BigBoyND wrote:
jwmott wrote:
We're not reading on the front page of Golf.com about Bob who used to play football in high school and is now a pretty damn good golfer, about as good as Brett Drewitt (randomly picked some guy near the bottom of the PGA tour rankings), and how awesome he is. Triathlon culture is weird.Since so many are vocal about disagreeing, I'll just chime in and say I get your point. Top 30-35AG gets articles and kudos for choosing the easier competition. It's also true you don't read about the best "amateurs" in other sports. Can't tell you who was 20th in Kona but he probably would be on the front page of ST if he chose to be top amateur instead.
Maybe triathlon likes "top AG" stories because we feel like they're one of us? And as soon as they get a pro card they're unrelatable? Even though BOP pros are faster and still need to work full time.
This argument falls flat to me with the assumption that triathlon should be like the "other sports". So many times, we tout how amazing it is that we all perform on the same day, in the same conditions as one of the unique things that we love about this sport but celebrating someone with a career, family and winning a WC is now not up to the standards of "other professional sports"? Additionally, your presumption that they are choosing the "easier competition" is laughable. It says more about your motivations in the sport than theirs.
Celebrating great AG performers doesn't mean you think pro BOPs are crap. There is enough admiration (free btw) to go around. Unless you want to continue to support the snobbish triathlon stereotype for decades...