Shame on NBC-TV.
Sure, it was great to see David Rudisha set a world record in the 800-meter run and run around stadium in London with a Kenyan flag draped around him. It was touching to see his story and struggle to get to this point.
It was fun to see Usain Bolt win the 200-meter dash to earn his fifth Olympic gold medal and have two Jamaican teammates finish second and third.
The U.S. women’s volleyball match was entertaining. The diving? Could have done without it during the prime time. Cycling? Get real.
What about the women’s soccer gold medal match that the United States won 2-1 over Japan to gain revenge from last year’s penalty kick loss in the World Cup final?
It was played mid-afternoon EST and was full of passion, intensity and great plays. There were over 80,000 fans in attendance, and no telling how many more wishing they could be there.
In the U.S., NBC went with water polo, distance swimming and who knows what else on the main network while showing the match live on NBC Sports Channel, a channel I didn’t even know was on my cable lineup until the Olympics started (NBC has also shown the men’s basketball games on the same channel that is seems like an awful lot of folks don’t get).
Of course, even if you got NBCSC, most Americans are at work on a Thursday afternoon (one benefit to always working weekends is that Thursday is at least my day out of office and I watched Olympics and PGA golf all day). Why not show the biggest event of the day — at least from the U.S perspective.
Or if NBC couldn’t bring itself to cut diving, cycling or something else that short, at least package the soccer match in a condensed format for the nation to see.
“Eighty thousand people for a women’s final?” said American Carli Lloyd, who scored both U.S. goals. “That says a lot about women’s sports.”
It does — even if NBC apparently didn’t know it.
Granted, it will be three years for the next World Cup when the U.S. has a chance to shine on a huge stage again or four years before some members of this team will try to help the U.S. win a fourth straight Olympic gold meal.
This was a moment to cherish. The match was great. The group celebration was emotional. Players paraded with American flags draped over them or held high in the air. It was also impressive the way the Japanese handled losing with grace and even wiped away the tears to manage a few laughs during the medal ceremony.
It was a match/celebration to remember — even if NBC wanted to make sure not everyone got to see it.
Sure, it was great to see David Rudisha set a world record in the 800-meter run and run around stadium in London with a Kenyan flag draped around him. It was touching to see his story and struggle to get to this point.
It was fun to see Usain Bolt win the 200-meter dash to earn his fifth Olympic gold medal and have two Jamaican teammates finish second and third.
The U.S. women’s volleyball match was entertaining. The diving? Could have done without it during the prime time. Cycling? Get real.
What about the women’s soccer gold medal match that the United States won 2-1 over Japan to gain revenge from last year’s penalty kick loss in the World Cup final?
It was played mid-afternoon EST and was full of passion, intensity and great plays. There were over 80,000 fans in attendance, and no telling how many more wishing they could be there.
In the U.S., NBC went with water polo, distance swimming and who knows what else on the main network while showing the match live on NBC Sports Channel, a channel I didn’t even know was on my cable lineup until the Olympics started (NBC has also shown the men’s basketball games on the same channel that is seems like an awful lot of folks don’t get).
Of course, even if you got NBCSC, most Americans are at work on a Thursday afternoon (one benefit to always working weekends is that Thursday is at least my day out of office and I watched Olympics and PGA golf all day). Why not show the biggest event of the day — at least from the U.S perspective.
Or if NBC couldn’t bring itself to cut diving, cycling or something else that short, at least package the soccer match in a condensed format for the nation to see.
“Eighty thousand people for a women’s final?” said American Carli Lloyd, who scored both U.S. goals. “That says a lot about women’s sports.”
It does — even if NBC apparently didn’t know it.
Granted, it will be three years for the next World Cup when the U.S. has a chance to shine on a huge stage again or four years before some members of this team will try to help the U.S. win a fourth straight Olympic gold meal.
This was a moment to cherish. The match was great. The group celebration was emotional. Players paraded with American flags draped over them or held high in the air. It was also impressive the way the Japanese handled losing with grace and even wiped away the tears to manage a few laughs during the medal ceremony.
It was a match/celebration to remember — even if NBC wanted to make sure not everyone got to see it.
