| mtdjed |
08-12-2024 08:51 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainger99
(Post 2359044)
In my experience, the larger the population pool, the better chance you have of getting better athletes. That is the reason that most states have separate divisions for sports. The large schools play large schools and the small schools play small schools.
There are exceptions which is why Hoosiers was such a great story. It was based on Milan High School winning the 1954 Indiana state championship against Muncie .Central High School, a school ten times its size. If Muncie had won, it would not have been a great story.
The story of the runner from St. Lucia (with a population of under 200,000 - a little bigger than the Villages) beating Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100 was an amazing story.
As to the 4x400, the fact that a country with a population less than half the population of the Miami metro area can come within a tenth of a second of beating the USA is a story.
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There is a lot more than population pool size involved. To name a few: genetics, opportunity, religion, environment, health, wealth, discipline, devotion, training, tradition, family, government, etc.
Consider how close Serbia came to defeating the USA Men's Basketball team. They have something beyond a population pool providing their talent. Perhaps it was their haircuts and fewer tattoos. Who knows? |
