NBC time shifting Olympic coverage....again.

[aprilchem]

Had no clue there were any mountain biking events at all. I wouldn't have bet on them showing any fencing at all, but even if they show the one bout you suggest it will be in pieces with far more focus on commentary attempting to make the audience understand how they should feel the drama. Takes a lot less commentary to simply show the event, as comprehensively as possible and the audience will actually engage in the competition. It's pretty sad when some middle age nobody who's never worked a day in broadcasting or in sports for that matter understands the rocket science of captivating the viewing audience better than the professionals who are paid $$ to presumably understand their business.

Yes, you are correct. Ibtihaj Muhammad is famous because she's the first US Muslim to wear a hijab in an Olympic event. She is also awesome, btw, and my kids love her. But they will likely do more profiles on her then showing the actual competition. We will watch it though - either at home or I'm sure it'll be shown at our Salle (like a dojo but for fencing).

 

[bcla]

I think I read that they never even planned to air that hockey game at all until the outcome. They did break-in live with the final call, once it became obvious it would be a US upset, but it was literally the last few seconds of the game.

They were planning on showing it. They wouldn't have sent out Al Michaels to call it if they didn't. Trivia question: who did color with Al Michaels?

True. That game was never scheduled to be aired at all. ABC originally had other events planned for that evening's show, such as skiing.

Oh it was going to be aired. It was going to be shown in chunks of course. Heck - ABC wanted the game to be moved to 8 PM so hey could show it live on the East Coast, but the organizers wouldn't move the time. They were hoping to swap it with the Sweden-Finland game. There aren't that many winter sports to show, so they typically show a little bit of everything hey have.

The real oddity was that they started off the show that night with a live shot, with fans behind Jim McKay celebtrating. He specifically addressed that the game was over and that many had probably found out the result.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/22/sports/tv-sports-miracle-on-ice-of-1980-looks-different-today.html

The other thing was that the Miracle on Ice game didn't win the gold medal. It wasn't even a semifinal game per se. It wasn't an elimination game. They had some odd points system, and this was the medal round. There were a bunch of possible outcomes since it was the first game of the medal round. The USSR team still had a shot at gold.

 

[RedAngie]

They were planning on showing it. They wouldn't have sent out Al Michaels to call it if they didn't. Trivia question: who did color with Al Michaels?



Oh it was going to be aired. It was going to be shown in chunks of course. Heck - ABC wanted the game to be moved to 8 PM so hey could show it live on the East Coast, but the organizers wouldn't move the time. They were hoping to swap it with the Sweden-Finland game. There aren't that many winter sports to show, so they typically show a little bit of everything hey have.


The other thing was that the Miracle on Ice game didn't win the gold medal. It wasn't even a semifinal game per se. It wasn't an elimination game. They had some odd points system, and this was the medal round. There were a bunch of possible outcomes since it was the first game of the medal round. The USSR team still had a shot at gold.

I meant that before the 1980 Winter Olympics started, ABC didn't have plans to show hockey that Friday evening. (Well, perhaps a very short segment on it.) Nobody thought the US would advance to the medal round. Yes, after the US advanced, they planned to show it. ABC could have shown it live, but chose to delay it until prime time.

True, it's a common misunderstanding that the US/USSR game was for the gold medal. There was no "gold medal" game. The format was different back then. The US clinched the gold medal by beating Finland two days later. Finland didn't win the silver medal. In fact, Finland didn't medal at all. The USSR still could have won the gold if Finland beat the US, or maybe even if the US and Finland had tied.

I don't recall seeing the Jim McKay announcement. It's possible I did, or maybe I missed it. In any event, I knew the result before ABC showed it. It was announced on radio.

 

[bcla]

I meant that before the 1980 Winter Olympics started, ABC didn't have plans to show hockey that Friday evening. (Well, perhaps a very short segment on it.) Nobody thought the US would advance to the medal round. Yes, after the US advanced, they planned to show it. ABC could have shown it live, but chose to delay it until prime time.

