Who's tired of the biased coverage of the Olympics

[RB TexLa]

I think it's time to take the coverage away from the home countries media. I don't know if it's as bad in other countries, but NBC is horrible.

I'm waiting to hear "We don't know if the "insert foreign country" athlete's family is alive or not after "insert event," but first the story of the American athlete who will complete a mere five months after the death of his cousin's ex-wife's dog. We go now to in depth coverage of his story.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. what olympics?

[Skidmore]

2. I don't watch them because the games have devolved into

on giant commercial enterprise and political oneupmanship.

[HereSince1628]

8. Yeah, the Curling events are just a commercial mockery of sport.

:sarcasm:

And don't forget, olympic rings go better with Coke!

[Wickerman]

15. Curling, Curling, Curling

It's all you ever hear about. And now, they have elevated it to Olympic Sport! I remember the good old days when Basketball and Football and Stock Car racing graced the sports pages, but no, nowdays it's all Curling, all the time.

If you are from Bemidji. :D

[HereSince1628]

18. It's all about the Canadian takeover of US television...

I spent 3 years in Bemidji, curling seemed to be the local deal reinforced by the Winnepeg televsion station...but you gotta expect a bit of strangeness from a place where the winter night sky is was often tinted green don't you?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

22. Blame Canada!

[LondonReign2]

33. Or as I like to say...

Iced Shuffle Board! :)

[malaise]

3. To describe it as jingoistic

babble is a mere euphemism.

"...the American athlete who will complete a mere five months after the death of his cousin's ex-wife's dog". Great description :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[YOY]

4. The MacLypics?

Just turn the TV off. You'll be a better person.

[LisaLynne]

5. Sadly, I think the networks think that Americans are only interested ...

in other Americans. And even more sadly, that's probably true for way too many Americans.

[devilgrrl]

35. If that isn't the #1 complaint of viewers I don't know what is.

I swear everyone I know who enjoys watching the Olympic games complains about the exclusive focus on Americans - EVERYONE!

[elehhhhna]

6. It;s been shallow and jinngoistic for several years now.

I can't stand to watch it anymore. Plus our athletes kind of suck this year, which must make it HARD WORK for Katie Matt & Al to moo-moo all over them, huh?

Karma. Can't escape it.

[alarimer]

38. Some American athletes also tend to be assholes

Which the media tends to play up to an annoying degree. Bode's drinking, the speedskater's infighting. That's all you hear about. But I have to say there have been remarkably few of the "how much they've had to overcome" bullshit stories this year.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. I gave up on the Olympics years ago because of the jingoism.

And, sports in general because of the announcers who find it necessary to scream to keep the fans interested enough to stick around for the endless commercials.

[Redbear]

11. I think this has been the best olympic coverage in a couple of decades.

Saturday afternoon's story looking back at the 1994 cross country relay event was fabulous.

[newyawker99]

45. I agree Redbear. I enjoyed that story too.

The coverage is ok. It is too bad we
cant see any live events.

[liberal N proud]

9. I have pretty much ignored the Olympics

After the opening ceremony, I was simply turned off.
Every time I turn it on for a few minutes, all I hear is "Will Joe Athlete get Gold" then that athlete bombs.
Then there is the curling action, wow, that is exciting.

[splat]

10. It's not 'biased,' it's just hometeam cheerleading

They're trying to inject some emotional attachment. Unbiased would be *really* boring

[seabeyond]

12. i had 9 yr old watching swimming during summer, only for soft porn

lay out telling all about the swimmer while she spreads her legs for the cameras, had to shoo son out of room. when did we have to start watching for adult content in olympics

i remember when.... being a competitive swimmer, and the family event watching the olympics. now,.....they have ruined ithavent wathced it much lately

[Atman]

13. Aw, jeebus...

I have to say, I disagree with you. We've watched, but only because of the snowboarding. The boardercross was pretty cool. Good to see some full-contact carnage getting into the winter games! But once the snowboarding was done, we were, too. I mean...Ice Dancing? Although I have to admit, the highlights have been a gas. The guys' are dropping the women, the women are falling on their faces. It's like the amateur hour (as if I could do better, right? ;-) ), and I think sometimes it's just more interesting viewing when everybody isn't perfect. But the "sports" wasn't the question, the coverage was. And that is where I disagree. The Olympics is about showcasing the world's greatest athletes, and during each and every competition they get their chance to shine. But in each country, we/they are rooting for the Home Team. The Olympics are nothing if not an unabashed exercise in national pride, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

In fact, yesterday the coverage of the Italians winning gold in x-country skiing was surprisingly moving. They brought home gold in a major event on their home turf. Good for Italy! You couldn't help but feel good for them. But when it came to snowboarding, with two of the riders considered "locals" 'round these parts, on whose "home mountains" I regularly ride, there is a genuine interest in the American teams in particular. I would guess the most feel that way, although you are obviously not among that group. On American television, they're going to showcase the American athletes, and when you consider that in virtually every case, the athlete in question was the gold medal contender in the first place, I don't see that kind of human interest angle coverage to be unwarranted.

