This week there was a major event happening in the sports world; not Jeter making history or another football player getting into some kind of scandal. If you don't know which major event I am talking about or don't recognize the guy in the picture, then you will have no problem understanding my point. The guy in the picture is a 20 year old Tennis player (one of the youngest male to win the U.S. open) who happens to have made history this monday Sept 14. Juan Martin Del Potro an Argentinian native, defeated the number one Tennis player, a history maker himself, Roger Federer; now i bet that name sounds more familiar. Del Potro and Federer met each other face to face on what Tennis fanatics would consider a killer match that lasted a little over 4 hours, the kind where both players left their hearts on the court and either one deserved to win. What i am about to single out from this incredible match probably flew by through many who would not think this was a big deal, but i do so bring this up since i seem to have notice a pattern and an issue that has been bothering me but this is what i would like to think as "the icing on the cake."
After the match, which was broadcasted on CBS, the award ceremony began with a few words from the "loser" (no offense to the great Mr. Federer.) Then the chairman who was awarding the players as well as doing the reporting, who was not from a particular network but from the U.S. Open Tennis association. Then came a few words from the president of the association. Finally, a "few" words by the winner, Del Potro. I would like to point out that this is before receiving any trophies or gifts. Del Potro, with little to almost no English did not fail to give thanks and let everyone know who was watching him how happy and appreciative he was with his supporters. When he was done, he asked the reporter on what seem to be a side comment, if he could say a few words in spanish; the reported answered, "no, we don't have time anymore" (quite enough to be a side note but any media critic or just anyone who was really paying attention would notice.) The reporter turn to the other side and introduced the representative from Lexus who was giving Del Potro a set of keys to his new car. Then came 2 more people; this whole time Del Potro kept insisting to the reported if he could say something in spanish; he finally gave in and said "ok but quickly because we ran out of time."
If you haven't realized by now the point that i am trying to make, then you are probably one of those who think that the issue of race is no longer an issue to waste time on. Why is it that the winner of the match had less air time and less speaking time? If a match has already exceed the scheduled time, does it hurt the network that much more to go over a couple of more minutes? Wouldn't it hurt them more if this were to get blown out of porpotion and gave them bad ratings instead?
To offer even more support to the issue i am trying to raise, there is also another great example and an event to look into this Saturday, Sept 19. Nascar racing, next to football the sport that brings in more cash than any other. Tomorrow, a Colombian driver Juan Pable Montoya, will be taking off the Poll position, (first in line to take off and a position to which there is a qualifying race for.) Montoya is a previous Formula One race driver, he won a few titles racing for names such as McLaren and BMW. Since Formula 1 racing is more international than Nascar, there was no obvious race issues and instead they really just focused more on who the best really was. Ever since Montoya has been with Nascar, his name is one to have to look for, since they are not talking about him throughout the whole race like they are with the big American names, even if sometimes they are not in front. Why do American networks not give as much importance to global, cultural enhancing knowledge (not just this specific example i'm talking about but many others) of this real hard working, talented people who had to fight so hard to get to where they are now, but they do to those who are just attention seekers?
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