* this is only the most interesting occasions. ESPN, and especially Eurosport International (the most ridiculous sports channel) need an entire site for their outrageous decisions.
Australian Open 95, The Courier Match
How about ESPN not broadcasting the entire match. They broadcasted only the last 3 sets.
(this, off course was a recorded broadcast. Live tennis in the middle of the night ? Well, Sampras was not big enough for such honor...)
How about ESPN realizing something extraordinary is going on two points after almost everybody else did.
(The Broadcast director and lead commentators, Cliff Drysdale & Fred Stolle, were lost if not for Mary Carillo)
I said Almost, because the Australian commentator of channel 7, didn't have a clue on why Pete was crying until late in the 5th set.
How about ESPN going out for commercials during the most extraordinary break-between-games in Grand-Slam history, while amazing scenes are happening in front of their eyes.
(and this was a recorded broadcast...)
US Open 96, The Corretja Match
How about John McEnroe not realizing Pete is sick until late in the 5th set !
(He thought Pete was just a little tired)
Roland Garros 98, 2nd round, Sampras vs. Delgado
How about Eurosport, on a rainy day in Paris, joining the match not when the rain stopped but much after, when Pete was already trailing 0:1 1-4.
(and they didn't broadcast anything special in between... It was simply Eurosport at their best)
Wimbledon 2000, 2nd round, Sampras vs. Kucera
How about John McEnroe and Pat Cash (although the later was hinted before the match about it, what makes you wonder more) not realizing Pete is injured badly (from the beginning) until the trainer comes to Pete during the 3rd set.
(when the trainer was called, McEnroe guessed it was for Kucera)
Retirement
How fitting it was, that when hosting Pete's farewell ceremony and talking about the things we will miss after Pete's retirement, Dick Enberg, CBS Sports Emmy award-winning commentator (who really appreciates Pete), needed a fan to remind him about the most precious thing: Pete's heart.
How about Eurosport not showing the entire farewell ceremony of Pete at the 2003 Open but only an 8 minutes highlights (which even didn't include the standing ovation!) when showing it recorded the day after (they didn't have rights to show it live).
S. L. Price, Sports Illustrated tennis writer who knew how great Pete was, and when Pete retired, expressed what Pete was about better than any other American media man.
Brian Langley, Star Sports commentator who recognized Sampras' unique and so special abilities accurately than any other commentator on earth.
Nirmal Shekar, The Hindu writer
If I'm wrong in something or you know about another case which belongs here, please email me.
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