Nascar versus cycling

[echo6]

It should be called RedneckCAR. Anyway, I think the reason why cycling is not as huge in America as RedneckCAR is that promoters can't sell tickets to it even though cycling events bring out just as many people to watch.

In Japan Kirin racing is way popular

[scrlet2fire]

I think it is because people in the US are too fat to ride bikes. Lets face it....look around. People in the US can relate better to talentless people that can press a gas petal. Oh, you don't think it is talentless? Well, what other sport has ALL the racers sons taking over for their fathers.
Jack Nickolaus's son couldn't make it. There are a couple baseball players sons, but certainly not many made the cut. NASCAR, all the sons can do it, because it takes NO talent, just a great sponsor. Biking in races is amazing. I can't watch the final day of the Tour here in Pittsburgh because they are going to just air some sort of recap later in the day. I am not too happy over that, being that I was looking forward to watching it.

[Th]

Then contact your local cable provider and get all your friends and enemies to do it as well.

I guess that since you do not get coverage, no else should either?

I would rather have it on OLN live than the CBS "coverage".

[Th]

The NYT article that has been posted several times points out that the promoter of the TDF required OLN to sell some of the time to a major network in order to get the deal. Sounds like OLN figured better to be able to provide 196 (I read that figure) of air time (counting replays obviously)
than nothing. I for one am glad to make that trade off.

It was also good to see that the deal was extended to the end of the decade.

[mz]

Kirin is a very good Japanese beer.

Keirin is a form of track bicycle racing where fans can legally wager on each race.

[Derekl]

ok think about it.
USA-cars are god. Nascar looks like what you drive everyday
Bikes are things that slow down you in you car.

so in your 'free time' you watch cars-gives americians warm feeling- not cyclists

[Th]

I guess everyone has their biases. I will give F1 drivers their due.

I would say not everyone can do it. Again, people in the US say that about riding a bike as well.

[Starlock]

I think that in American, watching cycling is boring. Here's a good example...

I went on vacation recently and during the evening time (about 10ish),
I was watching the recent Tour on OLN. I was totally into it because
I too am a cyclist and I understand the strain and how brilliant these cyclist are and I could relate. So I enjoyed it. My Girlfriend, on the other hand, couldn't keep herself awake long enough to enjoy it and said it was boring. She isn't a cyclist so she couldn't relate to it to understand how brilliant these guys are.

American's are stupid and can't stand sports without constant action and suspense. I think that NASCAR is more about the drama behind the scenes...not just the actual sport itself. Me personally, I can't stand watching it...but NASCAR Thunder 2003 on PS2 is pretty good.

[soulived]

Uh, make that gas pedal.

I'll watch pro rally if they'll show it. Takes plenty of talent to do that.

[Th]

I think they are talented in what they do. One reason they might be better is that they grow up in auto racing so their development might be advanced.

I will not argue that their connections do not hurt, but If they do not win (or at least make money), they will be out pretty soon.

Few drivers have outside endorsement deals (the same with golfers) that pay huge sums of money. They have to produce to stay around.