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Somewhat depressing Schumacher retirement article

Discussion in 'F1' started by callaides, Dec 23, 2006.

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  1. callaides

    callaides Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2004
    815
    Detroit, MI
    #1 callaides, Dec 23, 2006
    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=farewell/061222&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

    MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
    The world is getting smaller. We are all connected.

    Ours is the information era. Anything you need to know -- and everything else you don't, but end up finding out about anyway -- is just a button-press away. Networks, Web sites, pundits, bloggers. News tickers and RSS feeds, satellite uplinks and YouTube.

    Breaking update in-depth exclusives. Fact fact talk talk blah blah footage.

    Frankly, it's exhausting. Which is why I'm grateful for Michael Schumacher.

    Here's what I know about Schumacher: He races cars.

    He's rich. He's probably German. He's the best known sports figure in the world, with the possible exception of Muhammad Ali. Millions follow his every move.

    Here's what else I know about Schumacher: Absolutely nothing. When Schumacher announced his retirement in October (something I learned, by the way, when my editors asked me to write this), I missed it. Completely. Just like the rest of his career. And I like it that way. The downside of our cultural cacophony is the downside of Las Vegas buffets. You end up stuffed and dazed, full of food you don't even like, knowing far too much -- which is to say, anything -- about the life and times of, say, Paris Hilton.

    Actually, I don't mean to pick on Hilton, or anyone that cares about her. It could be political hacks arguing on "The Today Show." It could be Rex Grossman and "Does he have what it takes to lead the Bears to the Super Bowl?" It could be Schumacher driving really, really fast. None of these subjects are intrinsically good or bad. Nor is the larger conversation encompassing them. The problem lies in the expectation our ceaseless, ever-expanding conversation creates:

    That you need to know. About everything.

    No, you don't.

    Schumacher's gone. Life goes on, essentially unchanged. Just because people talk doesn't mean you have to listen.
    -- Patrick Hruby
     
  2. a8guy

    a8guy Formula Junior

    Nov 2, 2003
    472
    #2 a8guy, Dec 23, 2006
    ESPN - has some very in depth F1 coverage

    but he makes some very valid points- the US doesn't care about F1 and we are given a fairly anemic diet of almost anything that doesn't involve Americans, and we are force fed mounds of crap about irrelevant trash. Such is life
     
  3. ferraridude615

    ferraridude615 F1 Veteran

    May 4, 2006
    5,836
    Texas
    #3 ferraridude615, Dec 23, 2006
    ESPN has some of the worst coverage on F1. They have a 1 page dedicated to it on their site, and for about 2 months during the season, the WDC scoring was wrong. I dont understand how a journalist could miss Schumacher's retirement as stated in this article. Just shows the ignorance of American sports journalists towards European/International sports.
     
  4. racerx3317

    racerx3317 F1 Veteran

    Oct 17, 2004
    5,701
    New York, NY
    Full Name:
    Luis
    #4 racerx3317, Dec 23, 2006
    It might be a bit depressing, I agree. But I, and I'd be willing to wager, a few others on this, and many other boards couldn't care less about any of the other people mentioned in that article, only Michael. While the US coverage and interest in F1 may be lacking, but i'm sure happy there are places like FChat where like minded individuals can discuss our passion.

    Happy Holidays to all Fchatters and F1 fans around the world

    Luis
     
  5. Senna3xWC

    Senna3xWC F1 Rookie

    Nov 30, 2006
    3,152
    NYC
    #5 Senna3xWC, Dec 26, 2006
    From what I've read, Schumacher doesn't mind his anonymity in the US. I read an interview with him where he mentioned he enjoys vacation in the US because he can act like a regular person without being mobbed wherever he goes.
     
  6. ProCoach

    ProCoach F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Sep 15, 2004
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    Peter Krause
    #6 ProCoach, Dec 26, 2006
    Yep, like riding motorcycles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and standing in line unrecognized for tickets to the "Richard Petty Driving Experience" at Texas World Speedway (he got bored waiting and took off...).

    Who knows, now he might visit us more!

    -Peter
     
  7. Tojo

    Tojo Formula Junior

    Apr 12, 2002
    499
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Tim
    #7 Tojo, Dec 26, 2006
    Of all those guys on that list of who retired this year I've only heard of 6 including Schuey and the only other one of those 5 who I even came close to knowing anything about was was Agassi. So that's 18 out of 20 almost all Americans, that the rest of the world doesn't care about. (Ok a few Europeans may care about Zidane) Thats still 18 out of a list of 20 who are Americans.

    Patrick Hruby and the rest of the clowns at Espn page 2 should have a good hard look at themselves and the rest of the planet and get away from their little insular world of 'if it doesn't matter to Americans it isn't important.'

    MS rates with all time sporting greats like Ali, Gretzky, Jordan, Pele, Fangio, Bradman and Laver as people who are geniuses of their sport who will go down in immortality these are people who changed the way their sports have been played and watched for all time. If they don't want to acknowledge Shuey's greatness they should get stuffed.

    I'm not saying the rest of the people on that list are not great sportsmen, I don't really know, but surely MS is the most standout person of sport this year to retire anywhere in the world? And while I'm at it let me finish my little rant and rave with a what about Ian Thorpe's retirement? I bet if Michel Phelps decided to quit the clowns at ESPN would be up in arms, and lets not forget Shane Warne who I'm sure nearly no American has heard of but after all his time at the top of world cricket his record speaks fo itself too.
     
  8. b-mak

    b-mak F1 Veteran

    Jan 23, 2004
    6,846
    Star Alliance Lounge
    #8 b-mak, Dec 26, 2006
    This is not depressing at all. He's clearly just another lousy ball-and-stick sports writer with a clueless editor. In fact, he's just displaying exactly the same 'enthusiasm' I have for football, baseball, hockey and every other team sport.
     
  9. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
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    Texas!
    #9 Texas Forever, Dec 26, 2006
    Tru dat. One sign of a poor writer is one who knows so little that all he can do is whine, whine, whine about what a stud he is.

    Dale
     
  10. WCH

    WCH F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 16, 2003
    5,186
    #10 WCH, Dec 26, 2006
    "This is not depressing at all. He's clearly just another lousy ball-and-stick sports writer with a clueless editor."


    Well said.
     
  11. callaides

    callaides Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2004
    815
    Detroit, MI
    #11 callaides, Dec 26, 2006
    I'm pretty sure that's why I feel the clip from the article is depressing. We've got guys reporting on subjects they know nothing about, which is quite frankly, sad. Obviously this is nothing new to us as F1 fans, but you'd think that the greatest driver of all time's retirement would garner a little more respect/adoration than what they shoveled out.
     
  12. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
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    The original Fernando
    #12 Whisky, Dec 26, 2006
    Someone please inform Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan (still, even today) of this.
     
  13. sindo308qv

    sindo308qv F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #13 sindo308qv, Dec 27, 2006
    As far as I know, not even Sports Illustrated put him on the cover, let alone an article on him. That's really disrespectful, I'm sure they are aware there's a sport called Formula One.
     
  14. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Joe Mansion
    #14 amenasce, Dec 27, 2006
    Why should we care about this patrick dude ? In this information era as he puts it, i had never read or heard anything about/from him ..

    But him as an ESPN writer should have known about MS retirement...
     
  15. Senna3xWC

    Senna3xWC F1 Rookie

    Nov 30, 2006
    3,152
    NYC
    #15 Senna3xWC, Dec 27, 2006
    But they did do that "nice" article about Michael Andretti midway through the 1993 season...
     

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