by Jeff Benjamin
The Worlds On NBC – Thoughts & Views From TV On Day 2-4
By Jeff Benjamin
Oh! The thrill of victory!
Oh! The agony of defeat!
It’s a good thing that ABC 4-5 decades ago didn’t copyright the above phrase from their great groundbreaking show “Wide World Of Sports” (another show that never should’ve ended IMHO!) because the NBC crew covering the Worlds in Budapest once again not only let their emotions out on both successful and failing endeavors, but we’re also able to share and commiserate with the millions of invisible viewers out there following along!
Here are some samples –
1) With the heptathlon’s final event – the 800 – yet to start, the women’s field was oh so very close in points!
So America’s Anna Hall decided to go for it, taking it out and trying to get points to pass Katrina Johnson-Thompson for the overall lead.
Alas, it was not to be.
Although Hall won the 800, she couldn’t garner enough points to take the title away from the Brit.
As commentators Trey Hardee and Paul Swangard said, “This is everything built into these moments right now. Every time these athletes got up early, this is what it’s all about.”
Hartie deftly summarized the results at the finish by saying, “if a picture is worth 1000 words, then one of these of the women finishing is worth millions!”
To add to the disparity of feelings of victory and defeat, the announced stressed help places third through seventh we’re always separated by an astounding 60 points!
2) With the start of the Men’s 10K, it was now Leigh Diffey and Kara Goucher’s turn. As the race progressed, it was becoming an All-African affair, a subject Tiffany in Goucher knew very well. Battling the heat, Goucher commented, “There’s unbelievable speed here on a difficult hot night.” As Ugandan legend Joshua Cheptegei battled the Ethiopian and Kenyan stars, it was not lost on Goucher that Ethiopian Selemon Berega had “ spoiled the party in Tokyo!”
But there would be no spoiling this time as the Ugandan pulled away, winning his third world title at the 10K. Berega would have to settle for 3rd behind the Kenyan Daniel Ebenyo.
3) “ America do you have a problem!” proclaimed Ato Boldon after American Noah Lyles’ shockingly fast Victory in the men’s 100 meters.
The problem? “Noah Lyles has figured out the hundred, and now he’s going to go compete in his event, the 200!” said Boldon.
“Yes, and you know what?” said Diffey. “ he he backed up the talk, backed up the talk!”
“Also,” continued Boldon, “ remember, Noah Lyles has never made a United States 100-meter team in his life!”
“Hey Ato!” said the victorious Lyles and his post-race interview with Lewis Johnson, “Who did you put your money on!?”
“ Hey, he’s right,” said Boldon. “ I thought he’d come here and figure out his acceleration, and he did that!”
“ Congrats to the man,” concluded Boldon.
“ I deserve that!”
4) The great question going into the men’s shotput was the world record holder Ryan Crouser. Questions about his fitness and recovery from diagnosed blood clots lead to many questions.
But after his throw of 23.51 (the second-longest throw in history behind himself!), Trey Hardee sums it up the best.
“ He’s just a dangerous, powerful man!”
In the Post Recents view, which was conducted by Paul, Swangard, and Hardee
Crouser discussed how we had to balance the injury with his ability to “both be careful, but not have a long downside before Worlds.”
When Swangard asked Crouser that given his challenges this year, why he should come to this year’s world championships, especially with the Tokyo Olympics right around the corner, Crouser replied, “ I have a short time span and competition, and I felt this year is all about the world championships.”
4) “She’s done it and can’t believe it!”
Leigh Diffey’s proclamation about the amazing win by Sha’Carrie Richardson out of Lane 9 (!) in the women’s 100 m final was probably echoed by millions of viewers around the world, who also probably couldn’t believe that she did it either!
“Not since 2017 has an American woman won a world championship hundred gold,” said Boldon.
In the post-race interview with Johnson, Richardson, Recognized and Thanks people who supported her through her challenging times and how she “ what did the performance to speak for my words.”
It sure did.
5) It was in the men’s 800-meter qualifiers that the “Agony of Defeat” led to a tough yet pleading assessment from both Boldon and Sonya Richards-Ross.
