Olympics - Political? NBC - Brian Williams made it that way

[liberal N proud]

I watched part of the opening ceremony on NBC last night because that is what the family wanted.
Personally, the Olympics have lost their luster but they are still interested.


Brian Williams commentary throughout the countries marching in was sick.
He pandered to China and how they are making huge strides in human rights and they are under extreme pressure from the world. BULL SHIT.

Then as Iran came in, yes Iran had a team in the Olympics. He just pumped up the bu$h rhetoric about how they started the cartoon fiasco and they are called for the destruction of the Israeli state and they are building nuclear weapons and the world is going to come down on them in the coming months.

I just couldn't stand it any longer and went to bed.

Anyones else pick this tone up from Williams and Costa last night?

[malaise]

1. When have the Olympics not

been political?

[liberal N proud]

4. True, even Hitler used the games for political purpose

Witch just gives bu$h one more parallel with Hitler.

[malaise]

12. In the best book I've read on American Sport

Power and Ideology in American Sport: A Critical Perspective, George Sage says thus:
Sport is considered to be an important site upon which the dominant ideology is constructed and maintained because sport's institutional and ideological features have evolved in a way that corresponds with, and helps to reproduce, the conditions upon which dominant interests are based. In other words, the changing practices and ideas surrounding sport continually create a setting where the interests of the dominant groups can best be served. In fact one of the most compelling functions of sport is to promote initiatives and activities that help shape the structure of the economic, political and cultural hegemony of the dominant class. Sports importance, then, is rooted in its power to promote and structure relations in accordance with the proclivities of the dominant interests who own and control it.
--------------
Brian Williams is therefore the perfect icon for the corporate and fascist Olympics Version 2.

The entire Gretzky gambling furor is a classic example. The Canadians are favorites to win the hockey gold so create some confusion in the camp. Who do you think wants that? Why Brian Williams, NBC and US hockey interests, corporate and national.
Edit - add

[FSogol]

2. I did. Overall, a poor analysis of geopolitical events.

Journalism is truly dead in this country.

The Denmark team looked nervous.

[zbird]

3. I turned it off when Costas gushed that Italy was #3 in the coalition

forces fighting in Iraq. That was when the Italian flag was being hoisted and that adorable young girl was singing the Italian national anthem. That was more than enough for me.

[leftchick]

25. did he mention Italy is withdrawing troops this year?

along with the UK, Denmark and whoever the hell else is left? I didn't think so.

[Redbear]

27. As a major Costas fan

I must point out that it was Williams who said that.

Williams was horrible.

[zbird]

33. Sorry. I should have said I thought it was Costas.

I wasn't 100% sure about that.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Williams was out of control

He ruined the opening ceremonies with his endless political opinions that he injected every chance he had.

The Olympics are a celebration of the achievements of all the young people who are good enough to make it there.

NBC needs to put a muzzle on Williams before he does any more damage.

[canichelouis]

14. I sent my first ever email expressing my disgust

Everyone should do it. They only respond to the 'market'.

[lanlady]

6. you made it to Iran?

I switched it off when BW injected politics into Canada's love of hockey.

[KyndCulture]

7. I don't have TV but..

did they really mentiont he coalition??

how utterly sick...

[Cascadian]

8. Brian Williams makes me puke!

He should just stick to news and stay the hell away from the Olympics. I "loved" his reaction to Iran coming into the stadium and how he fawned over the Mongolian team for it's country's support in the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq. :eyes: :puke: :eyes:

The NBC coverage simply stinks. It is so damned biased and smug. I miss the coverage from the CBC in Canada. Not so puffed up and not so political. It is just the games! Nothing more, nothing less!


John

[liberal N proud]

9. And that is what it should be about the sport

It should be a time when people from all nations can come together and not worry about who hates who.
Just compete in a friendly sport and nothing more.

[KharmaTrain]

10. Williams Is A GOOP Meatpuppet

He went on my shitlist ages ago when he kept refering to President Clinton as "this President" and always said it with a sarcastic tone in his voice.

