Sports Center was right about UConn and Secretariat

[bags27]

I think (I was so tired) I heard one of the talking heads last night compare UConn's recent run to Secretariat's victory at Belmont. I have always thought that what Secretariat did that day was the greatest athletic feat of all time. I vividly remember as a hippy graduate student, watching it on a broken-down used TV and, even in my counter-culture mode, crying as he crossed the finish line. I still think that was the greatest athletic feat, but I do put UConn very close by.

The simple point is that neither Secretariat that day nor UConn the past four years has been competing against anyone else. It's often said that they were competing against only themselves. But more, they were competing for a type of immortality, putting only their own goals ahead of them and racing to the finish without anyone else in sight. Sometimes sports can transcend itself and display a truth as clearly as can any philosophy or religion, and this is one of those times.

 

[Beemer]

I saw that race too. It was just jaw dropping, Secretariat whipped the field by 31.5 lengths. If the track had been bigger he would have lapped them all.

Yes, I think Secretariat & UConn is a very apt comparison.

 

[huskyd]

I think (I was so tired) I heard one of the talking heads last night compare UConn's recent run to Secretariat's victory at Belmont. I have always thought that what Secretariat did that day was the greatest athletic feat of all time. I vividly remember as a hippy graduate student, watching it on a broken-down used TV and, even in my counter-culture mode, crying as he crossed the finish line. I still think that was the greatest athletic feat, but I do put UConn very close by.

The simple point is that neither Secretariat that day nor UConn the past four years has been competing against anyone else. It's often said that they were competing against only themselves. But more, they were competing for a type of immortality, putting only their own goals ahead of them and racing to the finish without anyone else in sight. Sometimes sports can transcend itself and display a truth as clearly as can any philosophy or religion, and this is one of those times.

Back at you, Bags: great post.

 

[BigBird]

Such posts make the BY the place it is... Thanks.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

I think (I was so tired) I heard one of the talking heads last night compare UConn's recent run to Secretariat's victory at Belmont. I have always thought that what Secretariat did that day was the greatest athletic feat of all time. I vividly remember as a hippy graduate student, watching it on a broken-down used TV and, even in my counter-culture mode, crying as he crossed the finish line. I still think that was the greatest athletic feat, but I do put UConn very close by.

The simple point is that neither Secretariat that day nor UConn the past four years has been competing against anyone else. It's often said that they were competing against only themselves. But more, they were competing for a type of immortality, putting only their own goals ahead of them and racing to the finish without anyone else in sight. Sometimes sports can transcend itself and display a truth as clearly as can any philosophy or religion, and this is one of those times.

I was watching too and remember thinking: How apt. Secretariat won by 31; UConn won by 31.