Poll: How has the bickering between Larry and Ernie affected the Americas Cup?

The ongoing litigation between Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli drags on. This article in last Wednesday's New York Times sums up the latest fiasco.  Arguably the last AC in Valencia was the best ever but since then it's just become depressing.

There are so many issues at hand. Is the Deed of Gift out of date in today's sporting world or are its ambiguities and resulting arguments part of what makes the Americas Cup special? Is the DOG race a farce or is it part of what makes the Cup different? Was Larry Ellison right to challenge Alinghi or would it have been better to accept Bertarelli's plan?

The big question is this: Is this very public argument irreparably undermining the Americas Cup? In the last few weeks I have heard a number of sources talk about other events taking over the mantle of premiere prize in sailing like the Volvo Ocean Race or the recent New York Yacht Club Invitational regattas.

Let me know what you think by answering the poll to the left or leaving a comments below?

Comments

[Baydog]

The America's Cup has become a joke. The last great Cup challenge was in Australia in 1987, when Dennis Conner won it back. The racing was fierce, the wind honked every single day, and the coverage was spectacular (ESPN). The Volvo race that just ended a few months ago was the most spectacular sailing race I've seen to date. By far more enticing than hearing of a couple of billionaires fight about rules and not out on the water racing where they should be.

[tillerman]

The America's Cup has never been in finer shape. The legal maneuvering has been fierce and exciting. The coverage of the legal battle by Cory Friedman on Scuttlebutt has been spectacular. (The recent Volvo race was a big yawn - even some of the sailors went to sleep while they were racing!) The technologies and boats being developed by both teams are amazing and when you see these boats race it will blow your mind. Thank you Larry and Ernesto for recreating the true spirit of the America's Cup.

[Baydog]

ouch

[Pat]

Isn't the AC the one that's been replaced by the Louis Vuitton or the kind of racing they had in New Zealand a year ago?

I'll go with Sir Thomas Lipton's true spirit.

[Carol Anne]

I stand with what I said after becoming the first person to vote in the poll, before you had this post up. I think the America's Cup has been tarnished, possibly irreparably. Maybe some other regattas are becoming more important -- the Volvo Ocean Race certainly did get good television coverage, albeit not in the mainstream media -- but it seems to me that sailboat racing in general isn't as interesting to the world as it used to be.

[Michael]

Litigation is not sporting, and fighting over nuances of rules sucks the life out of ANY competition.

How do I earn $5 cash now?