Then I've heard him spew some goofy crap on Imus several times. One time he was citing a story out of the Moonie times. Sorry, no credible journalist uses that poor replacement for toilet paper. Another time he cited NewsMax.

Fortunately he didn't open his trap too much...and Costas winged it very well.

If you want the Olympics not to be political...take away the flags and national designations.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. The problem isn't the politics of nations

The problem is the US announcer who is a network news anchor couldn't say anything about anyone with making a political comment. It was totally inappropriate.

This is different from an athlete taking a political stand - I have no problem with that. However, the hired help should stick to their job of reporting a SPORTS event.

[KharmaTrain]

20. Sports Is Politics

Sorry to disagree here, but one big element that attracts people to the Olympics is the nationalism. A vast majority of those tuned in at home have no clue who any of these people are...and I'll further suggest they couldn't find 2/3rds of the nations on the map...even if it was marked. All they're tuned in for is a feel-good show...and that means flag waiving and jingo-ism. It's been part of every Olympics broadcast.

Now had Costas made a remark about Japan pulling out of the "coalition", would that have made it better? Again, for many tuned in, they see the world through an Americo-centrist filter and the announcers play off onto it. I'm not defending it, just trying to undertand it.

As stated earlier, I consider Williams a complete GOOP meatpuppet, a Rove tool and programmed by Jack Welch. I ignored what he had to say...primarily since it added nothing to the broadcast, and really didn't take note of the comments you and others seem to be offended by.

[NewJeffCT]

29. Didn't Williams use "we" when speaking to a Repub once?

as in how many seats do "we" need to pick up in Congress...?

[cali]

11. I love the opening ceremonies

Of course I watched them on CBC, but even so, I could care less what Brian Williams said. There's always been some political commentary during the Olympics. Nothing new here, and I'm damned if I'll let it ruin it for me. I wish all of you who like the Olympics but hate the US network coverage could watch it on CBC. It's as different as night and day; no politics, great commentary, little of the cutsie athlete stories, live coverage of events- they do such a better job.

[malaise]

13. That's the only thing to watch

then turn them off. It's all bullspit anyway and despite the nationalistic crap spewed on TV, the competition is more between corporate sponsors than anything else.

[cali]

17. Don't like the Olympics? Fine.

I love the winter Olympics, always have, always will, and I could care less what you think. As I said on Canadian broadcasting there is NO nationalistic crap. As far as the competition being mostly corporate sponsors, sure that plays a part, but when you get on the slopes, or the half pipe or rink, it comes down to talent and luck. Plus, I love rooting for the locals; the girls on the snow boarding team and bode.

[malaise]

18. Course there is

If you have the NBC feed, even when the Canadians win watch carefully who they promote. We all root for the locals but that doesn't change the politics of coverage or the war between corporate sponsors.

Edit - change sentence

[jakefrep]

16. Thank God for CBC.

Peter Mansbridge and the other Brian Williams did a great job.

[theHandpuppet]

19. Oh yes!!!

For god's sake, the OLYMPICS are SUPPOSED to be the one place to get way from this bullshit.

The political comments didn't stop all night! When the Mongolian team was introduced he couldn't help but say how proud the Mongolians were that Bush was the first president to visit their country and how they were a strong partner with us in the war against "terra". Same thing with Italy -- making note that Italy is such a "strong partner" in the Iraq war, having the third largest contingnet of troops in that country. It went on and and on and on -- THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A POLITICS-FREE ZONE, BRIAN, not a Bush rally!!!

Damn, where's Mussolini when you need him? And I'm sure I spotted Leni Riefenstahl among the NBC camera crew.

[bullimiami]

21. willams twisted inane babbling aside. what i SAW was

Susan Sarandon, Yoko Ono, Peter Gabriel; singing Imagine, acrobats making a "peace" dove, the chairman of the oly committee giving a speech about peace.


peace, peace, peace was the theme.

stop listening to the talking airheads spout what propaganda their masters put before them. its not reality.

[peekaloo]

22. Exactly.

I saw the early a.m. replay and it was rather inspiring.

