Conference noted::bicycle

     Nice touches would be:
    
                  - More technical "spots" that highlight some
                    equipment and preferences. Let's face. most
                    of this stuff is new to viewing audiences and
                    it might help to pique interest - higher ratings
                    if people got a real close look at the machinery
                    (that 30 second worldwind explanation on the TT
                     machine didn't cut it!)
    
                  - More discussion (race/equipment/technique) with
                    the riders (maybe a panel type preference discussion)
                    in the race.
    
     To me, this stuff is as interesting as the race itself. And, again,
    it would really serve the sport best in this country to include
    some "educational stuff". People have a tendency to turn away from
    things they aren't afforded "easy" information access, particularly
    where TV is concerned.
    
    My .02 cents

Somewhat less of the historical "we're now passing thru mumblyville, 
where in 1867 the...". Some is a nice touch, but when it takes up half 
the coverage time... You don't see them spending 45 minutes telling you 
about Pasadena during the Rose Bowl, eh?

Change up the commercial coverage!!! During NBC's coverage of TdT, they 
REPEATED the SAME commercials OVER and OVER. We saw the two bozos do the 
sportscaster's Oldsmobile commercial at least 10 or 12 times in 2 hrs, 
twice in 5 minutes once. Ditto for the exact same commercial for 
Domino's Noid. A couple other sponsors gave some variety, Thank God!

                                         ken

I would like some info on the techniques used in bike racing. For example
how does the team play a role in the race? Do they simply allow the 
lead rider to draft until a key point in the race? Do they carry extra
water for him? One thing that I couldn't figure out was when a member of
another team breaks away, other teams will send a rider out to 'chase'
him. What is the purpose in this. Is it to simply have one of their
riders in the break just in case it's successful, or do they play some 
role in trying to slow down the breaking rider. 


I'm stating these questions as examples of things that I have tried to
figure out while watching the limited coverage here in the states. Not
being a racer myself, I have some difficulty understanding some of the
moves during the race. Better knowledge of whats going on and why will
keep people more interested in watching the actual riding and not
where their riding and what significance this town played in WWII etc...

Mano

1) At the end of Paris-Roubaix ABC used a short interview by Phil Liggett.  If
   ABC has him under contract by all means USE HIM!  He knows more about cycle
   racing than Sam Posey could ever hope to learn (to be fair I'll bet Phil
   Liggett could not cover auto racing as well as Posey).  If you have past
   years Tours on tape go back and listen to him, he's great.  Sure he's a bit
   melodramatic, but he's also very clever.

2) Many stages in the Tour are quite boring and have little or no impact on the
   G.C..  In one hour you can't hope to cover all the stages so find one or two
   during the week that had some excitement and high-light them.  But be sure
   to at least show who won each stage.  By the way this is how ESPN covered
   last years Coors Classic.  After showing one or two stages in detail they
   would spend about 30 seconds on each of the other stages, give each winner 
   his due.

3) Keep us informed about the "sub-races" such as for the green jersey.  I
   always find this very interesting because it is fought for just as hard as
   is the yellow jersey but by a whole different group of riders.  Guys like
   Von Popple, Vandaerden, Bontenpi, Planckaert, etc..  These guys know they
   don't stand a prayer at winning the Tour so to them the green jersey is the
   race.

    I like to hear information about the top cyclists.  Training regimins,
    how they got started, and in general "up close and personal" stuff.
    
    Phil

    1 - NO History Lessons
    
    2 - A commentator who understands bicycle racing.  Maybe have an
        ex-pro who could explain the Why's of what's going on.
    
    3 - I HATE it when the onthescene reporter runs up to the guy who
        just fell off his bike, shoves a microphone in his face and
        says "What Happened".  Then we have to sit there and listen
        to blank air (and the reporter ask the question a few more times)
        since the racer is not granting interviews at that time.  Case
        in point - the interview with Vandaerarden after he went off
        course in the Tour de Trump - the first interview when he didn't
        talk.
    
    4 - Personally I don't care that Joe Racer grew up in Smalltown
        USA, and that Mom and Dad worked 3 jobs so that Junior could
        have the best bicycle equipment in town, and how Dad postponed
        his open heart surgery so that he could come down to watch his
        boy race and they brought the family dog with them.
    

>        since the racer is not granting interviews at that time.  Case
>        in point - the interview with Vandaerarden after he went off
>        course in the Tour de Trump - the first interview when he didn't
>        talk.
    
Probably, "couldn't talk"... through a bit of personal experience, right 
after riding a time trial I usually concentrate for the first couple of 
minutes on 1) retrieving some air 2) keeping from tossing my cookies 3) 
keeping from passing out. I couldn't "grant an interview" to give the 
25,000$ winning phrase in "Wheel of Fortune" :-). Just shows that the 
interviewer assuredly a) never rode a bike race (or a bike) and b) never 
interviewed anyone doing anything more strenuous than golf.

As another suggestion, I think we should volunteer (at outrageous 
salaries) the folks who respond to this note as sportscasters for the 
tdf. Sure sounds like this crew would pull together a better 'cast!
                                                    ken

    If it's any consolation to those of you in the US, the coverage of the
    Tour here in France is pretty awful. There is a lot of it - it's on
    every day - but most of the commentary is shouted and pretty ignorant.
    
    There is also a tendency to focus on trivia, such as riders eating,
    narrow escapes with team cars, interactions with spectators etc. Most
    of the commentators know very little about the sport, as they are the
    same ones who commentate (at the same pitch and volume) on tennis and
    football matches. There is little serious analysis, even when experts or
    pros are interviewed.
    
    I agree about Phil Liggett who was mentioned earlier. In fact the best
    Tour de France coverage I have seen was the one-hour summary on Channel
    4 in Britain, with Phil Liggett and others.
    
