Phil Liggett: Right or a collosal nob jangler?
Discussion
http://www.bikebiz.com/index.php/news/read/liggett...
article said:
Renowned cycling commentator angered by slimmed track schedule making way for new cycling events
Cycling commentator Phil Liggett has criticised olympic organisers and the UCI saying 'Mountain biking and BMX have no place in the Olympics'.
Already many are questioning the cycling commentator's stance, who has since making the comments told his near 95,000 Twitter followers that, although he has "nothing against MTB or BMX", "(Olympics founder) Pierre de Coubertin would have laughed his head off if he found out it (MTB and BMX) was an Olympic discipline."
"It is absolutely disgraceful what they have done. They have devastated the track with the new events and taking out the iconic events of the Olympics," Liggett said.
"They have taken out the exciting and interesting events - the individual pursuit, the 1km time trial and the women's 500m time trial, and put in an omnium that no one will ever understand.
"There is only one rider from each country in the omnium and they are a jack of all trades and master of none."
"Nations and riders complained, but the UCI (International Cycling Union) wanted equality. It might be exciting but we are talking the Olympic Games.
"We have never had a good mountain biking event. Thousands will watch them, but they are not Olympic gold medal events. They weren't meant to be in the Olympic Games."
Liggett's stance, Twitter aside, is already drawing criticism, with Australian BMX hopeful Caroline Buchanan putting the comments down to "jealousy" of the excitment BMX racing's inclusion has generated for the Beijing and London games.
Liggett is scheduled to commentate at the Olympics, as he did over the recent Tour de France.
Cycling commentator Phil Liggett has criticised olympic organisers and the UCI saying 'Mountain biking and BMX have no place in the Olympics'.
Already many are questioning the cycling commentator's stance, who has since making the comments told his near 95,000 Twitter followers that, although he has "nothing against MTB or BMX", "(Olympics founder) Pierre de Coubertin would have laughed his head off if he found out it (MTB and BMX) was an Olympic discipline."
"It is absolutely disgraceful what they have done. They have devastated the track with the new events and taking out the iconic events of the Olympics," Liggett said.
"They have taken out the exciting and interesting events - the individual pursuit, the 1km time trial and the women's 500m time trial, and put in an omnium that no one will ever understand.
"There is only one rider from each country in the omnium and they are a jack of all trades and master of none."
"Nations and riders complained, but the UCI (International Cycling Union) wanted equality. It might be exciting but we are talking the Olympic Games.
"We have never had a good mountain biking event. Thousands will watch them, but they are not Olympic gold medal events. They weren't meant to be in the Olympic Games."
Liggett's stance, Twitter aside, is already drawing criticism, with Australian BMX hopeful Caroline Buchanan putting the comments down to "jealousy" of the excitment BMX racing's inclusion has generated for the Beijing and London games.
Liggett is scheduled to commentate at the Olympics, as he did over the recent Tour de France.
old news, the events were dropped in 2009 so we dont know how old Liggett's comments are and whether they are just being re-hashed because the olympics starts today and although it mentions twitter it doesnt date the message.
personally i like the ominium and the olympics should feature mtb and bmx but losing the 1km TT was like dropping the 100m sprint so they can include a duathlon into the track and field events.
the guy is passionate about his sport, you could find a similar quote from any other commentator about a controversial decision about dropping events....
personally i like the ominium and the olympics should feature mtb and bmx but losing the 1km TT was like dropping the 100m sprint so they can include a duathlon into the track and field events.
the guy is passionate about his sport, you could find a similar quote from any other commentator about a controversial decision about dropping events....
Easy solution: drop the football and tennis and add back in the track events, while keeping the MTB and BMX.
My rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
My rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
I tend to agree with him. It's a sad loss to the track events.
However, on the wider point Phil is largely losing the plot. From his refusal to enter into the Lance Armstrong affair, to his constant mistakes on calling a road race I think it is time to put him out to pasture. Maybe (as someone else suggested) he could take on a Murray Walker type roll putting together occasional special pieces. I say this as someone brought up with the voice of Phil and Paul being cycling.
However, on the wider point Phil is largely losing the plot. From his refusal to enter into the Lance Armstrong affair, to his constant mistakes on calling a road race I think it is time to put him out to pasture. Maybe (as someone else suggested) he could take on a Murray Walker type roll putting together occasional special pieces. I say this as someone brought up with the voice of Phil and Paul being cycling.
Rocksteadyeddie said:
I tend to agree with him. It's a sad loss to the track events.
However, on the wider point Phil is largely losing the plot. From his refusal to enter into the Lance Armstrong affair, to his constant mistakes on calling a road race I think it is time to put him out to pasture. Maybe (as someone else suggested) he could take on a Murray Walker type roll putting together occasional special pieces. I say this as someone brought up with the voice of Phil and Paul being cycling.
However, on the wider point Phil is largely losing the plot. From his refusal to enter into the Lance Armstrong affair, to his constant mistakes on calling a road race I think it is time to put him out to pasture. Maybe (as someone else suggested) he could take on a Murray Walker type roll putting together occasional special pieces. I say this as someone brought up with the voice of Phil and Paul being cycling.
