Yes. History was made today but very few would know of it based on a curious lack of focus and interest in it to the point where The Actual Moment Of Victory for Endurance Swimmer Diana Nyad walking out of the ocean where she had been swimming for days to reach Key West from Cuba, was missing from view. Nope. We didn't see that on TV anywhere in Real Time because…. Uh?
Because talking endlessly about Syria all day is more important than properly covering A Celebration Of Amazing Achievement for more than 5 minutes? One would hope that despite the serious developments regarding Syria, if no True Breaking News is going on, then Why Not Cover The Moment As It Happened!? That Real Time Thing again. Was it simply a cynical decision by The Media Guys that Diana wouldn't make it?
Why bother to make a big deal out of it? After all, she's tried this swim 4 times to no avail. Why should this one be different? Just hang out in Key West with a crowd of well-wishers, shoot footage, get a soundbite, and be on your way, eh?
Well, Non-Dearest CNN, MSNBC, Network News, she Did It! After 35 years chasing Her Dream, a determined, disciplined, Super Human Body at age 64, won! And, to most TV viewers, you kept it from us to the best of your non-abilities regarding All News in it's Historic Context with almost no original footage or decent coverage: as in, Reporting. You know, your job?
Was it more than Media Burnout on Diana's Dream? Had a male athlete of her age achieved what she did today, would we have been left so much in the irked-lurch? Truly Rude. Dare I suggest Sexism? A hint of Homophobia? Not pretty enough for her Close-Up after the swim cuz' her face is swollen and she has globs of Protective Lotion all over her skin? Should she have worn a Bikini for them to Pay Attention?
Over time, I've allowed myself to ignore, set aside, the sexism involved with how Most Female Athletes (unless you're The Williams Sisters) aren't covered on TV or written about very often because The Bosses of whatever medium may claim that they don't see the High Ad Dollars. But, as I'll pound-and-pound into this post, Something is Awry Here and I don't know what it is. What do you think?
McCain and The Other didn't have their Live Press Conference about Syria during The Beach Landing Time. There was nothing NEW to be covering at that moment which could not wait. Millions of people on a Global Level had been waiting to see The Finish. They aren't happy. My Facebook News Feed is full of furious friends – many who know her very well and couldn't be in Key West to join the throng. They are sincerely upset and feel cheated from sharing what was a Grand Moment.
We depend (unfortunately) on our TV's and Other Devices to provide Instant Coverage Of Top Stories. It's done everyday. If a fire or Car Chase can break into "Serious News" Blatherings, why not a successful 110-mile swim in shark-and-deadly jellyfish waters?
I would have invited The Flogging Whip to join me in flogging-on about all of this but The Whip is so flummoxed that it has tied its "Self" into lotsa gnarly knots.
Congratulations To Diana Nyad! And a thank you from all who needed a new shot of "Follow Your Dreams" inspiration.
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Image via: http://msn.foxsports.com
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