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"Felix Baumgartner intentionally missed the free fall time record by a few seconds to not take every single record away from the previous holder, Joseph Kitting

"Felix Baumgartner intentionally missed the free fall time record by a few seconds to not take every single record away from the previous holder, Joseph Kittinger, who held them for 52 years." Although this shows respect and admiration for Felix Baumgartner on one hand, overall it lowers the value of the game and of the players. The contests' value relies in its genuineness and it catches a cheap feel when some strong contender does not run in it wholeheartedly. Joseph Kittinger holding a world record for 52 years is a spectacular feat that won't loose any value if it was indeed unrivaled by contenders despite their best efforts all those years. That title won't, however, hold the same value from 52nd year further, knowing it lasts just because Felix Baumgartner decided to let it. Winning prizes are not charity.

joncrane 8y ago
Reminds me of when Brett Favre went down easy on a sack to give someone the sack record. (Reggie White?)
- arcamax 8y ago
  Michael Strahan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2W62HNNsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2W62HNNsc
close04 8y ago
This is not what I'm suggesting. Winning is not charity but you may feel you have reached your goal with the records you already won. Winning is also not about "winning everything". For example a football (soccer) match where you stop scoring after you have a reasonable goal lead is perfectly expected under "fair play". Nobody will consider it charity. I just contrasted the behavior of one world record holder who sacrificed part of his performance out of respect for the previous holder as opposed to the world record holder who screams "beat that" at the 72 year old previous holder just moments after beating him. I find the second type of behavior distinctly more belittling for both. Especially when the other guy was 5 years older and using far less advanced technology, and also some very impressive lifetime achievements.
- macintux 8y ago
  I think you're interpreting that very uncharitably. An exhilarated rider, just learning she surpassed her own goal by a significant margin and who, I would wager, knows the previous record-holder, can say something like that without it being remotely cruel. Maybe she is a sports jerk. I'd wager good money it was meant, and taken, in good humor.
  - close04 8y ago
    You may be correct. But you're asking me to make an assumption based on data I don't have rather than the one made on the data I do have.
    - macintux 8y ago
      I'm really asking you not to publicly accuse someone of being a jerk when you don't actually have many facts. Elsewhere it was posted that the previous record-holder was in attendance and they are, apparently, at least acquaintances.

joncrane 8y ago

Reminds me of when Brett Favre went down easy on a sack to give someone the sack record. (Reggie White?)

arcamax 8y ago
Michael Strahan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2W62HNNsc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2W62HNNsc

close04 8y ago

This is not what I'm suggesting. Winning is not charity but you may feel you have reached your goal with the records you already won. Winning is also not about "winning everything". For example a football (soccer) match where you stop scoring after you have a reasonable goal lead is perfectly expected under "fair play". Nobody will consider it charity. I just contrasted the behavior of one world record holder who sacrificed part of his performance out of respect for the previous holder as opposed to the world record holder who screams "beat that" at the 72 year old previous holder just moments after beating him. I find the second type of behavior distinctly more belittling for both. Especially when the other guy was 5 years older and using far less advanced technology, and also some very impressive lifetime achievements.

macintux 8y ago
I think you're interpreting that very uncharitably. An exhilarated rider, just learning she surpassed her own goal by a significant margin and who, I would wager, knows the previous record-holder, can say something like that without it being remotely cruel. Maybe she is a sports jerk. I'd wager good money it was meant, and taken, in good humor.
- close04 8y ago
  You may be correct. But you're asking me to make an assumption based on data I don't have rather than the one made on the data I do have.
  - macintux 8y ago
    I'm really asking you not to publicly accuse someone of being a jerk when you don't actually have many facts. Elsewhere it was posted that the previous record-holder was in attendance and they are, apparently, at least acquaintances.