Re: Looking at the Next Generation of Olympic Announcers

[TMC]

On Aug 6, 12:25 am, TMC <tmc1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> http://fangsbites.com/2012/08/looking-at-the-next-generation-of-olymp...
>
> As we go into the second week of the 2012 London Olympics or the Games
> of the XXX Summer Olympiad, I thought I would take the opportunity on
> this middle Sunday to look ahead for the next set of Games on
> television.
>
> We know that NBCUniversal will carry the Olympics through 2020, that’s
> two Winter and two Summer Games in that timespan. While the network
> has been served well by its current crop of announcers, some of whom
> date back as far back as 1988, it’s time to replace them with a new
> generation of hosts, play-by-play callers and analysts who can carry
> the network through 2020 and possibly beyond.
> I’ll focus this post on the Summer Games since that’s what we’ve been
> watching for the last 8 days. I’ll do a Winter Olympics announcing
> post at a later date. I’ll start with hosts, then go by the glamor
> sports.
>
> HOSTS
>
> Bob Costas — Bob is 60 this year and while his youthful look betrays
> his age, he’ll be 64 in 2016 for Rio and 68 in 2020 at a site yet to
> be determined. ABC’s Jim McKay hosted his last Olympics in 1988 at age
> 65. Costas remains the best interviewer on sports television and
> should be allowed to host the Olympics on NBC for as long as he wants.
> I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
>
> Dan Patrick — Dan is just four years younger than Bob, but if Costas
> decides to leave, DP could step into his shoes as Primetime host.
>
> Liam McHugh — For 2016, I would think this is where NBC could tap Liam
> McHugh and put him in Al Michaels’ place on Daytime. Al would be 71 in
> Rio and while he would still be very good at calling Sunday Night
> Football in four years, I would not put him in the host’s chair in
> Rio. McHugh has proven he can be very versatile hosting the NHL
> Postseason, the Stanley Cup Final, the Tour de France and the Olympics
> over a four month span. That is not easy, but Liam has made it look
> easy and that’s the sign of a very good host.
>
> Bonnie Bernstein — ESPN’s Bonnie Bernstein is the best personality not
> to have an Olympic gig. This is like saying she’s the Best Golfer Not
> To Win A Major. She has proven as a substitute host for Dan Patrick
> and on Twitter that she can discuss multiple sports. And Bonnie’s also
> a former gymnast. Watching BBC’s coverage of the London Games, the
> network utilizes both studio and venue hosts. Making Bonnie a venue
> host at Gymnastics with Nastia Liukin as her analyst would work to one
> of her strengths. She was a five-time host of the NCAA Gymnastics
> Championship when she was at CBS. I would love to see her work an
> Olympic Games.
>
> Ryan Burr — Ryan will be coming to the NBCUniversal family to work at
> Golf Channel and at NBC Sports Network. We could see him host on
> either MSNBC or NBCSN.
>
> Michelle Beadle — Michelle’s done a great job thus far in London. She
> has shown she can talk Olympic sports and bring some humor as well.
>
> Kelly Tilghman — I’ve liked her work on MSNBC. I can see her on future
> Olympics as well.
>
> ANNOUNCERS
>
> Let’s do this by sport.
>
> BASKETBALL — If the NBA continues sending players to the Olympics,
> then NBC could continue utilizing Bob Fitzgerald from Comcast
> SportsNet Bay Area and Chris Carrino. This is where NBC should tap
> Turner Sports for a Steve Kerr or even Reggie Miller for analysts.
>
> If basketball becomes an Under 23 tournament as speculated, NBC may
> have to hire college basketball announcers. Borrowing Ian Eagle from
> CBS and YES to call games would be a good move. Jay Bilas from ESPN
> would forge a strong team with Ian throughout the Games. And NBC
> should still utilize Craig Sager as the reporter although he looks
> muted with a regular wardrobe.
>
> On the women’s side, if NBC could get Doris Burke on loan from ESPN,
> that would be ideal. She could work men’s games too as she’s proven
> over the past few years. If NBC can’t get Doris Burke, why not former
> ESPN’er Stacey Dales or Fox Sports Net’s Debbie Antonelli?
>
> BOXING — Bob Papa and Teddy Atlas are a very good team and should
> remain, but I’d love for NBC to bring in its old friend Jim Lampley
> with Larry Merchant and Emmanuel Steward from HBO to call one or two
> bouts a day. What could be better than that? And bring in Harold
> Lederman for judging analysis while we’re at it. Host Fred Roggin
> should be replaced with boxing fan Brian Kenny of MLB Network.
>
> CYCLING — If it’s not Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, NBC should go
> announcer-less.
>
> DIVING — Can you believe Cynthia Potter has worked every Summer
> Olympics on network television since 1984? She’s been solid, but it’s
> time to bring in some new blood. 2000 gold medalist Laura Wilkinson
> who worked the Diving Trials for NBC Sports Network in June is a
> potential candidate.
>
> GYMNASTICS — Utilizing a favorite word of Tim Daggett’s, the
> announcing on this sport over the last two Olympiads has been
> catastrophic. Normally, I like Al Trautwig, but his calls of
> gymnastics in 2008 in Beijing and this year in London is reaching John
> Tesh disastrous proportions in 1996. Al makes everything seems at life
