Comments on: Ironman Kona 2009 Coverage on NBC

By: Wendell Shubrick

Wendell Shubrick — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 06:31:01 +0000

blah, nothing on your blog is loading fast for me. I click something and it just sits for around 40 seconds, then my anti virus thing pops up and says there’s a threat and asks if I want to proceed. Anyone else getting this or do I just have a crappy antivirus?

By: tony seman

tony seman — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:40:57 +0000

proof is in the results. 3 emmy’s nominations for last years tv show ain’t too shabby.

By: Buster Keithley

Buster Keithley — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:28:36 +0000

Lookers-on see most of the game

By: Everette Pillitteri

Everette Pillitteri — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:26:37 +0000

Other men live to eat, while I eat to live.

By: The Eight Pillars of Prosperity

The Eight Pillars of Prosperity — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:20:53 +0000

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By: MB

MB — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:05:51 +0000

This actually was the first year I was able to watch IM Kona on NBC – in fact, I scheduled (and extended!) my afternoon ET workout to coincide with the broadcast.

In comparison to the ’08 telecast (which I’ve watched on-line – http://www.hulu.com) the ’09 women’s race coverage was a stinker. I love Chrissie, but NBC didn’t get squat.

As an AG’er who had a swim meltdown at IM FL, I was impressed with a couple of aspects of NBC’s telecast:
1. The level of violence during the AG swim. Jef Mallet’s description of “Australian Rules football in a washing machine!”
2. Coverage of pro and AG DNF’s. Normann Stadler’s DNF on the run was poignant. The gentleman who missed the swim cut-off by seconds…also heart-rending.

As for Al Trautwig…I’d like to think he’s been saddled with bad scripts…but as time has progressed it seems not. Someone has to go; either the writers or Al. Perhaps Mike Rowe would make a better commentator…better yet, a former triathlete like Mark Allen or Scott Tinley.

The worst part had to be how the entire story of the day was wrapped up…or wasn’t wrapped up. It looked like someone at NBC said, ‘oops – that’s 90 minutes – stop right now and flash the DVD ad!’ Worse than the worst entry-level film editing class project, graded D-minus.

I’m afraid the networks will never understand the magnitude of IM, nor will they ever be able to contain or translate it to a 90-minute (b.s. – more like 60 minutes with 30 minutes of commercial breaks!) telecast. And the worst part is they will never drop their tin ear to hear the cries of the triathlon afficionado.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:53:55 +0000

I stopped watching NBC coverage a few years ago. I just got so sick of Al Trautwig and his lame comments. Too many inspirational stories. For tri-geeks, the PROS are the inspiration, and we need more of that type of coverage. The kicker for me a few years ago was watching Julie Molnar schlub her way through T1 then about 30 miles of the bike only to DNF. Why should she as a DNF get ANY coverage when there are so many hardcore everyday joes and janes who actually TRAINED and finished?

It made my stomach turn and I promised myself never to watch it again. I’d much rather read about the race than have to endure NBC’s maudlin commentary. Trautwig and NBC need to go.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:06:34 +0000

I completely agree with all of your critiques, but sadly, I don’t expect the 2010 coverage to be any different.

The fact is that NBC is completely set on diluting down coverage to the lowest common denominator. When you are struggling to compile an 8 – 10 hour pro race into a 90 minute program, bothering to cover details like the fact that Kona isn’t the only ironman that happens every year, course records, pros that the general public has never heard of before and why anyone should care about Paula Newby-Fraser is just a waste of time.

I’ll take what I can get. At least they give us pretty decent attention twice every year. Their choice of content to include might not be the best, but the production itself is always pretty amazing.