tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post443113686532342891..comments2023-07-03T05:26:30.164-04:00Comments on Swift Kicks: Mid-term Report CardE.M. Swifthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626533159979307041noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-89109121865561117292010-02-23T22:13:43.397-05:002010-02-23T22:13:43.397-05:00I guess NBC is smothering their Olympic coverage w...I guess NBC is smothering their Olympic coverage with Bob Costas and Al Michaels because apparently America wants them. Sports Illustrated's February 22nd issue dedicated an entire article to them, labeling the tandem the Olympic "Dream Team," and referencing their 26 combined Emmys. Joe Posnanski tells us how "lucky" we are to have Costas and Michaels, and refers to the them as "the most celebrated host and the most celebrated play-by-play man in sports television," having "dominated the sports landscape for 30 years." How can there be such contrasting opinions?Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136873164588328452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-2928632892270892182010-02-23T15:13:00.956-05:002010-02-23T15:13:00.956-05:00One plus for the USA-Canada game on MSNBC - No ads...One plus for the USA-Canada game on MSNBC - No ads! The pace made it more exciting to watch, like a college game without TV timeouts.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12187681100031836992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-21349945810215060952010-02-23T14:24:10.854-05:002010-02-23T14:24:10.854-05:00I suspect that airing of the US-Canada hocky game ...I suspect that airing of the US-Canada hocky game on MSNBC was a simple financial decision. Showing ice dancing allowed numerous commercial breaks. Wait for the scores - sell us automobiles or future movies. I suspect that the Olympic Committee was not going to let NBC have 60 second time slot before a face-off for their commercials. <br /><br />As always the content of the show is secondary to the commercial sales. Or as one excutive told me - "The programming is only there to keep you arouind for the commercials".Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01913921315163234356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-1863058218566945732010-02-23T13:01:19.819-05:002010-02-23T13:01:19.819-05:00Get this: according to today's paper, 8.2 mill...Get this: according to today's paper, 8.2 million viewers watched the U.S. Canada hockey game on MSNBC, the biggest US hockey audience in 37 years. Imagine if it had been on NBC? <br /> As for the music in ice dancing, it absolutely makes a big difference. The Russian team and the US team of Belbin and Agosto have the same coaches, and both had terrible music. Both were former world champs, and they finished 3rd and 4th. The top two teams are also both coached by the same coaches, and their music was fabulous. Finish? 1-2. No accident. One of those coaches, Marina Zoueva, used to choreograph for Gordeeva and Grinkov, and I talked to her for My Sergei. She is the best.E.M. Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10626533159979307041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-11661791180329661542010-02-23T10:16:12.763-05:002010-02-23T10:16:12.763-05:00NBC choosing to air the USA-Canada game on MSNBC w...NBC choosing to air the USA-Canada game on MSNBC will--in my opinion--go down as the final straw when the NHL looks at participation in 2014. Enjoy it now folks because this is the last time we'll see NHL players in the Olympics. It was outrageous...they showed ice dancing, tape delayed coverage of Bode Miller's gold....they even carried the Russia-Czech game on NBC earlier in the afternoon...c'mon!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07968355079023251508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-44198184330091306662010-02-22T23:23:46.111-05:002010-02-22T23:23:46.111-05:00Eddie-
Thanks for calling out NBC’s illusion that...Eddie-<br /><br />Thanks for calling out NBC’s illusion that adequate Olympic coverage can come in the form of airing taped events. All the reports out there have praised Canada for the incredible atmosphere that apparently has added much drama, excitement, and adrenaline to the competition (the captain of the German women’s curling team broke down in tears at a press conference because she said there was too much heckling from the stands during her shots!). The Olympics are all about the spontaneous high that a viewer gets when watching an athlete put it all on the line after training for four long years. But in this day and age, when the internet reigns supreme, watching taped sporting events is nothing more than a cheap thrill. With the ability to stream online, receive instant results on mobile phones, and the ever-present bottom line that scrolls across almost every TV channel, it is impossible to avoid the Olympic results in real time. Despite the fact that I try to compensate by turning the television volume all the way up (so that the screaming fans and clanking cowbells are deafening), I just can’t get on the edge of my seat when I already know the outcome. It is like NBC has lifted its leg on the purest form of Olympic joy and entertainment.<br /><br />With that being said (and maybe this proves my point), I am going to make myself extremely vulnerable and admit that CNBC’s live coverage has forced/persuaded/enabled me to become a HUGE fan of curling. It’s embarrassing to acknowledge, but it’s true. I am currently seeking fellow investors who are interested in buying a share in a shuffleboard table, just so I can continue to celebrate the sport (in my own, compromised way) long after the flame is extinguished in Vancouver.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136873164588328452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-71441841899217613542010-02-22T22:31:30.863-05:002010-02-22T22:31:30.863-05:00I am totally impressed with the Ice Dancing Compet...I am totally impressed with the Ice Dancing Competition. Some of the best I ever remember watching.The music selection has to have a major influence on the outcome of the voting. Does it?<br /><br />Always, <br />Annietalulahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14687353043426915074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-4555266819849600422010-02-22T18:37:44.008-05:002010-02-22T18:37:44.008-05:00Both Bode's runs were terrific, especially the...Both Bode's runs were terrific, especially the slalom portion, where he had to come from behind on a rutted track. But it was held in late morning or early afternoon on the East Coast, not in prime time. Shame on NBC for not showing Miller's first Olympic gold medal in its entirety. It was great theater.E.M. Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10626533159979307041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821198509688538648.post-35140265237328256112010-02-22T13:50:36.406-05:002010-02-22T13:50:36.406-05:00Amen on Bob Costas - just brutal. He does appear t...Amen on Bob Costas - just brutal. He does appear to enjoy hearing himself talk. Is his ego really inversely proportionate to his height?<br /><br />Yesterday confirmed that the grade for NBC should move from incomplete to solid F. After showing the entire Russia v. Czech. hockey game on NBC in HD, NBC did a nice piece on the 1980 team featuring Eruzione, Johnson and Craig with Al Michaels.<br /><br />1980 retrospectives never get old and they still give me goose bumps, so as Al Michael's signed off at 5PM (Central) I thought he would get the US audience fired up for the 6:40PM puck drop vs Canada. How embarrassing it must have been for him to plug the Sunday night prime time line-up of Ice Dancing (live) and taped Bobsled and women's speed skating!<br /><br />USA v. Canada was not even shown on CNBC which at least has an HD channel in Chicago. By the way CNBC is the 24/7 curling network during 2010 games - nothing better tan curling in HD. Yes, MSNBC brought us USA Hockey's first Olympic victory over Canada since 1960 - in low resolution. Solid F.<br /><br />One other note: Did NBC ever show Bode Miller's complete runs from his gold medal effort in yesterday's combined? I think they only showed clips with Costas explaining the rest...<br /><br />Lovethe story about your run in with the Olympic Pin trader, especially the image of the 1980 team watching the broadcast of the Russian game at the hotel - keep 'em coming!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497283566375320452noreply@blogger.com