A view form the chair

My Olympic marathon is over. It’s time to review NBC’s coverage of the 21st Olympic Winter Games. I think the overall story of these games was the unbridled patriotism of the Canadian people. There was a lot of “O, Canada” to go a round as they set the record of the most Gold Medals at a Winter Olympics with 14 Olympic champions. The most remarkable show of patriotism was at the men’s curling final, when in the last end or innings of the match the crowd just erupted in “O, Canada”. Great scenes.

I’ve got an idea of how NBC can give us diehard sports fans live coverage and not taped delayed. They should stream, live coverage on their website for those of us who want, for example, more than 5 out of 50 competitors in downhill. Then they can do the highlights in Primetime. I think this is the way to go in London in 2012 and Sochi, Russia in 2014.

In my last report I talked about Al Michaels. I have to say, he has improved in the second week as daytime host. He was at his best when he hosted five men’s Hockey games and also the closing ceremonies with Bob Costas. I hope Al comes back for London to get another shot at hosting.

I continue to be imprested by Jimmy Roberts; he is the best writer and essayer in the business. He knows how to use words to describe any moment. He was also very good in hosting “Meet the Olympic Press” on Universal Sports TV.

I have often said on this blog that Al Trautwig is the best scene setter in the business. Again he proved me right in calling the Nordic events at these games. I can’t say the same thing about his partner Chad Salmela. Chad just yelled too much for my taste.

My dislike for Todd Harris continues. In the men’s ski cross event he used the initials B.C. to say they were from British Columbia. I did not hear any other announcer on the NBC talent roster use B.C. they all said British Columbia. When any announcer uses initials it sounds very bad and improper.

I was very impressed with two new announcers at these games. As I said last time Johnny Moseley was very good. He did a great job of explaining his sports. The other rookie of the year was Andrew Catalon on Curling. He did a great job setting the scene at a very raucous venue. He will be back for sure and at 30 years old is the future of NBC sports.

I have to give credit to Ted Robinson for a great job calling the most unpredictable sport of Short Track Speed Skating. Andy Gabel was great in explaining his sport and all of the disqualifications.

Let me review some of the storylines I outlined in my Olympic preview. Lindsey Vonn won two medals in Vancouver. She won the Downhill and a Bronze in the Super-G. The Downhill was the one she wanted more than any other and got it.

Shaun White defends his title in Snowboarding Half-Pipe. This was one of the standout performers of the games. Shaun won the event after the first run of two and didn’t have to take his second run but did and pulled off the greatest run I have ever seen. I think the kid has the heart of a champion. Just an awesome Olympic moment, I think.

Shani Davis Won Gold in the 1,000 Meters and Sliver in the 1,500 Meters Long Track Speed Skating. Good way to go out Shani. The most bizarre moment of these games was when 5,000 Meter Champion Sven Kramer of the Netherlands was disqualified in the 10,000 Meters for not crossing lanes. His coach told him to go in the inner lane and he was supposed to cross to the outer. I have never seen any thing like this on the Olympic level. What a bad Olympic moment. If you know any thing about the Netherlands this is their nation sport.

The most inspirational moment of the games in Figure Skating was Joannie Rochette of Canada whose mother died just two days before she was to skate. She did skate and won a bronze medal. What a brave young women. This is the kind of story and person that Canada will name schools after. You get these stories at every Olympics but I don’t remember one like this.

The US Nordic Combined team ended their loosing streak in a big way with 6 medals over 3 events. Bill Demong won the Gold medal in the large Hill competition. Johnny Spillane won 2 Silver Medals and in the team relay they also won the Silver. Awesome job guys.

Steve Holcomb broke the 62-year drought of the US in Four-Man Bobsled with the Gold medal. The night train was on fire. All the sliding (Luge, Bobsled and Skeleton) sports made me nervous this year. The Whistler track was the fastest in the world and it showed.

The Olympics are done for 2010. Next stop for the Olympics is London in 2012. Hope to be in London. The next stop on the sports calendar is March Madness and also the start of the baseball season.

Talk to you all again soon.

Jamie Lazaroff

Olympic Update

We are a few days into the Winter Olympics Games; so let me give you my quick thoughts. Overall NBC is doing a nice job but they could make some changes, like not holding some marquee events for prime time. I know that they have to make choices when they show events happening at the same time but they have other cable networks that are not being used. I guess I have to avoid the Internet for duration of the Olympics.