True, it's a common misunderstanding that the US/USSR game was for the gold medal. There was no "gold medal" game. The format was different back then. The US clinched the gold medal by beating Finland two days later. Finland didn't win the silver medal. In fact, Finland didn't medal at all. The USSR still could have won the gold if Finland beat the US, or maybe even if the US and Finland had tied.

I don't recall seeing the Jim McKay announcement. It's possible I did, or maybe I missed it. In any event, I knew the result before ABC showed it. It was announced on radio.

The points system was kind of odd. It was 2 points for a win and 1 for a tie. The carry over from the prelims was only for the points against the other opponent making the medal round. It was USSR 2, USA 1, Sweden 1, Finland 0. After the US beat the USSR, there were quite a few permutations, but I think the US had at least a bronze locked up. I believe it was still possible for all medal round teams to win a gold, but I'm not sure about what the tiebreakers would have been (probably most total goals scored).

If you look at the podium, the USSR had silver, so obviously it wasn't the current single elimination semifinal/semifinal/bronze/championship format. The math also got funky because of ties.

I don't know if ABC could have shown it live. Even back in 1980, local affiliates made a lot from afternoon syndicated programming and local programming. Also, who would be home at 5 PM.

 

[Diznygrl]

I do get rather tired of NBC prime time's obsession with track and swimming, like these are the only sports that matter just because they're the most popular and the US excels at them. Fortunately NBC has more than one channel that shows Olympic coverage, so during the rest of the day I am watching NBCSports, CNBC and MSNBC. There's a lot more variety there.

Synchronized swimming and ping pong FTW.

 

[bcla]

I do get rather tired of NBC prime time's obsession with track and swimming, like these are the only sports that matter just because they're the most popular and the US excels at them. Fortunately NBC has more than one channel that shows Olympic coverage, so during the rest of the day I am watching NBCSports, CNBC and MSNBC. There's a lot more variety there.

Synchronized swimming and ping pong FTW.

Some times I look at the sports that are at the Olympics and wonder why. A lot of sports were added or dropped for somewhat political reasons. Baseball and softball seemed to have been dropped because of dominance of certain teams, although limited competition may have something to do with it. Still - those were pretty well supported from two continents as well as Australia. They added badminton and table tennis, which are dominated by Asian competitors. It was mentioned in another thread, but swimming is now limited to two competitors per event per nation, and that might have been to prevent certain countries like the US and Australia from being too stacked.

 

[Sanchez]

I do get rather tired of NBC prime time's obsession with track and swimming, like these are the only sports that matter just because they're the most popular and the US excels at them. Fortunately NBC has more than one channel that shows Olympic coverage, so during the rest of the day I am watching NBCSports, CNBC and MSNBC. There's a lot more variety there.

Synchronized swimming and ping pong FTW.

Aside from Michael Plelps and his ubiquitous mother, the prime time obsession is really with gymnastics. The thought of middle-age women camped in front of the television obsessed with pre-pubescent girls made up like hookers and layered with glitter, with bad music and screeching announcers as the soundtrack, all with judged results, is more than I can bear. I expect NBC to provide updates on the British Royal Family during the gymnastics competition to complete the nightmare scenario.

 

[Jennasis]

Aside from Michael Plelps and his ubiquitous mother, the prime time obsession is really with gymnastics. The thought of middle-age women camped in front of the television obsessed with pre-pubescent girls made up like hookers and layered with glitter, with bad music and screeching announcers as the soundtrack, all with judged results, is more than I can bear. I expect NBC to provide updates on the British Royal Family during the gymnastics competition to complete the nightmare scenario.

Pretty sure the US team and most girls are past puberty (minimum age is 16)...can't speak for the Chinese though. I'm not a fan of the "dance" portion of the floor exercise or beam but everything else is just super impressive athletic skill. The makeup wouldn't be my cup of tea, but to equate those young women to hookers is so incredibly rude and tasteless.