Rah rah rah! Go America! (We're still being humiliated in several hi-profile blunders and accidents...there is some sort of karmic balance at work, perhaps?)

[Blue Belle]

28. I watch the Ice dancing for the bad costumes and Hideous makeup.

I do think Ice Dancing is probably the most graceful of all the figure skating sports, and it's nice to see the skaters do something other than wave their arms around in between quadruple jumps. But the ridiculous costume seems to take so much away from the sport. I for one, take perverse joy in seeing some of the get-ups these skaters have the courage to wear (I'm not proud about it, but I do). And while the costumes feed the snarkier side of my personality, there is such a thing as too much. Granted, some of the ice skating costumes have in recent years been tragic - and not just the ones on Tanya Harding. The costumes of the last decade or so have looked like "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" on ice - but the Ice dancing costumes really push the envelope. Some of these girls should get a medal for just being able to skate in those dresses let alone keep them from having a wardrobe malfunction in the middle of a lift. And the make-up!! NBC locked a close-up shot on one of Russian skaters the other night and I'm surprised they didn't have to wipe the make-up off the lens! Now I know these dancers have use a lot of make-up to accentuate their face so that the judges can see their expressions... but these girls looked like Anna Nichole Smith after a three day bender. Seriously... all the skaters looked like they should have been swinging around a pole - not skating for gold. Now back to the costumes... how much is too much anymore? I'm not prude, and I've been known to wear some daring outfits a time or two - but I'm not representing my country in front of millions of people either. To be fair... I am glad that the Chacita Banana costume has made it back to the mainstream in something other than a Chita Rivera retrospective, and thank God someone had the foresight to alter Biork's infamous "Swan Dress" for the Israeli couple - but seriously... this is the Olympics, not "Dancing with the Stars". Can the skaters at least wear some costumes that you don't have to strategically shave for?

[KoKo]

36. lol's....thanks for that perspective...

it was a good read. :D

The makeup and costumes do seem to have gotten extreme. I've watched figure skating for years and years...and it seems the last few years and this year in particular...much of it's bizarre. The commercialism has sort of taken over and they don't seem like "non-professionals" anymore. And, they did change the rules so they can take in some money for endorsements...so maybe that's why the clothing and makeup is so extreme now. Kind of takes away from the Olympic spirt...I think but some people seem to like it. I've found I'm watching it much less this year.

[alarimer]

40. "Ice Dancing with the Stars"

There's a new reality show for you. Complete with a competition for the worst comstume.

Or "Big Brother" starring Chad Hedrick, Bode Miller, Shanni Davis, the Russian judge from Salt Lake, and Tonya Harding.

[Blue Belle]

41. They actually have "Skating with Celebrities"...

on Fox no less... I think this is what they cancelled "Arrested Development" for. :eyes:

http://www.fox.com/skating/showinfo/

[RB TexLa]

42. I'm sure "Fighter jet flying with the stars" is comming soon n/t

[alarimer]

48. Well I never watch fox

I knew there was some sort of skating thing.

[Retrograde]

53. more like ROTFLMA than watching

and here I thought that Europeans had exquisite sartorial taste. Mr. Retrograde and I turned off the sound and tried to come up with descriptions of the ice dancing costumes: the best were Red Sonja meets Xanadu (the Ukrainian team), ST:TNG Goths (the Bulgarians) and Death in the Afternoon (the Russian toreador). I bet the Ukrainians would have scored higher if she could make those tassels swirl. Still, yesterday's costumes were mostly an improvement on Sunday's, which seemed to be designed by the demented offspring of Carmen Miranda and Barbie on some very bad drugs. Or maybe they were thinking Sundae.

Now it's not a "sport" I follow, but what's wrong with plain, single-colored leotards?

[Blue Belle]

55. Two words for the Ukranian Woman's costume last night:

Ice Tassels!

:+

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. I haven't watched ANY of the Olympics. I gave it up YEARS ago.

:hi:

[Justitia]

16. The Hyper Nationalism & jingoism is nauseating. But seeing Italy is cool.

I've actually been to Olympia, Greece, where the Olympics were born, and what we have today is a caricature of the original intent.

I have enjoyed the little segments on Italy (because I love Italy!), their people, customs, food, regions - but that's about it.