> or death levels. In addition, his penchant to focus on crying gymnasts
> borders on creepy.
>
> Tim Daggett’s constant talking and use of the word “catastrophic” is
> annoying. Elfi Schlegel has been reduced to short sentences. NBC needs
> to replace this team for 2016.
>
> This is where NBC can utilize a venue host (see Bonnie Bernstein
> above) with an analyst. Nastia Liukin could fill that role very
> nicely. Bela Karolyi has proven to be Must See TV and should be one of
> the studio analysts. And if his wife, Marta retires, imagine the
> fireworks on the set between those two.
>
> NBC is using Terry Gannon this year to call rowing. Why not have Terry
> call Olympic Gymnastics in 2016? He has called the sport for ABC and
> did it well. And having watched the World Feed this year through NBC’s
> Olympics Live Extra app, I’m very impressed with Shannon Miller from
> 1996′s Magnificent Seven Team. She’s been the sole analyst for Olympic
> Broadcasting Services and has done very well in explaining certain
> moves, the scoring system and their implications without sounding
> overdramatic. Terry Gannon and Shannon Miller would make an excellent
> team.
>
> GOLF — Remember, golf makes its return to the Olympics in Rio in 2016,
> having made its last appearance in 1904. NBC/Golf Channel has an
> established team with Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller, Nick Faldo, Roger
> Maltbie, Brandell Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, Rich Lerner, the
> aforementioned Kelly Tilghman, David Feherty, the incoming Ryan Burr
> and so many others who could work this event.
>
> Some people have asked me on Twitter if Dan would stop calling
> swimming to do golf. I think Dan could do both especially if the IOC
> (with the help of NBC) decides to schedule golf in the second week of
> the Olympics, so that it doesn’t interfere with swimming, tennis,
> gymnastics and other sports in the first week. This is where a venue
> host would come in handy, perhaps Kelly or Ryan with one or two of the
> many Golf Channel analysts. And we could expect Golf Channel to have a
> role in picking up the first two rounds of Olympic Golf with NBC
> coming in for the last two rounds.
>
> SOCCER — NBC used its MLS crew, Arlo White and Kyle Martino on the
> men’s games along with JP Dellacamera, Glenn Davis, Steve Cangialosi
> and Allen Hopkins. I’d love to see English Premier League announcers
> Martin Tyler and Ian Darke on US TV calling some Olympic action.
>
> Brandi Chastain despite Hope Solo’s complaints last week is doing well
> on women’s games and I would keep her in the booth.
>
> SWIMMING — Dan Hicks has made this one of his signature sports along
> with golf throughout his career at NBC. I can’t see him leaving the
> sport unless golf is scheduled in the first week, but I don’t think
> that would happen. Rowdy Gaines has been a good salesman for swimming
> and he’s doing yeoman’s work to raise money for the sport to establish
> a training center. However, I’ve grown tired of his screaming and his
> voice raising over 50 octaves. This is where NBC could bring in a
> plethora of gold medalists to replace Gaines. This is also a sport
> that could utilize a venue host and it’s where Liam McHugh could go if
> NBC decides to keep Al Michaels in Daytime.
>
> While Phelps has said he’s retiring, NBC would like to see him in Rio
> either as a swimmer or perhaps an analyst. If the network uses him on
> TV, I’d prefer to see him in the studio. At first thought, I felt
> putting Phelps on camera would be a bad move, but this was based on
> his interviews in Beijing where he looked uncomfortable. During his
> NBC interviews in London, Michael has looked more at ease, but that
> does not necessarily make for a good analyst. If he wants to go the TV
> route, putting him in the studio for short spurts might be best for
> 2016.
>
> As for the races, I’d go with Amy Van Dyken to replace Rowdy. For the
> past year, Amy has been co-hosting Fox Sports Tonight with Rob Dibble
> on Fox Sports Radio and she’s been in London analyzing the Olympic
> swimming for FoxSports.com. Amy is not only funny, but she speaks her
> mind. She knows the mind of an Olympic athlete and I think she’d be
> perfect with Dan in calling the races.
>
> TENNIS — This sport finally received some glamor treatment from NBC
> this year. However, it was treated badly with Pat O’Brien as the venue
> host. Not only did Pat demonstrate a huge lack of knowledge, he
> conducted awkward interviews as well. Brett Haber and Andrew Catalon
> did very well on the play-by-play and I liked Rennae Stubbs to want
> her to return in Rio. Justin Gimelstob was a weak link in the crew.
> I’d replace him with ESPN’s Darren Cahill or have John McEnroe call
> more matches.
>
> TRACK & FIELD — There’s not much I would replace here. Tom Hammond is ...
>
> read more »

http://fangsbites.com/2012/08/some-tuesday-olympic-sports-media-thoughts/

Monday’s women’s soccer quarterfinal game between the USA and Canada
was an instant classic. Alex Morgan’s goal in the 123rd minute in
extra time gave the United States a dramatic victory and entrance into
the final against Japan, the same team that beat them on penalty kicks
in the Women’s World Cup last year. It was certainly reminiscent of
Abby Wambach’s goal in the quarterfinals of the World Cup against
Brazil.