 

[gwynne]

Some times I look at the sports that are at the Olympics and wonder why. A lot of sports were added or dropped for somewhat political reasons. Baseball and softball seemed to have been dropped because of dominance of certain teams, although limited competition may have something to do with it. Still - those were pretty well supported from two continents as well as Australia. They added badminton and table tennis, which are dominated by Asian competitors. It was mentioned in another thread, but swimming is now limited to two competitors per event per nation, and that might have been to prevent certain countries like the US and Australia from being too stacked.

There has been a tremendous amount of work done over the past years to return baseball and softball to the Olympics. It looks hopeful for the 2020 Olympics. So far all signs point to yes. There will be a final vote just before the Rio Olympics open. Fingers crossed!!!

 

[cabanafrau]

I had no idea baseball and softball were no longer Olympic sports. Seems odd to me.

I am hoping to catch archery competition. The US isn't overly successful so I know NBC won't show it. I don't care if the Asians dominate, I want to see the competition.

 

[bcla]

I had no idea baseball and softball were no longer Olympic sports. Seems odd to me.

I am hoping to catch archery competition. The US isn't overly successful so I know NBC won't show it. I don't care if the Asians dominate, I want to see the competition.

In baseball, Cuba has medaled at every Olympics where it wasn't a demonstration sport. However, they can actually send their best athletes, while MLB doesn't suspend play such that their best players can participate. Baseball might have been saved if MLB had agreed to a break during the Olympics, as the best players for many nations play in MLB.

I guess it was a combination of "why bother if you don't send your best", that most of the voters didn't understand baseball/softball, along with resentment over domination by a few countries in Cuba, the US, Japan, and South Korea.

 

[gwynne]

In baseball, Cuba has medaled at every Olympics where it wasn't a demonstration sport. However, they can actually send their best athletes, while MLB doesn't suspend play such that their best players can participate. Baseball might have been saved if MLB had agreed to a break during the Olympics, as the best players for many nations play in MLB.

I guess it was a combination of "why bother if you don't send your best", that most of the voters didn't understand baseball/softball, along with resentment over domination by a few countries in Cuba, the US, Japan, and South Korea.

Your comment certain sums up a lot of the conversations about baseball and softball and the Olympics.

Jennie Finch wrote a piece yesterday about the Olympics and USA Softball. I thought it was a good read.
http://www.vox.com/2016/7/13/12067548/olympics-jennie-finch

 

[superme80]

Aside from Michael Plelps and his ubiquitous mother, the prime time obsession is really with gymnastics. The thought of middle-age women camped in front of the television obsessed with pre-pubescent girls made up like hookers and layered with glitter, with bad music and screeching announcers as the soundtrack, all with judged results, is more than I can bear. I expect NBC to provide updates on the British Royal Family during the gymnastics competition to complete the nightmare scenario.

Are you referring to Rhythmic Gymnastics????

 

[MariMama]

In baseball, Cuba has medaled at every Olympics where it wasn't a demonstration sport. However, they can actually send their best athletes, while MLB doesn't suspend play such that their best players can participate. Baseball might have been saved if MLB had agreed to a break during the Olympics, as the best players for many nations play in MLB.

I guess it was a combination of "why bother if you don't send your best", that most of the voters didn't understand baseball/softball, along with resentment over domination by a few countries in Cuba, the US, Japan, and South Korea.

That is partly why I don't watch the Olympics anymore (not to mention, the IOC is one of the most corrupt governing bodies in the world). The Olympics used to be and should be, about amateurs, NOT pros. I don't want to see pro athletes excel at Olympic sports. They are already at the top of their game because they are PRO!

Get the pros out of the Olympics.

 

[CPanther95]

That is partly why I don't watch the Olympics anymore (not to mention, the IOC is one of the most corrupt governing bodies in the world). The Olympics used to be and should be, about amateurs, NOT pros. I don't want to see pro athletes excel at Olympic sports. They are already at the top of their game because they are PRO!

