Well, I’ve been switching between the NBC and CBC Olympic coverage these last couple of days, and I have to say that I’m not as wowed by Canadian tv as everyone had said I would be….
Derek’s big complaint about NBC coverage is that they highlight gymnastics and swimming and Americans in medal contention. I’m realizing that those things are what I want to watch! I do give props to CBC for showing something other than beach volleyball in non-primetime coverage. I like normal volleyball, but girls in bikinis in the sand just doesn’t seem like a real sport. But when both stations are showing the same event, NBC is more professional, and I really would rather hear more about the Americans (who are usually medal contenders) than the Canadians who usually aren’t. Don’t get me wrong–in honor of our favorite Canadian, we cheer for the Canadians next after the Americans. (Australians and Brits tie for a distant third–except in swimming, when I assume that the Aussies are doping and don’t cheer for them at all.) But I’m fiercely patriotic when it comes to sports, and NBC shows me replays of the athletes I recognize.
When we go home, I will miss the HD tv and the extra cable channels of coverage. Watching Michael Phelps with rabbit ears and a tiny screen wasn’t as exciting as it has been here. As for CBC…..I’m underwhelmed.
This blog made me laugh!
However, I do feel obliged to state that beach volleyball is, in many ways, much more difficult than indoor volleyball. I have no retort about the “uniforms” chosen by the women. (To be fair, the international governing organization for beach volleyball requires such uniforms.)