One thing I don’t like is when they switch from one event to the other. Stay on one event live until we know who wins the Gold medal. If you have to tape the other event then do it. They should always show the words "LIVE" so we know and we don’t have to guess. Most of the time they will flash the word live on screen then take it off after a few seconds. Monday night they showed the words “LIVE” during the Gold medal ceremony for Men’s Moguls. Why can’t they do this for the competition? Also, please limit the commercial breaks. I know this is how NBC makes its money, but give me more than 2 minutes of action at a time.

I’M disappointed and sad at the same time for Al Michaels as daytime host. He looks very nervous in the studio. I hope he gets comfortable as the games go on. In prime time the host Bob Costas can host the games until I die, he is the best in the business in the studio.

Todd Harris is the worst announcer of all times. Thank goodness that Johnny Moseley was very good in his Olympics broadcasting debut. Harris used other announcer’s lines and at the end of the Men’s Moguls he described the winner’s brother, who happens to have cerebral palsy as suffering from. Todd, he was born with it and he is a person who happens to have it. Mr. Harris also stole a call from early in the day. When Johnny Spillane won the USA first medal ever in Nordic Combined, Chad Salmela said, “The medal drought is over!” Todd said the “The Drought is over” when Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada’s first Gold medal ever on home turf. (1976 Summer Games in Montreal and 1988 Winter Games in Calgary no Gold’s) Please use original lines Mr. Harris.

Dan Patrick did a very good job in his role of setting the scene at the mogul’s completion. I hope he continues to doing this through out the games.
Update: He’s not, Tuesday he was back in New York doing his radio show.


I can’t believe more people watched the Winter Olympics on Sunday than the Daytona 500. Why I don’t know, but the Daytona 500 was delayed twice by potholes developing on the track. The Olympics coverage is up nearly 25% for the opening weekend over the 2006 Winter Games in Turin. I think more people are out of work and home and want something compelling to watch so they turn to the Olympics.

Until next time.

Jamie Lazaroff

Jamie's view

Last week I went to Washington D.C for Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day and it was an awesome experience. We meet with all of the Connecticut Congressional delegation, or their staff. We had photo ops with Senator Lieberman, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Congressmen John Larson, Congressmen Jim Himes, and Congressmen Joe Courtney. At one point in the day we saw former NFL great Herschel Walker, who was on the Hill lobbying for the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Herschel was there with the request to make physical activity a priority for our nation by making it more accessible and more affordable to all. At the end of the day we had a reception in one of the committee rooms, the highlight of the evening was meeting and listening to Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy.
Of all the experiences I have had with Special Olympics this was the most fun. At first I was pretty nervous because I did not know what to expect, but everyone was so nice and it was just like having a conversation with any one. They all are really champions of rights for people with disabilities. It also helps that Connecticut hosted the 1995 World Special Olympics Games in New Haven and everyone had a connection, in someway to the Special Olympics.

Now back to the sports beat. The big news while I was away was that Al Michaels will be NBC’s daytime and weekend host of the Winter Olympics next year in Vancouver. I think this is a good fit, Al Michaels is one of the all time best play-by-play men in the business and deserves to host an Olympics. Al is synonymous with the Winter Olympics because he was the man behind the mic for the "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" call of the U.S. hockey victory over the Soviet Union at 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. I think it was time to replace Jim Lampley as daytime Olympic host as I believe that he “mailed it in” and did not show enthusiasm at last years Olympics in China. If Lampley doesn’t take a hockey role (it is rumored he turned it down) at the games this will end a string of working 14 straight Olympics. “Bob Costa and Al Michaels”, two Hall of Famers working the same Olympics, I can’t wait!

Here are my thoughts about Jim Calhoun ‘s Press Conference from a few weeks back. I think the “Reporter” ambushed Calhoun. The “Reporter” should have stopped after Calhoun told him to "shut up" after the question about his state salary (which is public knowledge) but the "Reporter" continued to ask about his deal with Comcast. This is a personal issue and has nothing to do with the University. I think Calhoun went a little over board, but if I were in his shoes I would do the same thing.
Talk to you next week at the start of the madness.

Good night and good luck.

I would like to hear from you, sent me a comment or shoot me an e-mail.

Jamie Lazaroff