Get the pros out of the Olympics.

Agree 100%. I don't care how other countries may handle their athletes to give them an unfair advantage - the US should stick with amateurs.

If a foreign competitor wins Gold and everyone knows he's like Kramer in the Karate episode - let him have it and we can mock him.

 

[bcla]

Your comment certain sums up a lot of the conversations about baseball and softball and the Olympics.

If you look at all the participants, it's rather telling that a country with a strong baseball tradition like the Dominican Republic has only participated once in Olympic baseball. They don't really have a strong amateur (pros weren't allowed in Olympic baseball until 2000) tradition, as their best players would typically sign minor league contracts before turning 18. The teams that employ Dominicans weren't likely to give them breaks, and most players were interesting in furthering their professional careers. MLB more or less stood in the way of there being a more competitive Olympics for baseball.

 

[bcla]

That is partly why I don't watch the Olympics anymore (not to mention, the IOC is one of the most corrupt governing bodies in the world). The Olympics used to be and should be, about amateurs, NOT pros. I don't want to see pro athletes excel at Olympic sports. They are already at the top of their game because they are PRO!

Get the pros out of the Olympics.

I don't know about that. The original Greek/Roman Olympics didn't really have much of a concept of amateurism. The winners only won an olive wreath, but back home the winners would have been set for life as conquering heroes.

There was also a ton of issues with many being amateurs in name only. Many Eastern Bloc athletes were notorious for technically being full time members of the military or police, but where they essentially were in the military/police as athletes.

Baron de Coubertin came up with the idea of the "amateur athlete". His ideal was really the aristocrat or gentleman athlete who had the time to train because there was no need to work. That made way to sponsored athletes who technically had jobs such as military positions or other full-time jobs. If you look at US basketball teams at the Olympics previous to 1960, they were dominated by athletes from AAU teams. Most had played college basketball though.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I was too young to even remember the event, heard about the Miracle on Ice, have since watched clips of it and it still gets me excited and choked up. I also like the movie Miracle, despite knowing the outcome. I can't even imagine how exciting it was for those who were there live though!

One of my hockey books has a photo of a ticket for that game. It was listed as "Ice Hockey Playoff, Event 217" for Friday, February 22, 1980, 17:00-19:30. (5 to 730pm).

The upper level ticket cost $39.20. As it turned out, that was a great value for the US fans who attended. But the organizers expected people to pay that much in 1980 for the Sweden vs. Finland game? Even face value tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals were only about $25 in those days.

I missed watching the game. I was in college and went out partying that night instead. But I already knew the result. I did watch when the US beat Finland to win the gold medal. I don't remember if that game was broadcast live.

 

[gwynne]

I was too young to even remember the event, heard about the Miracle on Ice, have since watched clips of it and it still gets me excited and choked up. I also like the movie Miracle, despite knowing the outcome. I can't even imagine how exciting it was for those who were there live though!

I love the movie Miracle too. Movies about ordinary people who do extraordinary things are my very favorites.

ESPN did a 30 for 30 called Of Miracles and Men. It's about the Russian team, coaches, challenges and beyond. It was very interesting, I recommend it if you haven't seen it.

 

[bcla]

One of my hockey books has a photo of a ticket for that game. It was listed as "Ice Hockey Playoff, Event 217" for Friday, February 22, 1980, 17:00-19:30. (5 to 730pm).

The upper level ticket cost $39.20. As it turned out, that was a great value for the US fans who attended. But the organizers expected people to pay that much in 1980 for the Sweden vs. Finland game? Even face value tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals were only about $25 in those days.

I missed watching the game. I was in college and went out partying that night instead. But I already knew the result. I did watch when the US beat Finland to win the gold medal. I don't remember if that game was broadcast live.

There are a bunch of photos of tickets. Some weren't even used or perhaps left intact. The date was only on the part of the ticket that would be ripped off if used.

.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/5-cool-ticket-stubs-from-important-games-in-hockey-history/