Liggett is pro Lance as he gets paid by the big US networks for his commentary. He's a great commentator but his pro Armstrong stance makes me puke.
ewenm said:
Easy solution: drop the football and tennis and add back in the track events, while keeping the MTB and BMX.
My rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
Totally agree. Olympic gold should be the pinnacle of a sportMy rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
Gren said:
ewenm said:
Easy solution: drop the football and tennis and add back in the track events, while keeping the MTB and BMX.
My rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
Totally agree. Olympic gold should be the pinnacle of a sportMy rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
I would also add though that including MTB/BMX events is a good idea if for no other reason than to promote other means of cycling. I bet when you mention cycling to most folk, they see it as the road-based variety and are perhaps slightly put off by the thought of hopping on a bike with skinny tyres, scantily clad, and putting themselves on the open road with cars/lunatics etc.
I have met numerous folk at my local MTB trial centre who have come from road biking and appreciate the totally different physical & mental side of MTB'ing as well as that feeling of freedom being out in the wilderness getting covered in mud.
Promoting different alternatives to any sport is always a good thing IMHO.
Gren said:
ewenm said:
Easy solution: drop the football and tennis and add back in the track events, while keeping the MTB and BMX.
My rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
Totally agree. Olympic gold should be the pinnacle of a sportMy rule for an Olympic event: is winning Olympic gold the highest honour achievable in that event? Track cycling - yes, MTB and BMX - both yes I'd guess although I don't know for sure, Football - no.
Of course, that might bring up questions about the road race...
Firstly, why BMX / MTB and Track Events have to be mutally exclusive is beyond my comprehension, but they are, and they're also governed by the same body. Olympic Cycling is massively basised towards Track and Road riding, I'm surprised Mountain Biking even gets a mention - probably because of people like.
"no place" what a Cock.
I'd be much happier of MTB broke away from the UCI and went to the OCC directly, perhaps then we'd get DH into the games and given GB riders form at the moment we're almost garanteed a medal, we'll be lucky to break into the top 10 in XC.
"no place" what a Cock.
I'd be much happier of MTB broke away from the UCI and went to the OCC directly, perhaps then we'd get DH into the games and given GB riders form at the moment we're almost garanteed a medal, we'll be lucky to break into the top 10 in XC.
pablo said:
Downhill mountain biking in the olympics? really?..... what next grass track? bicycle polo? (oh god, imagine that, represeting the USA the hipsters of Portland agasint the hipsters of Brick Lane representing GB.....)
Why not? Fiercely competitive, professional (ok, some of the old school are still enjoying themselves) represented at the top level by many countries and already has a national team event. Dare I say it, more interesting to watch than someone chasing a moped around an indoor track?
The only thing it has in common with Bicycle Polo is its done an a bike, and not a road or track event - which of course makes it 'the same thing' to some...
pablo said:
Downhill mountain biking in the olympics? really?..... what next grass track? bicycle polo? (oh god, imagine that, represeting the USA the hipsters of Portland agasint the hipsters of Brick Lane representing GB.....)
They have downhill skiing in the winter Olympics, what's the difference? 
I'd tend to agree about BMX - I don't really see what the point of racing a BMX is. You want to go fast on road, you get a road bike or go on a track. BMX is about tricks - if they were scored on difficulty/execution, like diving or figure skating, then fine.
(flame suit on...)
There are loads of sports I'd rather drop though, completely pointless stuff like handball and rhythmic gymastics.
(flame suit on...)
There are loads of sports I'd rather drop though, completely pointless stuff like handball and rhythmic gymastics.
el stovey said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
I tend to agree with him. It's a sad loss to the track events.
However, on the wider point Phil is largely losing the plot. From his refusal to enter into the Lance Armstrong affair, to his constant mistakes on calling a road race I think it is time to put him out to pasture. Maybe (as someone else suggested) he could take on a Murray Walker type roll putting together occasional special pieces. I say this as someone brought up with the voice of Phil and Paul being cycling.
However, on the wider point Phil is largely losing the plot. From his refusal to enter into the Lance Armstrong affair, to his constant mistakes on calling a road race I think it is time to put him out to pasture. Maybe (as someone else suggested) he could take on a Murray Walker type roll putting together occasional special pieces. I say this as someone brought up with the voice of Phil and Paul being cycling.
Liggett is pro Lance as he gets paid by the big US networks for his commentary. He's a great commentator but his pro Armstrong stance makes me puke.
I was trying to avoid the elephant in the room to try and prevent this thread degenerating into another pro-Lance vs common sense debate 
IIRC Sherwin is the one with the shared business interests with LA, rather than Phil, but that is not to say the latter is not equally myopic in matters of Armstrong.
More people participate in mtb and bmx than track. Although not sure of numbers involved with bmx racing.
How many variations of track do you need?
Think they need to look at some of the other Olympic sports...
I think he's a dinosaur. An old breed of roadie
As for downhill? Not sure fort bill is quite London. Need mountains for it.
How many variations of track do you need?
Think they need to look at some of the other Olympic sports...
I think he's a dinosaur. An old breed of roadie
As for downhill? Not sure fort bill is quite London. Need mountains for it.
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