At least the heads didn't rag on France. Actually they swooned over that "matinee idol" figure skater. :D

[bumblebee1]

40. Ahhh,

You must be talking about Brian Joubert.

[Nikki Stone 1]

26. Do you think WIlliams' commentary was meant to counter the images?

If the images were peace oriented and Imagine was sung, could the commentary have been planned as a counterweight? General Electric defending its war profits....

[Maine-ah]

23. oh boy my husband and I

were pretty damned pissed off about it. They went too far with it, and I just said fuck it and went to bed. Thanks NBC, fucktards.

I think I'm gonna shoot a letter off to them, it really ruined it for me.:grr:

[tanyev]

24. I constantly wish the audio was in two tracks so I could selectively mute.

I do not want to hear the inane babblings of the talking heads. I do want to hear what is actually going on at the event they are covering.

[MoJoWorkin]

28. I am glad to see that I wasn't the only one repulsed by little Brian.

I do feel vindicated by struggling thru to the end of the ceremonies when PEACE triumphed! The human "peace dove," Yoko,the singing of Imagine all slapped that putrid Williams comments in the face. If there had been NO comments, it would have been great coverage. Everyone needs to let NBC know that---even tho it will do no good.

[terip64]

30. You inspired me to email NBC!

I had to turn it off as well and they can't like that.

[GeorgeGist]

31. The mute button was invented...

for people like Brian.

[mitchum]

32. He works for war contractor GE...whadda ya expect?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

34. I just posted this on another thread. The US Team marched to the song

"Freedom". Was that meant as irony or propaganda? If anything, I find it quite political too.

[malaise]

36. Don't know if you heard that the protesters in Turin

are targetting the queen of Xanax. They made the torch runners change their route more than once.

I find pyrotechnics and Freedom and amazing oxymoron. What a lot of fire in the ceremony.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

37. I had been watching The Today Show and lying Couric gave some other

(inoccuous local problem?) for the protests. I had been wondering if Empress Laura would be involved with confrontation. Thank you for letting me know!

[malaise]

39. Here's a link with a nice video clip

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2101019

[Individualist]

35. His blatant politicizing

of the parade of athletes was disgusting. As I listened to his spew, it occurred to me how very comparable his reporting must have been to the Olympics broadcasts in the Soviet Union pre-Gorbachev. Williams' propaganda combined with the cheesy music playing as the athletes marched in made this the worst parade of athletes I've seen during my 62 years.

[ldf]

38. my own personal opinion

both commentators immediately started making snarky remarks about the march music. it showed a definite different take on things, versus our "you better watch what you say" attitude.

the march music was a slap in the face to every conservative out there.

lots of disco, kc, village people, donna summer, lots of GAY music, lots of great drag queen's songs, lots of liberal songs.

it had a great tempo to keep the marchers going, otherwise we could have been watching all night. compare it to other opening ceremonies when the music becomes almost irrelevant. at least these songs had everyone singing along.

what were their other options? lots of classical marches? great to listen to, but boring for that occasion. too militaristic.

so, brian and sidekick kept putting down the music choices. they originally had a direct feed to the music. after many remarks, and after a commercial, all of a sudden the music was much harder to hear, coming directly from mics in the stadium, rather than a direct feed.

that was all they could do. if they could have, i'm sure they would have removed all of it from the broadcast.

well guess, what, the rest of the world does not have the same opinions and attitudes that we do, and it is about time we become aware of it.

all of the snarking about the music just revved them up to start with the political remarks, which you know they were just champing at the bit to voice. after all, this IS nbc, the network who committed treason on election night, 2000.

goddamn pieces of shit.

:grr:

[Rosco T.]

41. One of the original reasons I bought a Starchoice system here in ...

.. the 'southern provinces' was to watch the CBC Olympic coverage... LIVE and UNEDITED with INTELLIGENT commentary.

(wasn't the women's moguls GREAT this morning?)

[Kickin_Donkey]

42. Tell NBC that Brian sucks ...

I've already written.

Here's the link:

http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/