied the series 8 – 8 and put “sudden death” on the table of a sailing competition.
Yet there was barely any coverage either before, during, or after each race. Okay, NBC broadcast the first day of racing, but then it was nothing but golf from then on out on that network. This leads to the second reason the sports media should be ashamed. They can no longer hide behind the excuse of “well, these are sailboats, and watching a sailboat race is as exciting as watching paint dry.”
Anyone who has seen these new vessels or watched them in operation knows that this is definitely not the America’s Cup of any age prior, even though multihull craft have been used before. These AC72s scream along, sometimes exceeding 50 mph in a 20 mph wind. That is some serious torque—or whatever you want to call it. Think of a sailboat flying past many drivers on the freeway, and you get an idea of what watching this cup has been like (when you can actually see it).
And the word “flying” is entirely appropriate. These new designs have blades (called foils) that can be submerged and allow the boat to literally sail above the water once it attains the right speed, and during many of the legs of each race, the sight was every bit as thrilling as any NASCAR event.
Instead of this, you televised golf?
I have no idea who will walk away with the America’s Cup, but I know that sailing enthusiasts in the United States can feel great about their representative boat. One thing I do know, however, is that the members of the sporting media should hang their heads in shame for allowing this year’s event to go virtually uncovered and unseen.
Now you know how Formula 1 fans feel.
Oh yeah?
Well, I couldn’t care less that you do not care less that he does not care less!
;-)
Thirty years ago, catamarans were the bastard stepchildren of sailing. Now, they are mainstream.
Like snowboarding.
Don’t care. Just so much fun!
I kind of agree with that, but, this is the top closed course racing event in the world so it should be run using the most technologically advanced equipment in the world. Kinda like the difference between sprint car racing and F1. These boats are not graceful like the IACC or 12 Meter hulls, but man do they make sailboat racing fun to watch. The same course awareness, tactics, and rules apply but at a 4X pace.
Great stuff. Watched yesterdays races on replay. “Foiling” is one of the most exiting moves in sailing. Reminds me of small cat sailing back in the early days.
Hey man, I grew up going to Ascot Raceway in Gardena, Calif with my dad to watch Sprints.
Fun to watch em roll and keep on going.
Technically, its US money (larry ellison) vs. UAEmerents (mid-east oil money).
I have sailed, thrown baskets and played pick up games, played some backyard touch football, played little league many years ago, tried golf a couple of times, ridden a bike, driven a car and motorcycle, Swam, Dove, worn a judo gi, pinned and have been pinned, run, hit a tennis ball, pulled a sweep oar, pushed a puck, kicked a soccer ball, thrown and caught a lacrosse ball.
I have also hurled, but I was young and had too much to drink.
I watch, or don't watch, various sports based on my own enjoyment of viewing. So do you. I suck at basketball, and really don't care for it. But I will watch the college and pro championships because I appreciate the high level of play in those games.
The writer has made a strong case. And if it were televised I would watch. If the situation was the same and a case had been made for a sport you prefer would you have posted the same thing?
I hope I'm wrong, but the impression I'm getting is that some of the objections are along the lines of: "this is a bunch of wealthy guys riding a buhzillion dollar 'boat'. Nobody cares, and anyone who does, shouldn't." Really?, on FR?
If there is something I'm missing about this please let me know. Thanks.
Unbelievable! Sailing (quote - unquote) at better than 50mph! Definitely exciting and has 2 Be a real rush.
Winning out after trailing with zero chance of a mistake is the stuff movies are made of. An amazing accomplishment
They are amazing boats, beyond anything ever raced on the water under sail at that size.
I couldn’t care less that you don’t care less that I don’t care less.
Ha! I answered in the same manner before reading your post! ;-)
The America’s Cup is “too white.”
If you are trying to gain interest for a sport why make it unreachable for the common man?
That’s all.
Yes, it’s a shame the media ignores this. They should realize how insatiable US sports fans are and market all they can to them with this world class event along with the others.
Thanks for posting this, it mirrors my feelings. I have gotten to watch several of the races, either from the water or from the AC Park. They have been a lot of fun and I have gotten lots of good pictures. My husband has a relative whose name is quite prominently engraved on the trophy.
Boy, I sure am sorry I missed those boat races. Wait a minute...some kids are going to be racing their rubber rafts in a roadside, rain-flooded ditch close to my house. That will be almost as exciting as the America’s Cup races.
Perhaps you have not seen these boats go 50 mph or more down the course. Not boring at all.
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