Just happened to be flipping through channels and caught the ET story about the JAG actor and his IMH race. Someone at ET needs to be fired! The caption in the upper right corner of the lead graphics had the word triathlon spelled wrong! There is only one ‘A’ people!
Anyway, does anyone know if he qualified or is this another one of those celebrity handouts by WTC that drives me crazy. I am of the school that says no one should go unless qualified or lottery. Did he even do the half IM time qualifying?
The ET segment was pathetic. He deserves a pat on the back for finishing an IM, just like all the other Ag’ers, but ET made a great big hero out of the guy.
I hope you are not also one of the people who complains that triathlon does not get enough mainstream media attention. I have no problems with celebs being allowed to compete, it brings attention to the sport which could lead to increased sponsorship and $ invested. It’s not like he’s taking a spot from someone else. The guy finished well within the cutoff, if he didn’t do a qualifying 1/2 IM (which I’m willing to be that he did) I’m sure WTC had evidence enough of his fitness before they allowed him to start.
As for the ET spelling error, I’m shocked and appalled that a show of its caliber would make a typeset error that might be caught by 1% of its target audience (those that can read)
Yeah, I caught the last 5 seconds of it too. Saw the Ironman finish line and was surprised to see it on TV and then saw the JAG dude and figured it was some type of entertainment show.
Our sport is now big enough that we don’t need this type of bogus coverage on entertainment news. WTC should be striving to be on evening ESPN coverage. Nuke the celebrity slots. They have no place anymore.
Our sport is now big enough that we don’t need this type of bogus coverage on entertainment news. WTC should be striving to be on evening ESPN coverage. Nuke the celebrity slots. They have no place anymore.
How do you figure that our sport is big enough? Compared to what? Yes, participation rates are increasing but are they at a level that we can start to claim that we are mainstream and deserve national, or even regional, TV coverage? I figure if the celebrities bring attentiion and take it seriously (which most seem to), why not let them in for the added attention. It doesn’t hurt our sport, does it?
I remember Triathlete put him on the cover about two years ago, wearing a QR wetsuit. There was a small article, it said that he had been competing for several years.
Appearance doesn’t mean fitness. Go to the local gym and pick some 19 year old kid that is ripped to shreds. Have him do an olympic race and see how long it takes.
I can show you millions of people that are ‘not overweight, relatively young’ that cannot even complete one leg of an ironman, let alone all three, let alone KONA!
13:30 is a very respectable ironman time.
Too often we forget the amazing physical achievement an Ironman race is.
A 13:30 for someone plucked right out of a gym might be impressive but for someone that has been coached and trained with ample resources and necessary physical traits is not very good.
First and foremost he’s a professional actor. Being an IM is just a hobby sideline. Cut him some slack. 13:30 may not be a very good time for a pro trying to make a living in IM, but is a very good time for many AG’ers.
I think it’s great he’s out there. It was just the ET coverage that was a bit sappy and that wasn’t JAG’s fault.
I would disagree. Actors on weekly shows typically have early call times and spend the entire day on the set, and don’t have alot of free time. I give the guy credit. I’d be happy with that time, but I have yet to do a full IM.
Are you kidding me? Based on your statements I would imagine that you have done several Ironman races and must routinely finish around 10 hours. Evidently you have some physical gifts that few posses. Go to the local 5 or 10k. Go to the local pool. Go to the local cycling club ride. See how many of those people would do ONE leg of an ironman.
You are telling me that swimming 2.4 miles in open water, then biking 112 miles, and then running a maration in 13:30 is not respectable. I refuse to believe that. This guy is not a professional athlete. He is a recreational triathlete. Sure, perhaps he had ALL the resources and the best coaches and trainers. WHO CARES. The mental and physical requirements to complete an ironman are amazing. You seem to think that anyone in reasonably good shape with the resources and coaching should be able to go fast. It involves far more than fitness, coaching, and resources.
99.9% of the people on earth cannot/will not complete an ironman. Are you one of the people that think that you shouldnt call yourself an ironman if you finish in 16:59:59? You make the cutoff, you are an Ironman. And that, in itself, is worthy of respect.
13:30 is not very good for Faris, Deboom, or Larsen. But for the average person, 13:30 is more than impressive.
“Actors on weekly shows typically have early call times and spend the entire day on the set, and don’t have alot of free time.”
I worked on a movie production set one time in the make-up department many years ago. It was a hospital set and since I was an orthopedic technition was there to do the traction beds, casts, bandaging, etc. I was only there a few hours a day but the actors and technical crew began at 5:30 AM and worked until about 8:00 PM. Seven days a week for about a month until that portion of the filming was completed.
Not always as glamourous a life as we’ve been lead to believe.
A 13:30 for someone plucked right out of a gym might be impressive but for someone that has been coached and trained with ample resources and necessary physical traits is not very good.
You sound bitter… How much did you miss winning a slot by?
Actually, I’d say that is pretty bad for a guy that appears to be in the physical condition he is in(not overweight, relatively young).
Jesus, are we going to start THIS debate again???
DJE did the work and crossed the line. He’s a pretty big guy (6’3" or so and solid), much bigger than I thought he would be (as most actors are little pipsqueek dudes). His bike was also lost until about Wednesday or Thursday, so he had the added stress of that. I saw him on Sunday at the bike shop when they were looking for his bike and then talked to him after the carbo dinner. I also saw him early on the run as he was a little in front of me. I give him props for finishing.
And girls…he’s way darned handsome in person! Totally hot.