    Regards
    
    John

    The Channel 4 cover in Britain is indeed very good. Paul Sherwen is
    another who is often on it; he used to be a professional and rode the
    Tour several times, now he is team manager of Raleigh-Banana.
    
    This programme was instrumental in switching me on to cycling as a
    major interest. It started about 1984 which was coincidentally when
    the English-speaking pros were beginning to make a big impact: Millar
    got King of the Mountains that year.
    
    Also it has a terrific theme tune. Whenever I hear it I know I'm in for
    a good time...
    
    
    Rod

    	I believe I've got enough to send to ABC. So, I'll be
    	grinding out this letter this weekend. If you have
    	something to say, send it to me via MAIL.
    
    	Thanks for your ideas,
    	Scott

    Will you be posting the letter in here for us?

    	Well, I will if you want me to. It's nothing special.
    	I'm just compiling the comments that were made and
    	putting them into a list.
    
    	Scott

    Well, I think it's only RIGHT, especially if you're going to be
    using any comments that the participants in this file made.  It
    can be your way of repaying us for our ideas :*}
    
    	

Well, as far as I'm concerned, If any of these comments get into 
ABC's sports dept. and make the broadcast better, than I owe it
to you Scott for going through the trouble. If we could sign the
letter as 'Digital Equipment Corp. Bicycle Club' maybe it'll carry 
more clout. But there may be legal problems in doing this.

Thanx for the effort and I'll keep my finger's crossed.

Mano

     R.  Scott Critz

     18 Bluestone Dr.

     Nashua, NH 03060





     Mr.  Frank Gifford

     ABC Sports

     47 West 66th St.  New York, NY 10023





     Dear Mr.  Gifford,



     Because ABC will be broadcasting the 1989 Tour de France, I felt my

     colleagues and I could make some suggestions that would help improve

     the broadcast.  All the following comments are from cyclists.



      o  If ABC can get Phil Liggett, get him.  He knows more about cycle

         racing than Sam Posey could ever hope to learn.



      o  We would appreciate less history.  Some is a nice touch, but when

         it takes up half the coverage time, that's too much.



      o  We would appreciate more technical "spots" that highlight

         equipment and preferences.  Let's face it, most of this stuff is

         new to viewing audiences and it might help to pique interest;

         higher ratings if people get a real close look at the machinery.



      o  We would appreciate more discussion (race/equipment/technique)

         with the riders (maybe a panel type preference discussion) in the

         race.



         This is as interesting as the race itself.  And, again, it would

         really serve the sport best in this country to include some

         "educational stuff." People have a tendency to turn away from

         things they aren't afforded "easy" information access,

         particularly where TV is concerned.



      o  We would appreciate a discussion of team tactics.  For example:



          -  How does the team play a role in the race?  Do they simply

             allow the lead rider to draft until a key point in the race?



          -  Do they carry extra water for the leader?



          -  When a member of another team breaks away, other teams send a

             rider out to "chase" him.  What is the purpose in this?  Is it

             to simply have one of their riders in the break just in case

             it's successful, or do they play some role in trying to slow

             down the breaking rider?





      o  We would appreciate it if ABC showed who won each stage.

         Highlight the stages that had some excitement to them.  By the

         way, this is how ESPN covered last years Coors Classic.  After

         showing one or two stages in detail they would spend about 30


                                                                Page 2





         seconds on each of the other stages, giving each winner his due.



      o  We would appreciate it if ABC kept us informed about the

         "sub-races," such as the race for the green jersey.  I always find

         this very interesting because it is fought for just as hard as is

         the yellow jersey but by a whole different group of riders.  Guys

         like Von Popple, Vandaerden, Bontempi, Planckaert, etc..  These

         guys know they don't stand a prayer of winning the Tour, so, to

         them, the green jersey is the race.



      o  We would appreciate hearing information about the top cyclists.

         Training regimens, how they got started, and in general "up close

         and personal" stuff.



         We do not appreciate the stories of how much the family suffered

         so this man/woman could have the best equipment.



      o  We do not appreciate it when the on-the-scene reporter runs up to

         the guy who just fell off his bike, shoves a microphone in his

         face and says "What happened?".  Nor do we appreciate the

         subsequent dead air (and the reporter asking the question a few

         more times), since the racer is not granting interviews at that

         time, or cannot talk.  A case in point - the interview with

         Vandaerarden after he went off course in the Tour de Trump - the

         first interview when he didn't talk.



         Of course, he probably couldn't talk.  One of my colleagues wrote

         the following:



          Through a bit of personal experience, right after riding a

          time trial, I usually concentrate for the first couple of

          minutes on 1) retrieving some air 2) keeping from tossing my

          cookies 3) keeping from passing out.  I couldn't "grant an

          interview" to give the $25,000 winning phrase on "Wheel of

          Fortune."



  o  We would appreciate it if ABC used commentators who know cycling.

     There is a tendency to focus on trivia, such as riders eating, narrow

     escapes with team cars, interactions with spectators, etc., which

     really adds nothing to the sport.



  o  We would appreciate it if ABC would change up the commercial coverage!

     During NBC's coverage of the Tour de Trump, they repeated the same

     commercials over and over.







     Thank you,



     R.  Scott Critz

    RE: .-1
    
    Excellent!  Hope it makes a difference.  (Sometimes they really
    do listen.)
    
    -john

    	Thanks for the comments. The letter is in the mail.
    
    	Scott

    	Scott,
	
	Can you post the reply they send you? I'm sure it will be good reading.

Tom

    	Sure.
    
    	Scott

    	This may have nothing to do with our letter to ABC, but,
    	the latest issue of BICYCLING mentioned that ABC has
    	"already visited 8 countries to tape `Up Close and
    	Personal' segments with 10 contenders."
    
    	Scott