The Mythology of American Exceptionalism is pretty nauseating when we're invading / occupying weak countries and torturing people around the globe, ya know?

And yes, the relentless "human interest" stories are such pap and pablum for the brain dead masses.
"Bread & Circuses" was a novel idea invented by the Italians, ironically!

[USA_1]

17. In all fairness, the competition has been great ...

... but I'm disturbed over the racist news media's coverage of the speed skating controversy.

It reports that American Shani Davis, who is Black, is unpatriotic because he did not race in the pursuit.

Yet, Canadian Cindy Klassen, who is White, also did not race in the pursuit but the white media said nothing about it.

That same media praised Tanith Belbin, a White ice skater, who defected from Canada and was granted USA citizenship so that she could ice dance with an American partner. None of those media called her unpatriotic or made any negative report about her.

Once again the news media shows its ugliness and stupidity. But this does not mean that the competition has been deficient or unentertaining in any way.

[Blue Belle]

39. I picked up on the Cindy Klassen thing last night too...

I thought of the stark contrast in how she was treated. IT's truly sad... and embarassing for NBC. THey did another 5 minute piece last night highlighting the "Rivalry" between Davis and Hendricks (leaning heavily to the side of Hendricks). It all started with Tanya and Nancy... and now we can't have an Olympics without some sort of skating fiasco where the network coverage can pit two skaters against one another. It's really pathetic.

[begin_within]

60. It's fun to see some egotistical athlete brag, then crash and burn.

[nickinSTL]

19. I detest the excessive focus on the American athletes

but...I still watch as much as I can. They do show the top performers in addition to the Americans. I'd certainly like more coverage, but... :shrug:

Unbiased coverage WOULD be better. I loved Eurosport when I was in Europe. Ok, they probably would focus more on the European athletes, but really...in the winter Olympics there are LOTS of Europeans :D

Of course, with my schedule, I don't get to see a lot of coverage, anyway.

[Missy M]

20. You mean there are athletes from other countries.....

participating in the Olympics. I thought it was only Americans. What a surprise.

[TlalocW]

21. Eh, I admire all the athletes

Just because the fact that they're competing means that scientific testing labs have not been able to come up with ways to show how they're all doping - yet.

TlalocW

[TallahasseeGrannie]

23. I'm confused

you said "it's time to take the coverage away from the home countries media."

But the US isn't hosting, Italy is.

I am assuming (but I don't know) that while NBC is covering the games for the US, there are other networks from other countries, covering them as well? I can't imagine NBC has a world-wide monopoly on it?

Since I figure that, I don't mind NBC covering the Americans closely, because it is how their hometowns, family, etc., follow them.

Now, if NBC is IT, then they need to expand their perspective a bit.

[RB TexLa]

24. Have more of a world feed

The networks in the various world markets would still bid and pay for the right to broadcast the coverage but take more of the content control away from them.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

26. So NBC is IT for coverage?

they own it all?

[RB TexLa]

31. Just in the US

State run TV carries it(and pays a fee) where there is no competition for television and where there is the networks bid on it and the winning bidder carries it, such as NBC here.

[WinkyDink]

25. It began with Reagan. USA! USA!

After Jimmy C. had boycotted the USSR Games.

[malaise]

27. Actually it was the marriage between the

global corporate media and the Olympics in 1984. Neoliberal sport was born complete with ABC/NBC jingoism.

Add.

[NoPasaran]

29. Been tired since 1980

That's why I no longer watch them.

[JohnnyRingo]

30. I remember in the early 60s Cold War Era

I think I heard then that "The Russian women athletes were so hard to defeat because the evil government wouldn't let the family own a tractor and she had to pull the plow herself".

The Olympic coverage then was akin to that "Rocky" movie where he beat the Russian guy while the crowd cheered raucously. Or like that WWF "Ayatolla" a few years back.

[woofless]

32. I saw Bob Costas' eyebrow move yesterday.

No shit. First time in 8 days one of those suckers even twitched.

[Blue Belle]

37. The Botox must be wearing off.

Look for him to start having actual expressions by Thursday! :)

[HeeBGBz]

34. I enjoyed the snowboarders

They all resemble some of my son's stoner friends when he was a teen.

That one little chickie who did the show off thing and lost the gold was surely a textbook case of karma in action.

[AspenRose]

43. I haven't watched in years

because I got sick of the 'rah, rah, USA #1' cheerleading section the media people seemed to be providing.

I guess this means I hate my country now :sarcasm:

[Raine]

44. I'm tired of them going back and forth

from one competition to another just so they can string a person along and you end up stuck watching competitions that you have no interest in. NBC is the worst with the coverage and the commercials, I liked it better when CBS covered the Olympics.

