Hot of the press: Zabel leaves T-Mobile

On Mon, 01 Aug 2005 03:16:28 GMT, Nev Shea wrote:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in
m:

But if it's a serious question, I don't think Zabel is much help for
Discovery's most-desperate need- an American hero. I know the heir
apparent is supposedly Popyvich, but I just can't see American's
thinking the team is "American enough" if the leading guys are from
Eastern Europe. And Danielson's a bit young to expect anything huge
from next year.

What makes you think the Discovery team cares about having an American hero
or that Americans are going to be caring about bicycle racing any more?

Because the sponsors will care.

Ron

Are you ****ting us Mike? Exactly what sort of an American Hero does
Discovery need? Say, another George Hincapie? (Clue - watch the SFGP).
Maybe they need another super climber like Tom Danielson? Or what about
an Americanized eastern European like Poppo?

Mike, you're absolutely correct that Andy Hampsten, Greg LeMond and
Lance Armstrong have created an American awareness of bicycle racing.

The problem is that TV sports couldn't care less. They want to have a
sport in which they set up 5 cameras and that's all the effort the
production staff has to make.

Let's face it, they are willing to put GOLF (the sport of old farts and
fags) on TV for hours rather than buy European coverage of bicycle
racing.

Tom Kunich wrote:

Let's face it, they are willing to put GOLF (the sport of old farts and
fags) on TV for hours rather than buy European coverage of bicycle
racing.

I imagine that the fact that there are lots more folks in the US
interested in watching golf than cycling has something to do with it.

That is not a value laden statement, just an observation.

And I would imagine that the TV folks would be very willing to set up
anyting if there were sponsors willing to foot the bill.

"RonSonic" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 01 Aug 2005 03:16:28 GMT, Nev Shea wrote:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in
:

But if it's a serious question, I don't think Zabel is much help for
Discovery's most-desperate need- an American hero. I know the heir
apparent is supposedly Popyvich, but I just can't see American's
thinking the team is "American enough" if the leading guys are from
Eastern Europe. And Danielson's a bit young to expect anything huge
from next year.

What makes you think the Discovery team cares about having an American
hero
or that Americans are going to be caring about bicycle racing any more?

Because the sponsors will care.

Ron

But Discovery Channel also has European interests. Their sponsorship of a
pro cycling team might be aimed at that market rather than the US.

Dans le message de l,
Jonathan v.d. Sluis a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :
"RonSonic" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 01 Aug 2005 03:16:28 GMT, Nev Shea
wrote:
"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in
:

But if it's a serious question, I don't think Zabel is much help
for Discovery's most-desperate need- an American hero. I know the
heir apparent is supposedly Popyvich, but I just can't see
American's thinking the team is "American enough" if the leading
guys are from Eastern Europe. And Danielson's a bit young to
expect anything huge from next year.

What makes you think the Discovery team cares about having an
American hero
or that Americans are going to be caring about bicycle racing any
more?

Because the sponsors will care.

Ron

But Discovery Channel also has European interests. Their sponsorship
of a pro cycling team might be aimed at that market rather than the
US.

Exactly. They are flooding the French TV stations with promotion of their
service. You spend less where the market is stable and predictable, and
more where you need to make initial penetration.

On Mon, 1 Aug 2005 19:28:41 +0200, "Jonathan v.d. Sluis"
wrote:

"RonSonic" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 01 Aug 2005 03:16:28 GMT, Nev Shea wrote:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in
m:

But if it's a serious question, I don't think Zabel is much help for
Discovery's most-desperate need- an American hero. I know the heir
apparent is supposedly Popyvich, but I just can't see American's
thinking the team is "American enough" if the leading guys are from
Eastern Europe. And Danielson's a bit young to expect anything huge
from next year.

What makes you think the Discovery team cares about having an American
hero
or that Americans are going to be caring about bicycle racing any more?

Because the sponsors will care.

Ron

But Discovery Channel also has European interests. Their sponsorship of a
pro cycling team might be aimed at that market rather than the US.

Oh, I'm sure that's a factor, and not ignored. They aren't the only sponsor.

How badly does Shimano want to keep their position in the US market. Think
Tailwind is getting a LOT more than free parts out of this? Hell yeah.

Trek really cares about the American market. So do Nike and Oakley.

I don't have a clue what a Berry Floor is so can't speak to them.

Ron