There are a couple of similarities in both games. First, spectacular
play-by-play by Ian Darke for ESPN last year and Arlo White on NBC
Sports Network this year. White has really established himself as one
of the up and coming soccer voices. He’s really impressed me in
calling both men’s and women’s games in the Olympics. It’s not easy
keeping players and numbers straight calling games every day, but
White has been doing a bang-up job.

Another similarity was the screaming by analysts Julie Foudy of ESPN
last year and Brandi Chastain for NBC Sports Network this year.
However, Foudy’s screaming was contained to Wambach’s goal. For
Chastain, she screamed for 99% of the two extra periods. I found it
extremely distracting to concentrate on the game as Chastain continued
to yell while Arlo White remained calm. Getting excited during the
game is fine and Gus Johnson manages to do it right when it’s
warranted. However, screaming throughout is not conducive and Chastain
would not let off the gas pedal at least for the portion that I
watched.

Could she not hear herself? Were her headphones not working and thus,
she felt she needed to scream? Or was she not realizing that she was
screaming? In my post on the next generation of Olympic announcers, I
had written that Chastain had been doing a decent job in the booth.
But I take that back after her horrid performance on Monday.

Up until today, I had not weighed in on NBC’s tape delay policy and
holding certain events for primetime viewing. I was originally of the
opinion that I was happy that all events (except for the Opening and
Closing Ceremonies) are online and can be found either on the
NBCOlympics.com website or on the NBC Olympics Live Extra mobile/
tablet app. But after NBC’s treatment of the American people this
weekend for Usain Bolt’s race, I can no longer keep silent.

Yes, NBC feels it has to maximize its audience by holding and
packaging events for primetime. I get that, but I still don’t like it.
When the men’s 100 meter race featuring Usain Bolt was about to get
underway, NBC chose to keep the the event online rather than air it
live late Sunday afternoon on the East Coast. While I do give NBC
kudos for airing its daytime coverage live in all time zones on
Saturday and Sunday, it still pulled its shenanigans by delaying
Michael Phelps’ last race on Saturday and the Bolt gold medal run on
Sunday.

And while many chose to find the race online, some complained by the
video on the Live Extra app went out just before the race was about to
run. While others had problems finding a computer, smart phone or
tablet. In addition, when the video fired properly, some got a picture
quality similar to this:

Ed Sherman of the Sherman Report scolded NBC for running equestrian
events while Bolt was about to successfully defend his 2008 gold medal
in London. I agree with Ed that on the weekends, it would behoove NBC
to air glamor events live on the weekend no matter when it is. And it
can run it in primetime with the packaging and whatever emotion the
network wants to provide.

While it’s one thing to hold events to get a bigger audience and to
prevent non-rightsholders from showing highlights, you’re also
mistreating your audience that wants to watch it on television. Yes,
it’s great to have everything online and to see it as it happens, but
there are a great many people who would rather watch it on television.
I’m wondering if NBC somehow can’t provide a happy medium here.

And speaking about the online experience, I give NBC a B minus for the
performance of the apps and the website. NBC has been successful in
getting people to authenticate their participating cable or satellite
providers to gain access to live video. But there are a few things the
network can do to make it even better.

First, it has to improve the video quality and the bandwidth. For
events that have had high traffic including gymnastics and track &
field viewers complained that video either froze or buffered just as
they were getting interesting.

Second, commercials fired every two minutes in the case of gymnastics
and would sometimes cut off astute analysis from the World Feed or
even action that was underway. That is inexcusable to allow the spots
to fire automatically, not to check each feed and providing a clean
experience.

And third, while I give props for streaming Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and NBC
Sports Network’s coverage, I wish all of NBC’s coverage was available
online as well. This was done on Saturday and Sunday when NBC’s Gold
Zone, an online channel that took viewers to medal-potential moments,
streamed the network’s daytime coverage. I think it was a great move
and should be done in 2014 in Sochi.

NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus said in a conference call last week
that NBC wants to improve its presentation and is considering every
possible avenue to provide viewers with the best method to watch the
Games. Here’s hoping that the streaming and bandwidth will improve in
Sochi in 2014.

That’s going to do it for the thoughts.

http://fangsbites.com/2012/08/bringing-out-some-tuesday-links-2/