[BushOut06]

46. Wait a second, I'm confused - what exactly is the problem?

I really haven't watched any of the Olympics, just not my cup of tea. But what exactly is wrong with American broadcasting companies focusing on American athletes? Wouldn't the vast majority of the American television audience be more interested in American athletes than those of other countries?

Are you telling me that the broadcasters from foreign countries aren't giving special attention to their respective athletes? I'm sure that athletes from Russia get more attention on Russian television, and ditto those from Finland, Sweden, France, Germany, etc in their respective countries.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

47. I love the figure skating and am very disappointed that the coverage

is biased. It seems that the gold medalists (all of them Russian so far), are not getting the credit for their gorgeous skating. Last night during ice dancing I was yelling at Dick Buttons to stfu when he tried to downplay how totally fantastic the Russian dancers were. Then this morning on Today, they interviewed the newly American team (by act of Congress) about their silver medal and ignored the Russian team's performance.

Tonight it is the women's turn and I will be rooting for an American, Sasha Cohen, as the exquisite beauty of her skating (albeit flawed many times) brings tears to my eyes.

[Individualist]

50. I had the same reaction

last night when Dick Button was spewing his blatant nationalism. He criticized every other country's performance and had nothing but praise for the Americans.

[AgadorSparticus]

59. I can't stand Dick Button!! He's just AWFUL! They need to just get

rid of him. ugh.

[begin_within]

61. It's fun to listen to him argue with himself after every skater falls.

[WI_DEM]

49. Of four major networks NBC sucks the most

in it's programming. At least FAUX has "The Simpsons" and "Arrested Development"--NBC has nothing--it allowed itself to live on "Seinfeld" and "Friends" and then they went away and they still have ER which is 15 years old and declining. They are in the cellar. Then on daytime they have the nauseating Katie Couric and Matt Lauer and nighttime--the pathetic Jay Leno. Yuck!

[Hippo_Tron]

62. In the long run NBC has been a better network...

The West Wing, Law and Order, ER, SNL, Seinfeld, Friends were all great shows back in their prime.

FOX will continue to have some redeeming qualities as long as it has the wonderful animated shows: The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Dad. But remember at one point it only had The Simpsons and that show is definately on the decline.

[MrSlayer]

51. Not for nothing, but we live in AMERICA.

Of course the coverage is going to be focused on OUR team. It's hard enough to give a shit about an American pushing a broom on the ice during curling as it is. Do you think anyone here really cares about Kazakhstan's entry enough to want to know their personal stories? Gimmie a break. Do you think the TV people in Finland are giving the Belarus team coverage equal to what their own team is getting? Certainly not. This is silly.

[Blackthorn]

52. I wanted to start a thread about this but I'm not up to that post count.

At any rate, I've been watching some of the Olympics. Being Australian, the nice thing is that we have only a literal handful of medal chances and the coverage struggles to hype it. Last night I was watching the some highlights and across several events the Austalian commentators for (I assume) Australian audiences were running through the competitors only pointing out the American competitors, as if they were the competitors we should be interested in. Specifically, not telling me who ran 1st, 2nd and 3rd, but pointing out immediately only 1 American making it through to the final.

Just little things like this that scream at me that my country is quickly becoming a subsiduary of yours. And not in a good way.

[kittenpants]

54. Yeah, I'm not even going to dignify this thread with a response...

well, except for this one. :P

[lanlady]

56. did you catch the Texas speed skater

who was crying on national TV because his grandmother had died 13 years ago and couldn't see him get his gold medal? Good grief :silly:

Still, I think NBC has cut way back on the profiles and sob stories they used to cram down our throats (the Atlanta coverage was the worst ever). But they've upped the no. of commercials. The story of the Olympics this year is 4 hrs. of car commercials lightly sprinkled with sporting events.

[Blue Belle]

58. Don't get me started on Chad Hedrick...

He's such a bitchy Diva.

[Blue Belle]

57. Did anyone catch the "Olympic Fun Facts" portion of last night's coverage?

They were talking how there are so many athletes from diverse backgrounds... blah, blah, blah. They started talking about the Gold Medal wining free style skier from Australia who is a multimillionaire (he has a internet company that does pop-up ads) and then they contrasted it with a Curler from Great Britain whose Husband's software company went bankrupt and now her family is surviving on the UK's version of welfare. It was an appalling exhibition of insensitivity on the part of NBC. Out of ALL the things they could have highlighted in this woman from England, they chose her economic hardship. It was truly pathetic.

[lectrobyte]

63. I've only watched about 10 minutes, but within that time the

announcer started doing a fake German accent and making fun of the German athlete who was arranging his equipment for the biathalon (or was it the triathalon?) and I decided I've had enough NBC.